Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper at Vinciano Refectory, one of Milan’s most famous places and home to one of the most well-known masterpiece in the world

Santa Maria delle Grazie, the most suggestive church in Milan, it was the result of the marriage of Gothic and Renaissance styles. It stands on the site of a chapel with a fresco showing the Madonna, called “delle Grazie”. The construction of the church was begun in 1466 and it was completed in 1490. Two years later, Ludovico il Moro decided to make it his family mausoleum, and asked Bramante to modify it for that purpose. He designed the apse, the high dome and the harmonious cloister. Over the centuries it was also the seat of the Court of the Inquisition.

Tiziano, Mantegna, Raffaello, Tintoretto, Caravaggio and much more at the most important art collection in Milan: Pinacoteca di Brera

The most important art collection in Milan is housed in an imposing XVII century building commissioned by the Jesuits on the site of the pre-existent monastery in the Brera district. Here, in 1772 the Empress Maria Teresa d’Austria, gave the building over to the Academy of Arts, National Library and Art gallery for their premises. Inside there magnificent examples of Renaissance and Baroque Italian art including works by Tiziano, Piero della Francesca, Andrea Mantegna, Giovanni and Gentile Bellini, Raffaello, Tintoretto, Caravaggio and Veronese.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: the most legant shops, luxurious caffees and famous restaurants in Milan

Beside the Duomo is the Vittorio Emanuele II arcade. This cross-shaped arcade with its longitudinal axis of 196 metres and transverse axis of 105 metres, has an iron and glass cupola (48m). Known as the “ Milan Salon”, it was designed by the architect Giuseppe Mengoni in 1865 who died , falling from a scaffolding towards the end of the works.

Duomo, the symbol of Milan, with its 135 spires, more than 3400 statues and 96 gargoyles, is one of the biggest Gothic churches in the world

With its famous Madonnina, the golden statue which stands out from the biggest spire of the tiburium, the Duomo is an enormous cathedral, one of the biggest Gothic churches in the world. 157 metres long and 92 metres wide at its widest point it is situated in the heart of the city.

Milan: fashion, desing and art in the business capital of Italy

The "moral capital of Italy", as the Milanese in eternal competition with Rome have always sustained, was founded by the Celti Insubri towards 400 B. C. but with the arrival of the Romans, in eternal battle with the Gauls, it was conquered by them and named "Mediolanum", that is "in the middle of the plain". Since that time it became the most important industrial and commercial centre in Northern Italy.

What to see in Milan

Piazza della Scala

Standing in the centre is the monument to Leonardo da Vinci by Pietro Magni (1872), to the left side there is the Teatro alla Scala and on the right side Palazzo Marino, since 1860 the seat of the municipal representation.

The Teatro alla Scala, built in 1778 by Giuseppe Piermarini, known simply as La Scala, is the world’s most renowned opera theatre for the perfection of its performances and because it represents the goal and aspiration of every singer and musician. 


The rather simple exterior has a neo-classical style facade and is preceded by a small porched atrium. 

The inside is sumptuous; the horseshoe-shaped concert-hall with four rows of boxes and two galleries was carefully rebuilt after the serious damage it suffered in the last war. 

To attend a showing you have to buy the tickets some months ahead, those who are unable to plan their holidays so far ahead can visit the theatre museum which has a precious collection of objects and heirlooms related to the history of the theatre and theatrical art from ancient times up to the present day. 
The Verdi collection is of particular interest , a rich iconographical documentation of the life of the maestro as well as signed scores of his compositions.

Palazzo Marino is a magnificent building and one of the most famous in Milan. 
Begun in 1553 by Galeazzo Alessi on commission of a Genoese merchant, Tomaso Marino, it was completed by Luca Beltrami in 1892. 

Inside as well as the beautiful covered courtyard on coupled columns and the loggia which is richly decorated there is also the Sala Alessi ornamented with stuccoes and paintings.


Castello Sforzesco

The first castle built on this site was the one constructed by the Visconti family and destroyed at the end of their reign halfway through the XV century. 
The old manor-house, designed by Bramante and Filarete, underwent various facelifts, transformations and extensions over the centuries and from being a sumptuous residence became a military stronghold. 
In 1880 its complete demolition was ordered, but the architect Beltrami, assisted by a group of illustrious citizens, prevented any tampering and began its restoration by installing in the three spacious central sections, the Piazza d’Armi, the Rocchetta and the Corte Ducale, the Civic Institutes of Art and History. 
Inside the palace, in the 32 rooms containing sculptures, paintings, furniture, tapestries, musical instruments, jewellery, glassware and ceramics, one can admire real masterpieces like Michelangelo’s unfinished Pietà Rondinini (1564), his last work.


Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio

It’s one of Milan’s older churches and historically one of the medieval buildings most worthy of note in Lombardy. 

Begun in 379, it was constructed to a small scale with three naves and without a transept. 

It was consecrated by St. Ambrose who was Bishop of Milan in the IV century and Patron Saint of the city. 

Over the centuries changes were made to the original style, including modifications by Bramante, but the building conserves the majestic and solemn air of the old basilica. A medieval gate leads to the entrance door, flanked by two bell-towers. Inside, the pulpit and the extraordinary IX century altar, surmounted by a canopy decorated in gold and precious stones, are worthy of note. 

Inside the crypt is the tomb of the Saint.

Museo Poldi- Pezzoli

This houses an impressive art collection which the nobleman Gian Giacomo Poldi-Pezzoli (of whom there is a painting in the entrance hall by Francesco Hayez) managed to assemble in his residence. 

There are works by Botticelli, Canova, Pollaiolo, Bernardino Luini , Vincenzo Foppa, Mantegna , Piero della Francesca, Lorenzo Lotto, Bernini and many other important Italian and foreign painters as well as tapestries, sculptures, furniture, inlaid and engraved glass cases, miniature porcelain and jewellery. 


San Lorenzo Maggiore

The most important collection of Roman and Paleo-Christian ruins present in Milan is housed in this church. 

The basilica was built in the IV century probably on top of a Roman amphitheatre and later rebuilt in the XII and XVII centuries. 

Opposite the church there are 16 Roman columns and a statue of the Emperor Constantine. 

Paleo-Christian sarcophagi are contained inside the chapel of Sant’Aquilino, a Romanesque chapel decorated with IV century mosaics.

Milan offers a wide selection of hotels for every preferences and budgets. Find yours!

Do you want to see more fascinating places in Milan?

Duomo

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Pinacoteca di Brera

Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper