Milan: First Time Visit 4 days

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Part of the Star Hotels Group, Starhotel Rosa is a good addition to comfort and style in Milan. The entrance to the hotel is in Via Pattari on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, close to the Duomo. It has a large atrium with modern furniture and tastefully done rooms that combine the latest amenities with traditional decor. It is suitable for tourists who wish to visit Milan's main attractions while staying royally in a grand and opulent setting. The area is a pedestrian precinct and is well-connected by public transport.

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Milan's late-19th-century version of a mall is this wonderful steel-and-glass-covered, cross-shaped arcade. The elegant Galleria is the prototype of the enclosed shopping malls that were to become the hallmark of 20th-century consumerism. It's safe to say that none of the imitators have come close to matching the Galleria for style and flair. The designer of this urban marvel, Giuseppe Mengoni, didn't live to see the Milanese embrace his creation: He tripped and fell from a girder a few days before the Galleria opened in 1878. His shopping mall par excellence provides a lovely route between the Duomo and La Scala and is a fine locale for watching the flocks of well-dressed Milanese -- you'll understand why the Galleria is called Il Salotto di Milano (the drawing room of Milan).

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The gigantic central square in front of Milan cathedral has always been a reference point for Milan's town planners. It was a meeting point for important roads before and during the Roman period. In the 4th century, it was a religious centre with the construction of the Basilica of Santa Tecla, and the Baptistry of San Giovanni alle Fonti (both demolished in the mid-14th century and their foundations can be seen below the space in front of the cathedral). Since 1386, the cathedral has been the religious and cultural centre of the city. Symmetrical porticoes line the longer sides (with the Arengario pavilions built in 1939 and the Royal Palace on the south side and Galleria on the north side). In the centre stands the equestrian statue of Vittorio Emanuele II by Ercole Rosa (1878) which was covered until a few years ago by flashing advertising signs.

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In an elegant and spectacular setting (upstairs at La Rinascente overlooking the Duomo rooftop), this restaurant delights day shoppers or pre-theatre diners with international dishes like Gazpacho (in summer), baked eggplant with veal meatballs, basil and tomato Sauce. Dessert highlights include Clafoutis, a cherry-flavored custard cake.

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Watched over by the Madonnina, the cathedral's high rose marble spires represent the city's most famous artistic and religious monument. The dimensions of Christendom's third biggest church are still awe-inspiring at 108m high (to the tip of the tallest spire) and 158m long. A range of architectural styles feature: doorways are 17th century, the central balcony from the late 18th Century and the three main upper windows early 19th-century pieces by Carlo Amati. The cathedral's vast interior overwhelms: its impressive pillars, vaults and streamlined arches enhanced by light that floods through the splendid stained-glass windows and the wonderful statuary surrounding the naves.

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The Museo Teatrale alla Scala was founded in 1913, but underwent a radical restoration and was opened again in 2004. The museum is a music-lover's Mecca: it gathers portraits and statues of the most well-known composers, opera singers and actors. It contains rare, ancient musical instruments such as a XVII spinet with the warning words "Inexpert hand, touch me not!" painted on it. Historical memories and set designs of the Theatre are on display on the second floor. In the first room, it is worth pointing out the still-life of musical instruments painted by Baschenis. The entrance of this museum is in the same building of the Theatre just on the side of the main doors. - Maria Frullini

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The seat of government in the city was originally the Palazzo del Broletto, where the municipal institutions were located. It became a noble residence during the rule of the Torriane and Visconti families, who gave it its shape that can in part still be seen, based on a system of two courtyards. Partially demolished to make way for the Cathedral nave, the building was refurbished after 1452 by Francesco Sforza. Used as the seat of power by the Spanish rulers, it underwent substantial modifications until the late 18th century, in particular the extensive work by Giuseppe Piermarini. Alongside the volumes of the Palazzo there is the Arengario, seat of the Palazzo del Turismo, with its two pavilions designed in 1939 (and completed in 1956) by the architects Enrico Agostino Griffini, Pier Giulio Magistretti, Giovanni Muzio and Piero Portaluppi. Feature of interest - On the first floor of the Palazzo, there is the famous 'Sala delle Cariatidi', in the location of the ancient theatre destroyed by fire in 1776. This hall is now undergoing restoration.

Description:

Add this as a stop on any itinerary that brings you to the Galleria del Corso. The historical building, filled with elegant furnishings, is spread over three floors to hold the large number of people who come here everyday to try one of its delicious specialities, or for a cup of coffee. The Nescafé machine is a real novelty and can serve six different types of coffee. The weekend brunch from noon-4p on Saturdays and Sundays includes American-style buffet foods, sliced meats, salads, cakes and ice creams.

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Though it's been clumsily restored many times, most recently at the end of the 19th century, this fortresslike castle continues to evoke Milan's two most powerful medieval and Renaissance families, the Visconti and the Sforza. The Visconti built the castle in the 14th century and the Sforza, who married into the Visconti clan and eclipsed them in power, reconstructed it in 1450. The most influential residents were Ludovico il Moro and Beatrice d'Este (he of the Sforza and she of the famous Este family of Ferrara). After ill-advisedly calling the French into Italy at the end of the 15th century, Ludovico died in the dungeons of a château in the Loire valley -- but not before the couple made the Castello and Milan one of Italy's great centers of the Renaissance. It was they who commissioned the works by Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci, and these splendors can be viewed on a stroll through the miles of salons that surround the Castello's enormous courtyard.

The salons house a series of small city-administered museums known collectively as the Civici Musei Castello Sforzesco. They include a pinacoteca with works by Bellini, Correggio, and Magenta, and the extensive holdings of the Museo...

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This gallery located at Via Brera, 16 was founded back in 1967. Right in the middle of artistic Milan, it secializes in modern twentieth century Italian paintings. It remains closed on Sundays and is open to the public on Monday mornings but only by appointment.

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One of Milan's oft-repeated idiosyncracies is that it is a landlocked city and yet has the freshest fish in the country: The best catch is trucked up here from the shore every night to chase those bankers' euros. The best place to enjoy Milan's maritime bounty without dispensing a fortune is at this Brera fish market, which becomes a popular raw bar at night. Almost everyone goes for the mixed plate, which includes raw tuna, sea bass, salmon, red snapper, sturgeon, shrimp, prawns, and cod, or whatever else didn't sell that day. Order a plate for 10€ ($13), or a smaller portion for 8€ ($10), and enjoy it standing up at the counter (there are no seats) with a glass of prosecco, which is on the house.

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This church was built in 1503 by Gian Giacomo Dolcebuono. The facade, erected between 1574 and 1581, was completed in 1872 by Angelo Colla. There are three floors inside with nineteeth century frescoes on the sides of the loggias and the naves. The internal facade also includes frescoes by Simone Peterzano. In the third chapel on the left, there is a nun's choirbox made in wood by Gian Giacomo Dolcebuono in 1500 with an extremely fine organ in the centre made in 1554 by Gian Giacomo Antegnani and painted in tempera by Francesco Medici. There are also frescoes on the walls by Bernardino, Aurelio and Giovan Pietro Luini. Do not miss the frescoes by Bernardino Luini painted from 1522 to 1529.

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Found in Corso Como, one of Milan's most frequented and fashionable spots for night-life, this is a favourite haunt for locals as well as foreigners and models. A deliberately simplistic or minimalistic atmosphere creates a striking canvas for the artistic presentation of the delicate international cuisine. The food goes down well with the house drinks and non-stop music.

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In front of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, there is a square with a row of columns on either side which were taken from a monumental building dating from the 2nd century B.C. and repositioned. Up until 1935, the space between the church and columns was entirely occupied by old houses abutting onto the façade of the church itself. Despite the plans to conserve this ancient urban fabric, the renovations led to the demolition of the old houses and the isolation of the monument.

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The ancient Porta Ticinese gate, part of the 12th-century city walls built after the destruction wrought by Frederick Barbarossa, is the only remaining gate along with the arches of Porta Nuova. The present state of the gate reflects the work of Camillo Boito (1861-65) who isolated the surviving structures and completed the missing parts with his own interpretation. Feature of interest: Starting from the ancient gate and moving out of the city, one finds Corso di Porta Ticinese, originally a fortified wall, part of the extension of the city fortifications commissioned by Azzone Visconti in the 14th century. The original character of this district, one destined to craftsmen's workshops, can still be seen in the buildings, featuring a narrow, tall street front and an extensive series of inner courtyards and service buildings further back.

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Do not be surprised by the dark and empty entrance. The party is not there. Keep going ahead passing in front of the kitchens, the bathrooms and make a sharp turn between the waiters. All of a sudden a large room will appear where there are restaurant tables, and the courtyard where you can finally have a cocktail. Although it isn't a very large place, Trattoria Toscana is very charming and makes you forget you are in Milan. In the center of the courtyard is an immense plant with tables all around it, plus chairs and the bar where the pizzetta anti-pastas and other cold first courses are served, as is compulsory at this hour. Always very crowded, it has never lost its image as a trendy vogue bar. It is also very popular with models.

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Naviglio Grande was one of the first canals in Milan and was one of the most important engineering works to be carried out in Lombardy during the Middle Ages. For centuries it played a fundamental role in the city's economy by connecting it to the great canal network in Lombardy. Exiting the Darsena along the towpath of the Naviglio Grande, you will see the large residential buildings with fenced courtyards from the early 1900s, arts and crafts workshops, old barges (now turned into bars), the many areas that are undergoing urban renewal, and, further out, the country villas of the nobility (particularly between Abbiategrasso and Robecco sul Naviglio). Make a quick stop near Vicolo Lavandai, the ancient shelter with wooden beams that covers the old communal wash-house, a quaint location that is one of the relatively few remainders of Milan's distant past. Check website for more details.

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The area around the canals has been one of Milan's most popular night spots for years now. The area is near the historical Porta Ticinese and the columns of S. Lorenzo, and is always filled with a stream of people out for the night. This is a traditional restaurant, with air-conditioning, a summer garden and a boat. You can eat well here and then go out into the chaotic climate of the surrounding area. The cuisine is very traditional, with good fish or meat-based dishes, and excellent first courses and starters. To sum up, this restaurant offers good food in an excellent location.

Description:

Commissioned by Ludovico di Moro and designed by Guiniforte Solari, this building was intended as a mausoleum for the Sforzesco dynasty, in which the remains of the duke and his wife, Beatrice d'Este, as well as others connected with the family, were to be laid to rest. The adjoining Dominican convent's cloister and sacristy were later renovated by Bramante. The refectory walls are home to Leonardo da Vinci's(1452-1519) Last Supper. Bramante's façade is of particular interest as is the gallery's terracotta ornamentation, which became one of the dominant motifs in northern Italian Renaissance architecture. Guests must book in advance. One of the most famous paintings The Last Supper is housed here. Painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, it is a very complex undertaking and hence a lot of rough sketches were made he finalized the unbelievable painting, which had its huge share of bad luck all the way.

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Francesco Peck a ham-seller from Prague set up shop in Milan in 1883. Some 25 years later he sold his shop to Eliseo Magnaghi who managed the store for nearly 50 years before selling it on to the Grazioli family in 1956. Today it is owned by the Stoppani brothers, who bought the store in 1970.

Similar in some ways to Fauchon in Paris or perhaps a mini version of Harrod's foodhall in London, for the Milanese however, this is foodie heaven. For hams and cheeses, for pastas and sauces, for conserves and preserves, for oils and vinegars, you won't know which way to look first!

Don't miss the basement, with its 5000 bottle wine-cellar!