10 Best Attractions in Milan
Milan is famous as the fashion capital of the world. It’s is a big city, therefore there are many places to explore in Milan. From amazing architecture of Duomo cathedral and Central railway station, to shopping streets and relaxing parks and even more. Dining delicious food of northern italy to attending a theatre experience. Here is our best 10 attractions to mix it all during your visit in Milan.
1. Duomo – Milan cathedral
Certainly this place is the first among anyone visiting Milan. Duomo is the main Cathedral of Milan. It has a big open space in front of it, known as Piazza del Duomo. It is one of the favorite hangout places in the city. It’s the city center of Milan, and also a intersection of yellow and red metro lines.
Duomo is lined up by many fancy shops and restaurants nearby. This place is always busy with tourists visiting Duomo, shopping, enjoying spring sun or just taking pictures. Entry to the cathedral is not free and by paying little extra for terrace access, you can get the panoramic view of the city.
2. Santa Maria delle Grazie
The Church, Santa Maria delle Grazie is the place holding famous mural, “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci. This historical masterpiece attracts many visitors everyday. It is advisable to book tickets in advance, because often they are packed for months already. Take a metro to Conciliazione or Cadorna to reach here.
3. Sforzesco Castle and Sempione Park
One of the biggest fortresses in Europe, Castle Sforza was built by Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza in 15th century. Castle is open everyday without any fee, but museums in the castle have paid entry. Check here for more.
Castle opens in Sempione Park, which is hot spot for hangout with friends on a sunny day. It is a main city park of Milan. It ends up to Arco della Pace in the north, which is another attraction, with some good quality restaurants to spend evening with a drink or having dinner.
Take Cairoli Castello metro station on red line, or green line Cadorna to reach here.
4. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the one of the oldest, and most beautiful shopping centers in the world. The renaissance style structure has many high-end shops and restaurants in its four stories. Its huge arch entry is recognizable just on the left side of Duomo.
5. Quadrilatero della Moda
This area homes many of the high-end fashion brands in beautiful buildings. Via Monte napoleone is one the streets decorating the shopper’s paradise, it also has many antique shops and cafes. This place is beautifully organized between narrow streets and renaissance buildings.
6. Teatro alla Scala
La Scale is an Opera house of Milan. It hosts some of the wonderful performances time to time. It was built in 18th century, and it got damaged during second world war. It’s one of the places in Milan which surely going to give you some memory, if you were lucky to catch a show.
7. Navigli Grande
Navigli is a canal in the city of Milan. It is serving water from river Ticino in the east to the city. But in the city near Porta Ticinese, Navigli provides amazing background for locals to hangout.
There are so many restaurants along canal, serving dinner and Aperitivo, this place is very much lively during and after evening.
8. Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio
Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio is a church in Milan built in 379. It was reconstructed and renamed after Sant’Ambrogio in 11th century. It is a good example of Romanesque style of architecture in Milan. Entry of the Basilica has a huge atrium and four tall columns. It was also affected by second world war damages, but able to preserve and maintained to be one of the most interesting churches in Milan.
9. Pinacoteca di Brera
The Pinacoteca di Brera is a popular art gallery in Milan. It has intensive collection of paintings from renaissance and also from medieval time of Italy. It houses many famous art pieces by some of the well-known artists, like Raphael, Bramante, Giovanni Bellini, Rembrandt, van Dyck, Tintoretto, and Caravaggio, even more among others.
10. San Siro Stadium
San Siro is Milan’s main football stadium. It is home of Inter and AC Milan, both are city based first division football clubs. Stadium is among the biggest ones in Europe and also in the World, it is the largest in Italy. You can visit club museums on any day except for match days. San Siro can be reached by Purple line metro
