Milan: First Time Visit
Description:
Italy's frenetic capital of design, fashion and finance hosts a collection of must do's for the first time visitor: The Duomo, a Gothic masterpiece and one of the largest cathedrals in the world, took some five centuries to complete. Close by is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a Belle Epoque arcade and La Scala, the famous opera house. At the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of Italy's finest galleries, you can feast on Bellini, Caravaggio, Raphael, Tintoretto and Veronese. The city's most famous piece of art can be seen at Santa Maria delle Grazie ("Our Lady of Grace"), the famous church and Dominican convent, where Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' is in the refectory of the convent. (Please remember that if you want to see Leonardo's Last Supper, you need to book in advance, because if you don't pre-purchase tickets, you have very little chance of being admitted to view the mural!) Finally for shopping, head for Quadrilatero d'Oro, the Golden Square, one of the world's great shopping areas.
Author: Adrian Petersen
Day 1 - Milan
This is your first day in Milan so you should relax a little and enjoy the atmosphere close to your chosen hotel. You are only minutes from one of the world's great shopping areas known as the golden square - Quadrilatero d'Oro - bordered by Via Montenapoleone and Via Della Spiga, where the fashion Gods have their temples and within a few steps of three iconic buildings, the Duomo, La Scala and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Start at Piazza Del Duomo and admire the facade of the cathedral, stroll through the Galleria and enter Piazza della Scala where you will find the Museo Teatrale alla Scala. Take a light lunch at Bistrot Duomo on top of the La Rinascente department store and if you still have some energy, climb the stairs to the roof of the Duomo for excellent views over the city. A few strides away is the Palazzo Reale which houses the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Cathedral Museum. In the early evening take a stroll or passeggiata back to the Galleria and enjoy a glass of prosecco, al fresco, at one of the Galleria's classic bars and people watch before dinner. Finally select a gelato (ice cream) from the nearby Antica Gelateria del Corso to end your first day in Milan.
1
Starhotel Rosa
Location:
view in google mapsP.za Fontana 3
20122 Milan, IT
Phone:
+39 02 88313
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Location:
view in google mapsGalleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Just off Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Scala
20121 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 7252 43014
Piazza del Duomo
Location:
view in google mapsPiazza del Duomo
20121 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 7252 43016
Bistrot Duomo
Location:
view in google maps2 Via San Raffaele
La Rinascente
20121 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 877 1207
Santa Maria Nascente (Duomo di Milano)
Location:
view in google mapsPiazza del Duomo, 18
20122 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 7202 26569
Museo Teatrale alla Scala
Location:
view in google mapsLargo Ghiringhelli 1
Piazza Scala
20121 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 2 8879 247310
Palazzo Reale
Location:
view in google maps12 Piazza del Duomo
20122 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 87567211
Antica Gelateria del Corso
Location:
view in google maps4 Galleria del Corso
20122 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 7639 0904Day 2 - Milan
On your second day, explore slightly further a field, not too far, as Milan's main sights are all within easy reach. The Sforzesco Castle is the first port of call followed by the Pinacoteca di Brera famous for its prestigious collections of ancient and modern art. Lunch at Da Claudio and taste the Milanese-style sushi. The afternoon starts with a visit to the church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore with its wonderful frescoes followed by a short taxi ride or metro trip to 10 Corso Como, (a 3 minute walk from Porta Garibadli Station) the final stop of the day. Grouped around a beautiful courtyard, this is one of Milan's most stylish places hosting the Galleria Carla Sozzani, a 3 room hotel, café, restaurant, bookstore plus a design and fashion store.
1
Castello Sforzesco
Location:
view in google mapsPiazza Castello 3
Piazza Castello
20121 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 8846 37002
Castello (Il)
Location:
view in google maps16 Via Brera
20121 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 86 29133
Da Claudio
Location:
view in google mapsVia Ponte Vetero 16
20121 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 805 68574
Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
Location:
view in google maps15 Corso Magenta
20123 Milan, Italy
6
10 Corso Como Café
Location:
view in google mapsVia Como, 10,
10 Corso Como
20154 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 2901 3581Day 3 - Milan
Today, something a little bit different - a visit to some archaeological remains at the Colonne di S. Lorenzo before heading to the Porta Ticinese, a medieval gateway to the city. Lunch at nearby Trattoria Toscana before exploring the canal area of the city. Milan's history is inherently connected with the system of canals, that wind their way through the whole city. Naviglio Grande is the oldest canal, construction took place from 1177 to 1257 and the canal is some fifty kilometres in length. Originally built as a means of transporting goods, it was also used to carry the marble blocks that were used in the construction of the cathedral. Today amongst the old wash-houses with their wooden beamed roofs there are artisans shops along side boutiques, cafés, restaurants and barges fitted out as bars creating a unique atmosphere. If you are staying in this area for dinner, try Della Mole, a traditional restaurant offering great food in an excellent location.
1
Colonne di S. Lorenzo
Location:
view in google maps39 Corso di Porta Ticinese
20123 Milan, Italy
2
Porta Ticinese Medievale
Location:
view in google mapsCorso di Porta Ticinese
20123 Milan, Italy
3
Trattoria Toscana
Location:
view in google maps58 Corso di Porta Ticinese
20123 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 8940 62925
Naviglio Grande
Location:
view in google mapsAlzaia Naviglio Grande 4
20144 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 8940 99717
Delle Mole
Location:
view in google mapsVia Scoglio di Quarto 3
20136 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 832 3810 / +39 33 8788 9407Day 4 - Milan
Now... I hope you bought your tickets! Milan's greatest piece of art, Leonardo's Last Supper, awaits you. Try and arrive 15/20 minutes before your ticket time. Take a taxi or metro (a 10 minute walk from Cadorna station) to the 15th century Renaissance convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Don't forget to view the exquisite cloister by Bramante and remember you only get 15 minutes to see this famed picture. Finally to Peck, by taxi or metro, Milan's best gourmet shop on via Spadari, no.9 (a few minutes from Duomo station). Three floors of mouth watering delicacies and in the basement, a 5000 bottle wine-cellar! A great place to have a coffee and stock up on some Milanese specialties before heading home.
Arreverderci Milano!
1
Santa Maria delle Grazie
Location:
view in google mapsPiazza Santa Maria delle Grazie 2
20123 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 8942 1146 / +39 02 467 61112
Peck
Location:
view in google mapsVia Spadari 9
20123 Milan, Italy
Phone:
+39 02 8023161