Milan is a vibrant European city renowned for fashion, design and food – as well as having an amazing history and stunning architecture.
Though some fear the strict anti-graffiti ordinance may restrict late night strolls with gelato, others applaud its efforts at strengthening Milan’s sense of community.
The Duomo
The Duomo Cathedral stands as an iconic structure in Milan’s city center. Famed for its gothic architecture and featuring work by some of history’s most celebrated artists, its presence is one of Milan’s top attractions and can be found throughout its surrounding neighborhoods. Not to mention that its home to over 3,400 statues that make an impactful sight!
This cathedral was constructed in Gothic style to enhance the prestige of Visconti rulers, and construction took over 400 years until completion. Even today, restoration works continue in order to maintain its beauty.
One of the most fascinating statues within Duomo di Milan is its depiction of St. Bartholomew as he is skinned alive and then meticulously sculpted with morbid realism. Furthermore, inside this church are numerous intricate statues and stained glass windows; making this church an absolute must-see!
The Navigli District
Milan boasts many attractions, from its ornate Duomo and iconic Teatro alla Scala opera house to canals that once played an essential role in transporting cargo.
Navigli is now one of the city’s most beloved neighborhoods. By day, its palazzi di ringhiera (tenement buildings with shared balconies) host markets, street art installations and boutiques; while in the evening its many bars reflect light across canals to create a romantic ambience.
Navigli is best enjoyed at sunset when the colors of the sky meet their reflections in the water – it is truly magical and serves as a poignant reminder of Milan as it used to be, more similar to Venice than today’s sprawling capital city.
The Quadrilatero d’Oro
Milan is world-famous as a haute couture capital, so it comes as no surprise that over 150 designer fashion boutiques can be found within six chic streets. Dubbed Quadrilatero d’Oro (golden square), loosely bound by Via Monte Napoleone, Via Sant’Andrea, Via Manzoni and Corso Venezia; is considered one of the world’s most luxurious avenues where wealthy fashion mavens flaunt expensive brands with pride while toting designer shopping bags under their arms.
This upscale district is known for its exquisite jewelry and luxury watch stores, cafes and gourmet restaurants – plus two fashion weeks each year which bring this area alive! February/March and September/October are particularly vibrant times when visiting.
The Castello Sforzesco
Milan may be known for its fashion and glamour, but Milan also boasts an intriguing history which can be explored at Sforzesco Castle. Once used as both fortress and palace, today it houses numerous museums that showcase Milan’s cultural history.
Castle Galeazzo Visconti was initially constructed by Galeazzo Il Visconti between 1358 and 1368 for his family; later expanded upon by his successors who turned it into a luxurious residence.
Ludovico Sforza became Lord of the castle in 1494 and recruited some of the finest artists of their day – among them Leonardo da Vinci who painted frescos for Sala delle Asse. Additionally, this castle now hosts some of the city’s best museums like Pinacoteca with works by Andrea Mantegna, Correggio and Tintoretto among many other works by them.
The Museo del Duomo
Within the Duomo Complex is an incredible museum which displays stunning treasures that have been amassed throughout time. These include statues, religious ornaments, terracotta objects and architectural models used during construction of cathedral.
The museum features 26 rooms that provide a comprehensive look into the cathedral’s history and development, from gargoyles to 15th-century stained-glass windows and even a full-scale wooden model of its structure. Some of its highlights include startling gargoyles, haunting stained-glass windows, 15th century gargoyles, startling gargoyles, full size wooden models of its structure as well as other startling exhibits that give an insight into how its life evolved over time.
Veneranda Fabbrica provides visitors with an intriguing glimpse into how marble was extracted for the cathedral from Candoglia Quarry, as well as rent virtual reality viewers to digitally travel there and witness extraction via 360 degree video – an experience not to be missed! Established in 1953, this museum stands as an extraordinary resource.
The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the world’s oldest shopping centers and one of its most renowned. Its two iron and glass walkways converge to form an octagonal central piazza beneath an eye-catching dome, making for an unparalleled shopping experience.
Giuseppe Mengoni designed and named this building after King Umberto I of Italy to commemorate Milan’s economic strength and cultural importance during its unification movement. Its construction coincided with this event.
Modern-day Galleria remains a premier place to shop, dine and people watch – as well as an architectural gem with gorgeous mosaic floors and grand dome. Stroll beneath its grand dome or enjoy an aperitivo at Cafe Biffi for an experience not to be missed!
The Museo del Novecento
Museo del Novecento (Museum of the 20th Century), one of Milan’s premier art museums, provides visitors with a visual tour of one century of Italian avant-garde art, from Futurism to Spatialism; from Boccioni and Modigliani through Morandi and Lucio Fontana – among many others – over one decade.
At its Palazzo dell’Arengario location near the Duomo, this museum specializes in twentieth century Italian art with temporary exhibitions throughout the year. Boasting prime city center location in an architectural gem with world-class collections to view, this must-see is one of the city’s must-sees.
The Sforzesco Castle
The Sforzesco Castle stands as a major symbol of Milan. Constructed by Visconti rulers during Milan’s Visconti period of dominance in 14th-century, later altered and modified by Milan’s foreign rulers such as Ludovico Sforza into an exquisite Renaissance palace, today this landmark hosts various specialized museums.
Francesco Sforza recruited numerous artists during the Renaissance to decorate his palace, with Leonardo da Vinci among those hired as part of an extensive decorating scheme for various rooms and areas of his estate. Da Vinci painted an exquisite canopy of intertwined branches on the ceiling of Sala delle Asse and other rooms alongside Bernardino Zenale and Bernardino Butinone; later he also helped design what has come to be known as Torre del Filarete tower’s upper section; however under Austrian and Spanish occupation most outer fortifications were demolished before architect Luca Beltrami began renovating this estate after Italy unification in 19th century.
The Navigli Canals
Navigli Canals represent an integral part of Milan’s history and culture. Constructed as part of a waterway system to irrigate fields and transport grain during their initial purposeful purpose in 12th-Century Milan, Navigli have since evolved into an essential form of public transportation within the city itself.
Ludovico il Moro, then Duke of Milan, asked Da Vinci to design a network of canals to supplement his city’s water supply and trade routes. Today his sketches remain intact.
As part of their new life as artists’ studios and boutiques selling chic fashion and vintage finds, canals now serve as home to artists’ studios, boutiques offering vintage fashion finds and curated fashion finds, aperitivo bars and old courtyards with 15-foot ivy or ferns that exude charm – you’ll find these along Navigli Grande and Pavese.
The Darsena
The Darsena is an alluring corner of Milan, both as an historic link to its past and an exhilarating representation of present life. Once an industrial dockland, this area now provides lively nightlife spots with restaurants, pubs, and trendy bars aplenty.
Canals in Venice are lined with inviting outdoor cafes, while brick bridges and traditional ringhiera houses frame them beautifully. Visitors can relax with an aperitivo at one of many aperitivo spots or shop local urban markets and flea stalls for items.
Mirta Oregna, rower for Canottieri San Cristoforo, says locals were initially skeptical of reopening of canals but has become an attraction since. Experience Navigli district from a unique vantage point aboard one of Canottieri San Cristoforo’s canal boat tours or discover Darsena yourself for yourself – don’t miss this experience!