Milan may not boast the stunning beauty of Rome or Florence, but it still has plenty to offer visitors. A city of contrasts, Milan is a bustling European hub full of delicious food and wine experiences as well as contemporary design trends.
Duomo di Milano’s sublime cathedral features an astounding array of delicate, spindly spires symbolising heaven-ward aspirations. Climb the steps for an up close view of its ornate spires and gargoyles!
The Duomo
The Duomo of Milan is a stunning landmark that stands as the focal point of its skyline, boasting a massive dome topped by 135 spires and featuring statues galore. Built over centuries by 78 architects, its creation astonished even Mark Twain; his words best described its magnificence were “an anthem sung in stone”. Inside its vast interior is elegant yet stately; large paintings depict scenes from Bible passages while you might also encounter macabre items such as skulls or macabre items!
One of the cathedral’s most striking elements is a meridian line on its floor, formed of a brass rod running throughout. Interspersed between each brass rod are marble tiles representing zodiac signs; when solar noon arrives, a signal is sent back to Palazzo dei Giureconsulti at Sforzesco Castle where someone signals solar noon has come and cannon fires to notify everyone in town of its arrival.
Not only should you admire the stunning exterior and expansive interior, but you should also stop and appreciate all of the smaller altars inside this incredible complex. Some feature intricate marble sculptures while others contain high-relief carvings crafted by highly talented sculptors; one near the central entrance resembles Frederic Auguste Bartholdi’s Statue of Liberty in New York!
Another highlight of the cathedral you should visit is the Music Chapel, established in 1402 as an early form of choir singing. Over time various masters such as Vincenzo Ruffo and Giulio Cesare have served as choir directors.
If you visit the church on a sunny day, you might just get lucky enough to experience an extraordinary performance by the choir. Otherwise, why not visit one of the nearby attractions such as museums and attractions instead?
As part of the cathedral construction, several secrets were revealed during excavations. By the early 1900s, some of these discoveries had been restored; among these was the “Stone of Miracles,” which contains relics from Christ’s Crucifixion as well as nails from its cross and fragments from Christ’s skull.
Teatro La Scala
The Teatro La Scala is one of the world’s top opera houses, located on Via Manzoni – a major avenue in Milan’s center where Giuseppe Verdi lived and died. Opened between 1776-78 by wealthy patrons who paid their expenses with boxes decorated by ornately carved ornamentation; today this theatre hosts opera, ballet and classical music performances as well as hosting its original construction costs back then.
La Scala is an iconic musical venue. From its stunning architecture and decor, to the exquisite performances hosted on its stage. Famous singers including Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi, Luciano Pavarotti have graced its stage over time; conductors Arturo Toscanini, Karajan and Bernstein all left their mark; more recently Riccardo Chailly has restored La Scala as one of Italy’s premier repertoire theatres.
If you plan on attending, be sure to plan in advance as tickets for popular performances often sell out fast.
Even if you can’t attend performances, there are other ways to enjoy and experience theatre and its beauty. Teatro La Scala is open to the public and tours may be taken during museum hours – this tour features video presentation and audio guide commentary to give a better understanding of its history and background.
Once your tour is over, head up to the box seats for an amazing view of the theatre’s interior. Look left and right and see row after row of boxes that reach right to the edge of the stage – the experience won’t disappoint!
The Teatro alla Scala feels like a luxurious palace, and its comfortable seats resemble those found in any palace. The orchestra plays from its central position within the auditorium; its pit can be clearly seen. Meanwhile, its vast stage and performers come ready for each role onstage.
Every year on 7 December – Saint Ambrose Day – Milan’s opera season opens its doors, starting with Daniel Barenboim conducting Wagner’s Lohengrin as part of his bicentennial celebrations along with Italy’s own Giuseppe Verdi.
Fondazione Prada
Fondazione Prada was established by Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli with the purpose of creating an institution dedicated to contemporary art and culture. From its inception, Fondazione Prada has taken an inclusive approach by hosting exhibitions alongside cultural events, research projects, cinema and design initiatives as well as its publishing program.
In 2015, Fondazione opened a stunning new venue in Milan: an old 1910 distillery transformed by OMA under Rem Koolhaas into an eye-catching contemporary structure that now houses its permanent collections and often hosts temporary exhibits – popular among contemporary art enthusiasts with plenty to see and do at this site.
Visitors immediately notice the towering Podium that stands in the center of the compound, reflecting its surrounding buildings and city skyline with its white surface, creating an eye-catching urban statement. Flanking this podium are two gallery spaces covered with aluminum foam for an interesting bubbled texture; they provide contrast with domestic-scale buildings like the “Haunted House”, an existing structure covered with gold leaf which now hosts Fondazione offices.
Torre is a 60-meter white concrete building featuring irregular geometry that changes its appearance depending on which angle of view is taken. This building embodies Fondazione’s architectural vision of juxtaposed fragments which never coalesce into one image.
Over the years, the foundation’s focus has shifted away from exhibiting studio work towards co-producing projects with artists in which their vision can fully come to fruition. Furthermore, its attention has been drawn to public space within art works such as Dan Flavin’s permanent installation at Rome’s Chiesa Rossa or Laurie Anderson’s San Vittore prison project.
Fondazione has recently broadened its research scope to encompass photography and visual languages. In 2016, they established Osservatorio as an additional space within Galleria Vittorio Emanuele for group and solo shows by Italian and international photographers such as Torbjorn Rodland, Kate Crawford and Trevor Paglen as well as research/experimental projects such as ‘Training Humans”.
Shopping
Milan is famous for its luxury shopping, yet also hosts numerous boutiques and local designers with unique styles. Take your pick between designer fashion brands, independent boutiques and street markets where vintage clothing and accessories can be found at budget-friendly prices.
The Quadrilatero della Moda is the place to be for fashionistas seeking big name stores and shop windows as well as cafes and restaurants offering drinks or food to relax with after a stroll along its beautiful cobblestone streets and take in its stylish atmosphere. Come here on an ideal weather day so that you can fully experience it.
Via Montenapoleone is one of the city’s premier shopping areas, featuring high-end boutiques and luxury brands in an elegant arcade. Here you’ll be able to see luxury cars parked outside storefronts while taking in its lively ambience – you may even catch sight of famous faces while browsing fashionable storefronts! This area attracts celebrities often enough, so keep an eye out while strolling along its corridors if you hope to spot someone famous while here.
Carosello Mall is a sprawling and popular mall on the outskirts of Rome offering shopping, eating and entertainment options. Shops include GameStop, Clayton, Lively Milano and Black Sun Solarium while restaurants such as Flower Burgers, Bun Burgers Capatoast Toasteria Ichi Station are among the many food offerings here. Furthermore there’s Virgin Active Gym as well as UCI movie theaters Hollywood Kart and Play City available here as well.
Visit Milan for an unusual souvenir with Piero Fornasetti’s flagship store! Almost like a museum, this three-level shop showcases his original designs as well as new collections inspired by them – from clothing and accessories to furniture and homewares, all sporting his distinctive Fornasetti prints!
Navigli is another fantastic destination for boutique shopping, once known as a city gate but now transformed into a vibrant neighborhood filled with small local stores and independent artisans. The streets are lined with art galleries and boutiques selling everything from handmade leather goods to jewelry and handbags.