Milan - Pac n Go!

Milan

Welcome to my city!! Yes, the city of the FASHION is where I’m coming from. Milan is walkable and at times feels more like a compact town than a major European metropolis and, notwithstanding how Milan is portrayed on the world’s stage, the city is anything but flashy. Many of its interesting sights and attractions are not readily apparent, so you’ll need to dig a little deeper to discover the gems that really make the city unique. When you start chipping away at its foreboding exterior, you’ll find untold treasures below the surface: priceless works of art, eccentric beautiful buildings and amazing restaurants. Explore the best things to do in Milan and remember: appearances aren’t everything.

What to See

The Cathedral

Milan’s Duomo

Milan’s Duomo (duomo di Milano) is a much-loved symbol of the city. The most exuberant example of Northern Gothic architecture in Italy, the cathedral and its spiky spires and towers dominate Piazza del Duomo, the city’s beating heart. One of the highlights of a visit to the cathedral is the view from the roof, where you can scope out Milan from the highest terrace surrounded by statues. On a clear day, it’s possible to see the Italian Alps.

How to Get There
The Duomo is located in the historic center of the city, on pedestrianized Piazza del Duomo. Since it cannot be directly accessed by car, it is best to reach the cathedral on foot or by public transport; the closest metro station is right in front of the cathedral. You can also book a private tour with included transportation. If you’re visiting Rome, Venice, or Verona but want to see the cathedral of Milan, note that high-speed train tickets are a very effective means of travel.

The Gallery

Milan’s Galleria

In the fashion capital of Italy, the soaring, glass-domed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade never goes out of style. Started in 1877, Europe’s oldest shopping mall connects the Milan Duomo to Piazza di Marino and the La Scala Opera House (Teatro alla Scala) by way of a bright and airy, four-story center lined with busy restaurants and shops. Come for the Neoclassical architecture, stay for the brands and fresh baked panzerotti.

How To Get to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
The southern entrance of the galleria is located off Piazza del Duomo, adjacent to the cathedral and its northern entrance off Piazza della Scala. Strolling through the galleria is a great way to get from the La Scala Opera House to Milan’s Duomo. The closest metro stop is for the Duomo, right in front of the galleria.

Sforza Castle

Il Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle) is a medieval fortress built by the Visconti dynasty that became home to Milan’s ruling Sforza family in 1450. Stark and domineering, the historic brick castle has massive round battlements, an imposing tower overlooking the central courtyard and surrounding Parco Sempione gardens, and defensive walls designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Today the castle houses a number of world-class museums and galleries.

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How to Get to There

Castello Sforzesco is in Piazza Castello on the edge of central Milano, which can be reached from Piazza del Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II by following Via Dante. The three nearest underground metro stops are Cairoli, Lanza, and Cadorna FN.

Last Supper

Last Supper

It’s possible, after you bought the ticket (months before), to visit the Last Supper, this extraordinary work by Leonardo da Vinci.

address: church at Santa Maria delle Grazie,

Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie, 20123 Milano MI, Italia

Brera

Brera District

Milan boasts a number of trendy neighborhoods thick with hip bars, restaurants, and clubs. Of these, the Brera district—a maze of narrow, cobblestone streets lined with boutiques and cafés near the Duomo in the city center—is perhaps the most beautiful thanks to its laid-back pace and old-world charm.

Brera is one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in Milan for a before-dinner aperitivo and a great place to experience Milan’s excellent food and wine scene, so consider joining a small-group food tour or wine tasting. Food walking tours are also available in Brera.

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How to Get There

Brera is right in the center of Milan, an easy walk north from the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Milan itself is well connected by train to Venice, Florence, and Rome.

Gae Aulenti Square

One of the newest areas of construction in Milan is north of the city center near the Garibaldi train station, including the futuristic Piazza Gae Aulenti. The piazza, which opened in 2012 and is named after the Italian architect who designed Paris’ Musee d’Orsay, is surrounded by three new towers, including one that has the distinction of being Italy’s tallest building. The piazza is circular in shape, and elevated above the surrounding ground level, with walkways running around and across its central pool and dancing water fountain displays.

San Lorenzo's Columns

Colonne di San Lorenzo

Milan is known for its opera, fashion, and banking – not its ruins. And yet the city has Roman ruins – including the Colonne di San Lorenzo. These well-preserved ruins all date from the 2nd century, when they were part of a Roman building (experts aren’t sure whether it was a bath house or a temple). They were likely moved to their current location in the 5th century.

The 16 columns line one side of a piazza in front of the fifth-century Basilica di San Lorenzo, one of Milan’s oldest churches. They were brought to the piazza when the church was complete.

La Scala

La Scala Theater (Opera)

La Scala is an impressive sight whether or not you’re an opera or ballet aficionado. The building’s exterior may not be as remarkable as Milan’s Duomo, but a tour of its opulent interior is a must for any music lover. If you would like to take a full tour of La Scala, you must visit with an official tour guide. These theater tours also include a visit to La Scala Museum, which houses a collection of costumes and set designs, musical instruments, portraits of actors and musicians, and an archive. Of course, nothing beats seeing a La Scala concert, ballet, or opera, including beloved works by Rossini, Puccini, and Verdi.

Navigli

Navigli District

The Navigli District is known for its vibrant nightlife. On summer evenings and weekends, the streets come to life with teeming bars and nightclubs, many with outdoor tables along the canals or located directly on the water on floating barges. This is the great place to discover Milan’s thriving food and wine scene, so consider joining a Milan aperitivo tour or beer tasting, or a walking tour of the neighborhood with a gourmet slant.

Montenapoleone

The Quad d’Oro

The Quad d’Oro (literally the ‘golden square’) lies sandwiched between Via Manzoni and Corso Venezia in central Milan, the shining pinnacle of luxury-label shopping in a city dedicated to the pursuit of fashion and bella figura. Sophisticated Italian fashionistas stalk the four hallowed streets of Via Montenapoleone, Via Sant’ Andrea, Via Borgospesso and Via della Spiga with frightening intent to seek out the latest offerings from Chanel, Gucci, Armani, Tod’s, Versace, Vuitton, Prada and a multitude of other famous international brands. These elegant streets are lined with soft-stoned 16th-century palazzi and are also home to the HQs of several fashion brands as well as numerous smart cafés – Cova on Via Montenap is a particular favorite with shoppers for its gloriously strong coffee and tasty pastries – plus cool, stylish bars, clubs and restaurants.

Among the other shopping treasures to be found in the Quad d’Oro is the glittering Vetrerie di Empoli Milan (also on Via Montenap), where exquisite hand-blown glass is sold, and Acqua di Parma (Via Gesù), founded in 1916 and still selling lovingly packaged and gorgeous-smelling colognes in hand-made bottles. The Quad d’Oro is within easy walking distance of Milan’s Piazza del Duomo in the centro storico; bargain hunters should wait for the sales, held in January and July.

Some Ideas for Your Tours

The Cathedral

There are so many tours about this beautiful Cathedral, I think the best is the Roof tour (with elevator).

It’s amazing walking on the roof and see how much marble they used to build this church and the city view….

If you want to visit also the Cathedral, you need to buy the Duomo Pass Lift.

City Tour By Bus

This is the fastes and more comfortable way to visit the city. You can Hop on / Hop off and visit what you prefer. With a comfortable App on your phone you’ll have access to the city map and decide when Hop off.

The Sforzesco Castle

It’s possible to visit the underground with secret ways and more. The tour is guided and in english,

Last Supper

How can you go to Milan and don’t see the Last Supper of Da Vinci?!

How to get around the City and the Airport

If you arrive in Milan by airplane at the Malpensa Airport, there is an easy and economical way to arrive in the city center, you can take the Malpensa Express and you’ll be in the city in less than one hour.

To get around the city you can use the subway. It’s cheap and fast, pretty new and with the AC in the summer. For more information about it, click here.