Milan Sightseeing

Milan Sightseeing

You thought Milan was only a commercial and industrial city for businessmen? Surprise! Here you can find so many interesting and wonderful masterpieces that it is hard to imagine! Just begin at the city centre, where the huge Duomo appears in all its magnificence. This is the Cathedral and the symbol of Milan, with its golden statue "La Madonnina", which is inside the heart of every inhabitant.

Then, you have the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a covered and elegant gallery with restaurants and bookstores. If you enter it from Piazza del Duomo, you'll exit in Piazza della Scala where the world known Teatro alla Scala appears. This is the centre of lyric opera and it is not difficult to meet here important artists like Riccardo Muti, who is the conductor of the local orchestra.

You can make a tour in the nearby, from Via Manzoni to Via della Spiga and via Montenapoleone, the heart of the Fashion. When you arrive in the heart of Brera, the place of the artists, full of locals and pubs, visit the Pinacoteca. Along Via Manzoni there is also the Poldi Pezzoli, another very important museum of Milan.
Towards Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, one of the most fascinating places of the whole city, you can admire the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio in Romanesque style, dedicated to the Saint patron of Milan. In the nearby there is the Catholic University, former monastery of the Abbey. From here you can begin a walking tour along Via San Vittore. On the left of the street, you'll find the Museo della Scienza e della Tecnica - Leonardo Da Vinci, an important museum which collects fundamental signs of the technological progress of humanity and which is dedicated to the genius of Leonardo.

Not far from here, there is the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie where you will find the art of Bramante. In the refectory, the famous Cenacolo (Last Supper) painted by Leonardo appears in all its magnificence. The restoration of this fresco has just finished after many years of hard work due to the fact that Leonardo experimented a new technique when he painted his masterpiece and this has created severe problems of conservation. The Last Supper is part of the Unesco World Heritage.

As you can see, the list of the sights not to miss in Milan seems endless. It is really difficult to list all of them, but certainly you cannot miss the Castello Sforzesco whose central tower (Torre del Filarete dominates one of the most common and beautiful landscapes in Milan. The castle is situated in the Parco Sempione, opposite to the Arco della Pace dedicated to Napoleon. The construction of this castle was decided under the rule of the Visconti, but it is thanks to the Sforza family if the castle reached the grandiosity you can still admire today.
So, maybe the best way to get to know Milan is simply to make a walking tour and just look at all the beautiful buildings and sights you can find everywhere. Or simply take a public bus and look outside the window. Milan is there for you!

Branca Tower

This tower, built in 1933, is 108.6 metres high. Designed by Gio Ponti. The observation deck can be reached by elevator (maximum of 5 persons). Entrance: EUR 4.00.

You can find this beautiful tower in the Parco Sempione.
Wed 10:30am-12.30pm and 4-6:30pm; Sat 10:30am-1pm, 3-6:30pm and 8:30pm-midnight; Sun 10.30am-2pm and 2:30-7pm.

Tel: 02/3314120
openingHours: Wed 10:30am-12.30pm and 4-6:30pmSat 10:30am-1pm, 3-6:30pm and 8:30pm-midnight; Sun 10.30am-2pm and 2:30-7pm.
address: Viale Camoens

Duomo Cathedral

The Milan Duomo is the world's largest Gothic cathedral and the city's symbol. Begun in 1386 and taking nearly five centuries to complete, the church is from the outside an incredible building, notable as much for its decoration as its size. The gloomy interior holds, among other objects, the golden statue "La Madonnina" which is the main attraction inside and as well in the heart of every inhabitant. Even a popular song has been dedicated to it! The Duomo is full of Gothic spires in white Candoglia marble whereas the interior is enormous and a bit intimidating.

Castello Sforzesco

A must see is the Castello Sforzesco whose central tower (Torre del Filarete) dominates one of the most common and beautiful landscapes in Milan. The castle is situated in the Parco Sempione, opposite to the Arco della Pace dedicated to Napoleon. The construction of this castle was decided under the rule of the Visconti family, but it is thanks to the Sforza family that the castle reached the grandiosity you can still admire today.

Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio

Towards Piazza Sant' Ambrogio, one of the most fascinating places of the whole city. Here you can admire the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio in Romanesque style, dedicated to the Saint patron of Milan. In the nearby there is the Catholic University, former monastery of the Abbey.

Church of San Satiro

South of the cathedral piazza, you will see the famous church of San Satiro, a study in ingenuity, commissioned from Milan's foremost Renaissance architect, Bramante, in 1476. Originally the oratory of the adjacent 9th century church of San Satiro, Bramante tranformed it into a long-naved basilica by converting the long oblong oratory into the transept and adding a trompe l'oeil apse to the back wall. The original structure of San Satiro was derived from Armenian architecture. It was an imitation of the 7th century Armenian cathedral of Bagaran, known as St. John.

Santa Maria delle Grazie

In the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie you can admire the art of Bramante. In the refectory, the famous Cenacolo (Last Supper) painted by Leonardo appears in all its magnificence. The restoration of this fresco has just finished after many years of hard work due to the fact that Leonardo experimented a new technique when he painted his masterpiece and this has created severe problems of conservation. The Last Supper is part of the Unesco World Heritage.

Tel: +39 02 89 42 11 46