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MILAN
CITY GUIDE
THE

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THE MILAN CITY GUIDE

Summary
THINGS TO KNOW
3

History and culture

THINGS TO SEE
5
7
9

Churches and Museums

Historical buildings and monuments
Places and charm

THINGS TO TRY
11
13

Eating and Drinking

Shopping

15

Hotels and lodgings

THINGS TO EXPERIENCE
16
18

Events
La Dolce Vita

ITINERARIES
20
22
24

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A special day
Shopping in Milan
Pavia and Vigevano

THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO KNOW

THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO KNOW

History and culture

forcing an alliance with the emperors: Ottone
of Saxony , who was crowned King of Italy
in the Church of SantAmbrogio, made this
power even more legitimate.
In the first half of the year 1000, The
Archbishop of Milan became the most
powerful political figure in the whole of
Northern Italy. After a series of political
problems, Milan became a municipality
(1117), and gradually freed itself from the
Archbishop. It also began to expand by
declaring war on other municipalities in the
nearby area. Later the attempt by Frederick
I of Swabia to take over the city gave rise
to the birth of the Lombard League, which
fought for the citys independence, and
which ended in 1176 after the defeat of
Barbarossa.
Milan: the Duomo

The citys origins date back to 400 B.C when

the Gauls settled in this area of the Po Plains,
having defeated the Etruscans who were by
now in decline.
When the city was conquered by the Romans
in 222 B.C. and annexed to the Empire, it
was given the name Mediolanum. After some
attempts at rebellion, it became a permanent
Latin colony (89 B.C.) and then regional
capital (15 B.C.). Over the years, Mediolanum
acquired the name Roma secunda due
to its strategic position. After 313 A.D., the
year in which the Emperor Constantine issued
the Edict of Tolerance towards Christianity,
many churches were built and the first
bishop was appointed: Ambrogio was such
an influential person that the Church became
the Ambrosian Church.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Milan
was left to the mercy of the Barbarians, until
it was conquered by the Longobards (also
known as Lombards) in 569 A.D. Towards
the end of the eighth century, the bishops
managed to use the influence to full extent,
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made his debut was built, together with

many Neoclassical buildings and the Arco
della Pace.
In 1859, the Austrians were driven out of Milan
and the city was annexed to the Kingdom of
Piedmont, which then became the Kingdom
of Italy in 1861.
Milan was immediately chosen as the
economic and cultural capital of Italy, and
has maintained this title up to modern days.

From 1200 onwards, Milan became an

increasingly important city, and finally
changed from being a municipality to a
Seigneury. The city walls were extended,
new buildings were built and roads were
paved. The Visconti family, noblemen from
Bergamo, Cremona, Piacenza, Brescia and
Parma came to power in 1300 and brought
about a lengthy period of splendor and
wealth for the city. Monuments were built,
including the famous Duomo in 1386, that
soon became the citys symbol. The Sforza
family took over from the Viscontis, and
with them they brought peace after many
years of warring against Venice and Florence.
Milan developed sciences, art and literature
under the Sforza Duchy: Leonardo da Vinci
and il Bramante were called to the Court
of Ludovico il Moro. When Charles V came to
the throne in 1535, the city began a period of
almost two centuries of Spanish rule, which is
narrated by Alessandro Manzoni in his classic
book I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed). At
the beginning of the eighteenth century, the
Austrians arrived in Milan: Milan underwent
a deep cultural changed under Austrian rule.
The La Scala Theater where Giuseppe Verdi
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THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO SEE

THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO SEE

Churches and Museums

tell the story of about 1600 years of Milans
history.
Basilica of Sant Eustorgio
A wonderful medieval religious building that
was built at the beginning of the fourth
century on the wishes of the Bishop Eustorgio
who brought the remains of the wise kings
here from Constantinople, that can still be
seen in the Chapel bearing their name today.

Milan: Bailica of SantAmbrogio

From the ancient Basilica of SantAmbrogio

to the huge, majestic Duomo: the greatest
symbols of religion in Milan:
The Duomo
The most outstanding example of GothicLombard architecture, the Duomo dates back
to 1300. It was built on the wishes of Gian
Galeazzo Visconti. This imposing religious
building, second only to St Peters Cathedral
in Rome, houses almost 3500 statues that
are spread over an area of almost 12,000
square meters. The tallest spire, which has
the famous Madonnina on top of it, is 108
meters high. The statue of the Virgin Mary,
the Madonnina, is covered in 3900 pieces
of gold leaf.
Basilica of SantAmbrogio
This is the symbol of Milans religiousness.
It was built in 379 A.D. in the RomanesqueLombard style, and was consecrated by the
famous Bishop Ambrogio, who lent his name
to the Ambrosian Church. Inside there are
valuable artifacts and works of art that
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Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore

This wonderful basilica, located opposite the
Roman columns that are the only remains
of a third-century temple, includes many
different architectural styles, due to the
various renovations that the building has
undergone. The main elements are Paleochristian (for example the mosaics) but other
more recent styles also stand out, including
ones from 1600 (the dome) to 1800 (the
faade).
Santa Maria delle Grazie
This church was built in the second half of
the fifteenth century. It was only completed
years later by il Bramante on the wishes
of Ludovico il Moro. The famous architect
designed the wonderful apse, the cloisters
and the old sacristy. Leonardo da Vinci
painted The Last Supper in the refectory,
which is one of the most famous works of art
ever painted.

recently finished, bringing it back to its full

glory and halting the deterioration that was
turning it into a faded, shapeless stain.
La Scala Theater Museum
Founded in 1913, this interesting museum
houses exhibits of various costumes and
theatre sets that are of great historical and
artistic value. Some rooms are dedicated
to the La Scala Theaters architecture and
the life of the famous composer Giuseppe
Verdi, while others house ancient musical
instruments, curtains and costumes that
belonged to famous artists such as Maria
Callas and Rudolf Nureyev.
Pinacoteca di Brera
The Pinacoteca di Brera is an art gallery set
up in 1809 by Napoleone Bonaparte. It houses
a great number of works of art that were
confiscated from churches and convents
throughout Europe. Works to be seen range
from the fourteenth to the twentieth
centuries, and include masterpieces by artists
such as Piero della Francesca (Pala dUrbino),
Raffaello (Sposalizio della Vergine), Mantenga
(Cristo Morto), il Bramante and Caravaggio.
The courtyard holds a wonderful statue of
Napoleon that was created by Canova.

A selection of the most interesting museums

in Milan that must be visited:

Pinacoteca Ambrosiana
This is Milans oldest museum, which
was opened in 1609 It is home to some
masterpieces by artists such as Caravaggio,
Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello and Botticelli.
The Ambrosiana also houses an important
library which contains some ancient codes,
illuminated manuscripts, and ancient books.

Cenacolo Vinciano
Between 1495 and 1498, Leonardo da Vinci
painted the whole wall of the refectory in
the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle
Grazie with a fresco of The Last Supper, one
of the most famous masterpieces in history.
This work of art has undergone a restoration
that lasted twenty years and which was only

The Museum of Ancient Art

This interesting museum is housed in the
splendid Castello Sforzesco, and is home
to some of the most important sculptures
that help to understand Lombard history
and culture. The works come from a period
ranging from the 4th to the 16th century.
They include the funeral monument for
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Gaston di Foix and the Piet Rondinini by

Michelangelo.
Museum of Science and Technology
This interesting museum, which is named after
Leonardo da Vinci and which was recently
renovated and housed in an old monastery, is
one of the most interesting science museums
in the whole world. 40,000 square meters of
exhibition space for subjects ranging from
astronomy to computers. The models and
machines built to the design by the great
Tuscan genius cannot be missed.

THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO SEE

THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO SEE

Historical buildings and monuments

shapes. Among the statues, chapels and other
works of art, we can find the graves of some
of the most famous people from Italian
and European culture, such as Alessandro
Manzoni, Salvatore Quasimodo, Eugenio
Montale and Maria Callas.

survive up to the present day. These sixteen

columns that stand opposite the Basilica of
San Lorenzo are all that remains of an ancient
Roman temple, that probably dates back to
the 2nd century.

Royal palace
The Royal Palace, in Piazza Duomo, is a very
old building that dates back to 1100 and
which has been home to the most powerful
men in Milan over the centuries, from the
Viscontis to the Sforza family, the Spanish
governors and Austrian rulers. Several
temporary art exhibitions are held inside the
building today.

Milan: Arco della Pace

Buildings and monuments that bear witness

to the history of this city, the economic and
cultural center of Italy.
Castello Sforzesco
The original center dates back to 1450,
which was built on the wishes of the Duke
Francesco Sforza. Over the centuries, the
castle has undergone various changes, also
due to the particular ups and downs that
have seriously affected the structure. At the
end of the 19th century, a major renovation
was made on the whole building. Castello
Sforzesco is a majestic building. Inside it
has wonderful interior courtyards, built in
Gothic-Renaissance style and incredible halls,
designed by Leonardo, and frescos painted by
master painters such as Bramante, who were
commissioned by the court of Ludovico il
Moro. The Castle now hosts important art
exhibitions.
The Monumental Cemetery
This great cemetery was built around 1860, in
a Lombard style and some obviously Byzantine
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Arco della pace

In the middle of Piazza Sempione there is this
huge monument 25 meters high, that dates
back to Napoleonic era. Arco della Pace is
built in Neoclassical style, and is decorated
with marble sculpture and Corinthian
columns, and on the top there is a charming
bronze Sestiga, a chariot drawn by six
horses.
La Scala Theater
A Temple to Opera music, built at the end
of the 1700s over the remains of the Church
of Santa Maria della Scala, from which the
theater then took its name. Some of the
greatest names in opera have made their
debuts in this theater: Rossigni, Donizetti,
Bellini, Puccini and, in 1839, Giuseppe Verdi
who moved to the Grand Hotel in Milan on that
date where he continued to live until he died.
The La Scala Theater, famous worldwide,
stands on one side of the beautiful square
that carries the same name. In the center of
the square there is a monument to Leonardo
da Vinci and on the other side there is the
wonderful Palazzo Marini.
Columns of San Lorenzo
This is the only monument that dates back
to the Roman era, which has managed to
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THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO SEE

10

THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO SEE

Places and charm

Brera
This is one of the most exclusive and
fashionable places in Milan, that has an
atmosphere vaguely reminiscent of Paris,
with its artists, open-air coffee shops and
sophisticated boutiques - full of wares for the
home and handmade dresses that seem to be
creations of sculptors and not dressmakers.
This area, that could be described as
luxury Bohemian includes Via Brera, Via
Solferino, Via Pontaccio, Corso Garibaldi
and Corso Como. Alongside it there are many
eighteenth century palaces including Palazzo
Brera at number 28 Corso Como that houses
the famous Pinacoteca.

Milan: Brera

To discover the most romantic, attractive

side of this city: from the picturesque views
of the Navigli to the green oases in the center
of Milan
Navigli
The origins of the Navigli date back to about
1100, but this stretch of water was only made
navigable from the Ticino to the center of
Milan at the end of the 14th century, to help
transport the marble that was needed to
build the Duomo.
The Milan Wharf, that was an important
commercial port for river transport for many
centuries, was still working up to the end
of the Second World War, and then closed
permanently in 1979. Today the Naviglio
Grande and the Naviglio Pavese (that
connects Milan to Pavia) make up one of the
most charming places in Milan, with the old,
typical case di ringhiera houses, antique
shops and hundreds of clubs standing on each
side, that are invade the banks of the rivers
from April to September with their open-air
tables.
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Piazza Mercanti
This characteristic square near the Duomo
is surrounded by very interesting historical
buildings that represent Milanese culture
from the middle ages to the seventeenth
century. These include Palazzo della Ragione
that dates back to 1200, the Loggia degli Osii,
the seventeeth century Palazzo delle Scuole
Palatine and Palazzo dei Giureconsulti that
stands at the top of Via Mercanti.

Parco Sempione
This park stands behind Castello Sforzesco.
It is huge and fascinating with its lakes,
meadows and little bridges. It is the ideal
place to spend a Sunday afternoon in the
fresh air. The Park is home to monuments
such as the Arena Napoleonica, the Tower
designed by Gi Ponti and the Triennale di
Milano.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
This was built around 1870 and is called the
salotto di Milano (The Milan Lounge): If you
walk along its cross-shaped arms, topped
by the glass and iron structure, you can see
old coffee-shops, restaurants, boutiques and
historical bookshops.
Porta Venezia Gardens
These wonderful gardens can be found
between Via Palestro and Porta Venezia,
the favorite place to be for the Milanese on
springtime afternoons. The gardens which
were the first to be opened to the public in
Milan, date back to the end of the eighteenth
century and were renovated in 1880.
There are many monuments dedicated to
famous characters from Italian history and
there are also many botanical species to be
admired.
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THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO TRY

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THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO TRY

Eating and Drinking

Milan: Risotto alla Milanese

Traditional Milanese cooking is made up of

simple, meager dishes and perhaps for this
reason it was banished during the ambitious
1980s. It has only recently returned to
popularity. Milan is a city that lives off fashion
and trends: there was Chinese cooking (that
was obviously discovered here before it was
adopted in the rest of Italy), then Indian
cooking, then African cooking, followed by
Japanese and Middle Eastern cooking. The
Milanese people have now returned to their
origins, enjoying the tastes with the pleasure
that one feels when one returns home after
a long trip. Now there are trattorias, inns
and restaurants (including luxury ones)
everywhere that offer traditional Milanese
dishes to eat.
If you are planning to visit this city, dont
miss out on the chance to try some typical
food that you can find here in their original
version.
We offer you a typically Milanese menu
in our guide to Milan, from antipasto to
dessert. Actually, from the aperitif, because
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an evening in Milan cannot go without this

ritual.
One of the many aperitifs that you can
try out during happy hour is the classical
Negroni, which is a little aggressive but
is especially loved by the Milanese, made
with Bitter Campari, Gin, red Martini and
ice, that must be tried with a few snacks.
After your aperitif you can choose one
of the several restaurants in Milan that
specializes in traditional cooking. We advise
you to start with a traditional antipasto,
made of nervetti (boiled calfs shank and
knee cartilage cut into strips) and mixed
with thinly sliced onions. As a first course
you cannot miss out on the classical Risotto
alla Milanese, made with a full-bodied beef
broth (the original recipe includes bone
marrow) and flavored with saffron. As a
second course we suggest a classic Milanese
dish: cassouela, an extremely filling dish
made with various poor parts of pork meat
(tail, ribs, rind, feet and ears) cooked with
green cabbage and other vegetables. If you
are not feeling so courageous, go for a more
traditional dish, a tasty Milanese cutlet that
is probably nothing like youve ever tasted in
other places: Milan restaurants actually serve
a very tasty, crunchy cutlet, made with a veal
chop, including the bone. Another alternative
is veal tonn, that is a light, tasty veal slice
covered in tuna, mayonnaise, anchovy and
caper sauce. We recommend an excellent
Barbera from the Oltrep Pavese as your
wine.
If you should decide to spend time in Milan
that coincides with the Christmas festivities,
you could end your lunch with a huge slice
of Panettone, the typical local Christmas
cake, that is even tastier if you eat it with
traditional Mascarpone cream.

the P valley that includes the Lombardia,

Piedmont, Veneto and Emilia Romagna
regions. Mascarpone is also a typical Milanese
cheese, that is an essential ingredient for
desserts and creams, often mixed with other
cheeses, salami or fish. However, the most
famous Milanese cheese is without a doubt
Gorgonzola, that rich, strongly flavored
cheese that reigns supreme at the Milan
dinner table. This creamy cheese, that has
blue veins running through it, is used to dress
tasty first courses (in this case mixed with
mascarpone), and to flavor Polenta or can
be eaten alone. Finally, we should remember
Crescenza or Stracchino, the soft, creamy
fresh milk cheese with a slightly sweet taste,
that is excellent when spread on a slice of
bread or eaten with raw vegetables.
If you are interested in buying foodstuffs
or wine, you must visit Peck, a legendary
temple of gastronomy. In Via Spadari, where
there is also a famous fishmongers, you will
find all you need to satisfy your taste buds
and your sense of hedonism: DOP (certified
origin) cheeses from all over Italy, all kinds
of salami, extra virgin oils, aged balsamic
vinegars, rare tea and spice mixtures, pretty
preserves of food in oil and a wine cellar that
is filled with the most valuable wines from
Italy and abroad.

There are typical products from the province

of Milan, including Salame di Milano, made
from finely minced pork and beef meat, and
many types of cheese too. Grana Padano is a
famous cheese overseas, which comes from
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THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO TRY

Shopping

Milan: Galleria vittorio Emanuele

Milan is Heaven on Earth for shopping lovers.

You can find the best of everything in this
city, especially everything connected with
fashion and design.
Milan has a wonderful history as a laboratory
of creative ideas: The Polytechnic and the
Accedemia di Brera have trained fashion
designers and other designers who are famous
worldwide. They exhibited their creations for
the first time in Milan, often creating scandal
and revolutionizing fashion with their own
personal style, never going unobserved.
In this section, dedicated principally to
fashion, we will offer you a small selection of
designers born in Milan, or who started their
careers here, contributing to the great name
of Italian fashion in the world.
Giorgio Armani: born in Piacenza in 1934,
the king of Italian fashion started his career
in Milan, working as a buyer for Rinascente.
At the beginning of the sixties, he left his
job to dedicate himself to creating patterns
for well-known designers, even though he
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had no specific training. In 1975 he risked

again, starting up the label Giorgio Armani
for men and women and he was successful
immediately. He built up a close relationship
with the cinema world from the start, and
was consecrated with his clothes made for
American Gigolo. A young Richard Gere was
seen in front of a huge clothes closet, in the
dressing ceremony scene, that was arranged
in a maniacally perfect order. Foremost
symbol of elegance in the 1980s, Armani is
still king of world fashion today.

win over grey Milan too with its warmth and

sensuality.

Miuccia Prada: Miuccia Prada, an anticonformist who was politically active in the
1970s, took over the family company in 1978
that was specialized in bags and leather
accessories, and revolutionized everything.
Her bags became sought-after pieces and
became part of the Milanese landscape. Here
unmistakable, minimal-chic style won over
the Milanese upper middle classes in the 1980s
and 1990s. Her sports range, characterized by
the famous red line made the label even
better known and won over larger shares of
the market. However, Prada did not want to
be just a reference point for fashion: In 1995,
she founded the Fondazione Prada in Milan,
an important artistic laboratory and window
for contemporary international artists.

Versace: this name owes its fortune to the

creativity of Gianni Versace, born in Reggio
Calabria and who moved to Milan in the
1970s to work in the fashion world, designing
patterns for other designers. Thanks to the
managerial skills of his brother Santo, the label
Versace was set up a few years later, a daring,
aggressive label that is characterized by the
unusual matching of colors and geometric
patterns printed on silk. After Giannis death
in 1997, the company was taken over by his
brother and sister, Santo and Donatella.

Gianfranco Ferr: born in the province of Milan

in 1944, Gian Grance Ferr gained a degree in
architecture at the Milan Polytechnic. After
traveling to India, from where he took his
inspiration, he started working in the fashion
world, with a rational, structured style that
gave him the nickname architect of fashion.
The tailored cut of his clothes and the lines of
his shapes conquered the world.

Dolce & Gabbana: Domenico Dolce and

Stefano Gabbana, born in the province of
Palermo and in Milan respectively, are the
most famous couple in the Italian fashion
world. Their style evolves continuously, and
is much appreciated by chameleon-like
stars such as Madonna. They made their
debut in Milan in 1985, in the boom period
of career women, ambitious and squared-off,
just like the shoulder pads that were used to
pad their suit jackets. Dolce & Gabbana went
against the trend however, and rediscovered
the fuller Mediterranean femininity: rounded
shapes, petticoats that showed off ones
cleavage, loose, wild hairstyles. Sicily will
always be a source of inspiration that will
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THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO EXPERIENCE

Hotels and lodgings

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THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO EXPERIENCE

Events
forty years. During these events, Milan is
overrun by top models, designers, journalists,
actors and politicians, and become even more
trendy if that is at all possible. The most
important events are the ones dedicated to
womens fashion: in the months of February
and March and September and October, the
autumn/winter and spring/summer collection
for the next year are presented. There are
parties, concerts and other cultural events
that surround the fashion shows.
Milano Moda Uomo (Mens
autumn/winter (January)

Fashion)

Milano Moda Donna (Womens Fashion)

autumn/winter (February - March)
Milano Moda Donna (Womens Fashion)
spring/summer (September October)
Milan: Castello Sforzesco

Milan: Womens fashion

There are all kinds of accommodation

available in Milan, for all budgets and needs.
If you want a place that is close to all
the most important artistic and cultural
attractions in the city, you can choose from
among the several Milan hotels. There is no
end of choice in the range of categories: in
the center you can find from 1-star to 5-star
hotels. If you must abide by a tighter budget
but you dont want to miss out on the comfort
of staying in the city center, there another
three possibilities: bed & breakfast in Milan,
room-rental or hostel. If you are planning
a mid-long stay in the city, why dont you
rent an apartment in Milan instead, that are
available for stays of more than one week.
If you are on a business trip, you are in
the right place: many hotels in Milan have
meeting and conference facilities of all sizes,
both in the city center and outside the city
too. Do you want to get to know the area
outside Milan, as well as the city? Then why
not choose a rural country farmhouse as the
base for your trip? There are several pleasant
ones between Milan and Pavia, that offer both
accommodation and food to their guests.

Milan is considered to be the economic and

cultural capital of Italy. A metropolis that has
been the ideal setting for international events
for decades, that attract professionals, artists
and intellectuals from all over the world. Our
guide to Milan has chosen a few of the most
important event that are regularly organized
in the city. If you plan to visit Milan during
one of these events, make sure you book your
hotel in Milan well in advance (at least one
month): the city is literally taken over by
visitors and you risk not being able to find a
room free!

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Milan, Capital of Fashion from January to

March and from September to October
The National Chamber of Fashion was
founded in 1958 in the Grand Hotel in Via
Vittorio Emanuele. It is an association that
has some of the most famous names from the
Made in Italy world as its members. It aims
to promote and enhance the value of Italian
fashion in Italy and overseas.
The Chamber of Fashion has organized events
connected to the world of fashion for over

World Press Photo from May to June

Founded in Amsterdam in 1955, the World
Press Photo Foundation is an independent
international institution for non-profit
photo-journalism. An exhibition is organized
each year in Amsterdam that shows moving,
sometimes disturbing pictures that show the
most important events from the past year.
This is the most prestigious exhibition in
photo-journalism and the works, once they
have been selected, cannot be censured by
the structures that host them. This exhibition
goes on a world tour and stops off, in May and
June, in Corso Como 10 in Milan, the home
of the famous Galleria Carla Sozzani. The
exhibition is free to all.
Triennale di Milano
Set up in 1923, with the intention of being
the overview of the decorative arts and
modern industries, and to stimulate relations
between industry, production sectors and
applied arts. The Triennale was soon found
to be the mirror of artistic and architectural
culture in Italy and one of the largest areas
for viewing emerging trends. Its headquarters

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THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO EXPERIENCE

La Dolce Vita
have been in the Palazzo dellArte in Parco
Sempione since 1933. It has an overall surface
area of 12,000 square meters. The exhibition
space amounts to about 8000 square
meters. In recent year, the Triennale has
expanded its responsibilities to fashion and
audiovisual communications. On the ground
floor there is the Galleria del Triennale for
temporary exhibitions 1,500 square meters
of exhibition space designed by Gae Aulenti.
There is also a permanent collection of Italian
graphic, architectural and urban design.
Fiera degli Oh bej, oh bej December
On December 7th and 8th, during one of
the festivities to honor SantAmbrogio, the
patron saint of the city, the Fiera degli oh
bei, oh bei is organized around the Basilica
di SantAmbrogio (link to things to see
churches and museums) that is one of the
most moments of the year that any decent
Milanese person eagerly awaits. During
these two days there are market stalls of all
kinds, some of them similar to the ones from
Senigallia, flower stalls and sweet and cake
stalls, all full of color that attract and amaze.
The name of the fair comes from term that
the stall owners used to catch the attention
of the people passing by.

area of more than 255,000 square meters

inside the Milan Trade Fair District. It
represents the products of more than 3100 of
the most dynamic, creative companies on the
international market and receives 260,000
visitors including economic and commercial
operators, with more than 130,000 coming
from 150 countries overseas. Alongside
the trade fair, The Salone also promotes
important side events, whose main aim is
to enhance the role of design and to spread
culture, and also to protect our artistic
heritage.
La Scala Theater from December to
November
Opened in 1778, the La Scala Theater is
one of the oldest, most important cultural
institutions in Milan. It is still considered to
be the temple of opera music today. During
the theater season, it is possible to see
operas, ballets and concerts.

Milan: Aperitif Negroni

The Salone del mobile (Furniture fair) April/May

The Salone del Mobile takes up an exhibition

Not even the most expert viveur from Milan

could possibly know all the clubs in Milan.
There are hundreds and hundreds of bars,
lounge bars, wine bars, pubs, cafs, bistrots,
pubs, wine cellars, live music bars and lots
of others besides. The Milanese night scene
is so wide-ranging and changes continuously,
just like everything in this eclectic city. There
are clubs that are furnished in hi-tech style,
or that are inspired by the Savannah, with
leopard-skin chairs, palm trees and pretend
elephants heads. Wine bars in minimal
Japanese style and others that make you
think you are in Bollywood, if you go by their
music and furnishings. There are atmospheres
for all taste and for states of mind: the
Milanese love variation, and if there are still
any habitus around, most Milanese people
prefer the excitement of the unforeseen
and new experiences. There are so many
possibilities to choose from for spending your
evening.
It often happens that a club transforms itself
in a short time, changing from insignificant to
cool. Clubs in Milan live on word of mouth:

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Craftsmens Fair - December

This fair was started up in 1996 and was
immediately a success. Attracting visitors
that wanted to look for original ideas for
their Christmas presents. Craftsmens skills
are the main attraction of this market fair:
products coming from all over Italy, and
from Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America
too. the fair is a huge one and fully deserves
its title as the largest event worldwide for
craftsmens products: 100,000 square meters
of exhibition space, with representation from
about 90 countries.

all they need to do is attract a few opinion

leaders of night life and theyve won! Apart
from the great variety, what does Milanese
Dolce Vita offer? One interesting thing is
that Milanese night life begins very early: you
dont have to wait for dusk to be with your
friends and enjoy yourself. One habit that
has become popular in the last few years is
brunch, a ritual that originated in New York,
and that has spread in Italy, starting from
Milan. A combination of breakfast and lunch,
brunch was invented to satisfy the day
after appetite of those who were out on the
town until dawn. On Saturdays and Sundays,
from 10 until 2 pm, many clubs in Milan offer
lavish brunches: real binges of sweets with
cappuccinos, croissants and French toast, or
savory food with the classic eggs and bacon,
or meat and cheese.
Another must of a ritual is happy hour, that
the Milanese cannot go without for anything
on Earth. From 6 pm to 9.30 pm in Milan
you can drink cocktails accompanied by
substantial buffets with several courses,
pasta, meat or fish, in all the clubs in Milan.
All this for about 5-7 Euro per cocktail. The
areas that have the most clubs are Porta
Ticinese, Navigli and Porta Romana, but
even if you are elsewhere and you fancy a
cocktail, there is a club offering its happy
hour on almost every corner in Milan: whether
you are in the center or outside. Here are a
few suggestions of places where you can get
a taste of Milanese Dolce Vita:
FOR BRUNCH
Diana Garden
The garden of the Hotel Diana Majestic, that
is housed in an early-twentieth century Art
Nouveau-style building that is one of the
best in Milan. Excellent menu, spectacular
atmosphere and regular famous customers
from the showbusiness and political
world.(Viale Piave 42)
Le biciclette
A former bicycle shop, with a New York
atmosphere, minimalist, hi-tech furnishing

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THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / ITINERARIES

A special day
and exhibitions of photographs and
sculptures. Brunch is truly excellent and top
quality.
Tribeca Lounge
Cool atmosphere, show business world
clientele, Italo-American buffet with several
inviting alternatives.
FOR THE HAPPY HOUR
Magenta
One of the most famous, popular clubs in
Milan. Right in the center and with a tasty
buffet.
Roialto
For an aperitif in one of the most exclusive,
glamorous clubs in Milan.
Volo
You must go here in the spring or summer,
when happy hour moves outside in the
garden, surrounded by its ancient walls. The
buffet is top quality and rather filling.
Palo Alto
Varied buffet, perfect cocktails. A very
crowded place.
Officina 12: Set up inside a former factory,
a loft style with open spaces and overhead
platform. There is a pretty interior garden
and a full buffet. It is also a pizzeria.
Corso Como 10
A restaurant, boutique, bookshop, showroom,
gallery and wine bar. An extremely cool
place, housed in a typical Milanese house
with interior garden. Ideal for a special
evening.
TO CONTINUE WITH YOUR EVENING
Hollywood
This is the most famous discotheque in Italy.
Models, designers, actors, politicians and
other famous people all go there. Commercial
music and dance floors for showing off your
talents. Tough door selection, priv club off
limits.
Loollapalozaa
Crowded, wild and funky. You can dance on
the tables, drink rum and tequila, sweat and
have a great time.
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Alcatraz
In the north of Milan, this is the largest club
in the city: hundreds of square meters of
space lit up by one of the most sophisticated
lighting systems that exist, live concerts and
international clientele. Clientele of all ages.
Atlantique
House music from the most famous bands,
a restaurant, a bar and a private club. A
fashionable club opened by the designers
Dolce and Gabbana.
FOR LIVE MUSIC
Rolling Stone
The rock temple of Milan. Here, in twenty
years, just about everyone has paid a visit:
- from Iron Maiden to Ben Harper, Black
Sabbath and Massive Attack.
Le scimmie
This is a historical club on the Navigli, the first
one that organized live music. Recommended
for jazz lovers.
Magazzini Generali
Trendy live music, sets directly from Londons
rave parties, multi-media installations.
Leoncavallo
The most famous social center in Italy, where
concerts are held by Italian and international
artists, and where there are also food fairs
and conferences.

Milan: trasportation in Milan

Travelplan.it has prepared a special itinerary,

designed for those of you who do not have
much time to hand, but who want to visit
this city, that is so full of cultural and social
stimulus. Our 24-hour itinerary includes an
evening for discovering the Milanese night
life, therefore we recommend that you book
at least one night in one of Milans many
hotels.
Milan, is not difficult to explore, in spite of
its size: it is often possible to walk from one
interesting area to another, and in other cases
we recommend you take the subway, that will
let you reach your destination without getting
your stuck in city traffic.
Morning
Our tour starts with discovering Milan from
Piazza Duomo, where you can admire the
Duomo, that is one of Milans most important
symbols. Why dont you go in and climb up
to the roof: you will find yourself surrounded
by spire and late-Gothic statues, admiring
the sight of the city that spreads out before
you. From Piazza Duomo, go to the splendid
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Galleria Vittorio Emanuele: you can have

breakfast here, in one of the elegant coffeeshops inside the Galleria. We recommend
Zucca, the coffee shop favored by Verdi and
Toscani, with its second-floor windows that
look out onto the Duomo and the Galleria
and its luxury Liberty-style furnishings in
wrought iron, mahogany and mosaics. After
a refreshing breakfast, continue on your
tour going through the Galleria and walk to
Piazza della Scala, where you can see the
famous Theater La Scala. If you are fond of
theater costumes and sets, we recommend
you visit the interesting Museum. Otherwise
you can continue your journey. From Piazza
della Scala, go on to the nearby Via Dante
and walk along until you get to the majestic
Castello Sforzesco. Behind the Castle, you
can see Parco Sempione: if you dont feel
hungry yet, you can work up an appetite by
walking through the park. Once you come
out of the park, walking through the Arco
della Pace, you have two possibilities: look
for a restaurant in the area straightaway,
or go on foot or by taxi to your next stop,
the Cenacolo Vinciano in Corso Magenta,
and have lunch there. We recommend raw
vegetables with Crescenza or Gorgonzola
cheese to start with, followed by Risotto alla
Milanese and then the traditional cutlet or a
tasty pot roast.
Afternoon
The afternoon is dedicated to art: first
stop: we suggest the cenacolo vinciano that
Leonardo painted in the refectory in the
Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Corso
Magenta. After admiring this masterpiece,
go on to the nearby Piazza Cadorna where
you will find the subway to take you to the
Pinacoteca di Brera. Get off at Cairoli (1
stop) and continue on foot (link to things to
see - churches and museums). After you have
visited the wonderful Pinacoteca, spend a
bit of time exploring Brera, one of the most
charming areas of Milan.

THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / ITINERARIES

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THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / ITINERARIES

Shopping in Milan
Evening
For a real taste of the unique atmosphere of
the Milan Dolce vita you will have to go to
the Navigli area. Take the subway and get off
at Porta Genova. Once there, go along Via
Vigevano up to the Wharf and start exploring
the clubs that line the Navigli. Between one
aperitif and the next, you will have the change
to eat a real meal, serving yourself from the
rich buffets that are provided at happy hour.
Continuing your evening into the night will be
no problem: you will soon learn which is the
cool new club that has just opened, or which
live concerts are planned for the evening.
Dont give yourself a time limit: Milanese
nights are truly unpredictable!

Milan: Shopping in Milan

We can begin our itinerary from the heart

of the luxury shopping area in Milan: Via
Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and Via
SantAndrea, elegant streets that together
with Via Manzoni, Via Borgospesso and Via
Santo Spirito are the outer limits of the
famous Fashion Quadrilatero. This area
contains the most prestigious boutiques and
showrooms in the world, full of minimalist
design and high tech, that follow on without
any nd to this continuity, and provide a
triumph of consumer stimulus that only a
select few can respond to. In this square
area, that is really extremely expensive,
luxury is the true protagonist. Dazzling
jewels created by the most famous name,
clothes and accessories to die for, to be
owned and flaunted, shoes that are works
of art. Everything reeks of ostentation and
the splendor of a chic, fashionable lifestyle.
Many foreign tourists come to the showrooms
and come out full of parcels, because Italian
fashion continues to attract and fascinate
the whole world, and Milan is the most
representative symbol of all this.
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Lets start from the most famous of all the

streets of fashion: Via Montenapoleone.
This is where you can find, amongst others,
the atelier-showrooms of: Gucci, Versace,
Salvatore Ferragamo, Fratelli Rossetti, Etro,
Loro Piana, Luis Vuitton, Prada, Valentino,
Cartier and Tanino Crisci. In Via SantAndrea,
a street that crosses Via Montenapoleone you
can find: Chanel, Fendi, Armani, Moschino,
Kenzo, Cesare Paciotti, Herms, Prada and
Trussardi. Via SantAndrea crosses the famous
Via della Spiga, where you can enjoy the
shop windows at: D&G, Krizia, Sergio Rossi,
Gianfranco Ferr, Bottega Veneta, Tods,
Genny, Prada, Bulgari and Chopard.
The equally elegant Via Manzoni is home to
Spazio Armani at no. 31. This is the Giorgio
Armani multi-concept store where you can
admire the Emporio Armani showrooms,
Armani casa, and Armani fiori. You can also
sip an aperitif at the Emporio Armani Caf, or
spend an evening at the restaurant Nobu, with
a dinner by the best Japanese chef to emerge
in the last 10 years: Nobuyuki Matsuhisa who
opened this chain of restaurants together
with Robert de Niro. For more affordable
purchases, there are four important streets
in the city that are almost entirely dedicated
to shopping: Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Corso
Buenos Aires, Via Torino and Corso di Porta
Ticinese. Corso Vittorio Emanuele links
Piazza Duomo with Piazza San Babila, and
begins with the Rinascente, the monument
to Milanese shopping that owes its name
to Gabriele dAnnunzio. In Corso Vittorio
Emanuele there are sophisticated label shops,
such as Max Mara, Moreschi, Bruno Magli and
Pollini, but there are also more popular labels
such as H&M, Zara and Furla. Corso Buenos
Aires, that is one of the longest streets in
Europe, connects Porta Venezia to Piazzale
Loreto, and is even more commercial: here
you can find Timberland, Mandarina Duck,
Benetton, Kookai and Nara Camice.
In Via Torino that stretches between the
Duomo and Corso di Porta Ticinese, the
average shoppers age is much lower and

THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / ITINERARIES

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THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / ITINERARIES

Pavia and Vigevano

the casual style is sportier, with Foot Looker,
Camper and Energy shops all here.
The nearer you get to the Navigli area,
which is the temple of street-style, the more
the shop scenario changes. Corso di Porta
Ticinese, a continuation of Via Torino that
takes you right up to Piazza XXIV Maggio,
is the right place for those alternative
purchases: Custo-Barcellona, Diesel, Miss
Sixteen, Gas and Fornarina stand alongside
second-hand clothes shops, shops with
bizarre objects for the home, handmade
clothes and accessory stores made from silk
and other precious materials.
Milan also has some interesting markets.
Here are just two of the most interesting and
characteristic:
Fiera di Senigallia in Milan is now an
institution: every Saturday morning, Viale
dAnnunzio, along the wharf, becomes a
picturesque sight, full of noise, color and
other smells so typical of flea markets.
You can find everything here: Indian, South
American and African craftwork; new and
second-hand clothes, old furniture, fake art
nouveau lamps, perfumed candles and every
kind of essence, books, comics, records,
videos and DVDs. There are tidy stalls and
messy ones where you can go looking for
your bargain. The music of the Senegalese
musicians is like a theme tune, as they pound
on drums of all sizes, accompanying the
people walking around with their frenetic
rhythms.
Mercatone del Naviglio Grande
This takes place along the Alzaia Naviglio
Grande on the last Sunday of each month.
A large exhibition-market is set up that is
dedicated to antiques: furniture, objects for
the home, old books, jewelry, and lots more
too. The market has 400 exhibitors, some of
whom also have their own shops on the banks
of the Naviglio grande.

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Lets end our itinerary of shopping with a

mini-guide to the outlets near Milan. One
of the characteristics of Milan that shopping
lovers like is the fact that there are many
famous-label outlets in the city center that
are usually only found on the city outskirts
or in the provinces. Some of the ones in the
center are: Diffusione Tessile, which is the
Max Mara groups outlet, the Bruno Magli and
Etro outlets where you can find items from
past collections and also Luciano Soprani,
Kookai, Valextra, a sophisticated suitcase
company, and Bassetti, where you can buy
all the bedding and linen you need for your
house.
Near Milan instead, you can find the
McArthur Glen Shopping City (Serravalle
Scrivia, Alessandria), the Fratelli Rossetti
outlet(Parabiago), Dolce & Gabbana outlet
(Legnano), Timberland outlet (Pero), Levis
(Cernusco sul Naviglio) and Samsonite
(Corsico) outlets, and finally Frette
(Concorezzo) and Zucchi (Casorezzo) for bed
linen.

along the streets and squares, you can see

the architectural sights from centuries and
centuries of history. From the Roman Era to
the Middle Ages, from the Visconti and Sforza
eras to the Renaissance, from Neoclassicism
to Liberty style.
We recommend you end your trip by seeing
the wonderful Certosa di Pavia, that is 5 km
outside the city, which was built around 1396
on the wishes of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke
of Milan.
Dont miss
Castello Visconteo
The Broletto
The Duomo
The Certosa di Pavia

Milan: the duomo of Pavia

Our tourist guide to Milan offers two trips

outside the city that each last one day: Pavia
and Vigevano, that are about 55 km and 35
km away from Milan respectively, and which
can be reached by both car and train. To visit
these cities, you can therefore still use your
hotel in Milan. Before turning to the details
of these interesting cities, we want to spend
a little time talking about the typical cuisine
of the area known as the Oltrep Pavese.
You can find dishes linked to the local land
in all the restaurants in Pavia and Vigevano,
where rice and grapes are mainly grown. A
typical local dish is fried frogs, served in
a light tomato sauce or accompanied by a
risotto. The local salamis, especially the one
made from goose, are worthy of note. The
Oltrep Pavese is also famous for its wines: in
the area you can find the excellent Riesling,
Bonarda and Barbera wines.
Pavia
This ancient, interesting city is just right for
a one-day trip outside Milan. The old city
center can easily be covered on foot: walking
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Vigevano
This is a tiny architectural jewel that owes a
lot to the genial creativity of Bramante. It is
worth a days visit. There are many things to
see, including Castello Visconteo-Sforzesco,
one of the largest castles in Europe. This is
a true city within a city, with very ancient
origins: the original center of the Castle
dates back as far as the Lombard Era, and
was renovated to become an aristocratic
residence by the Visconti family and then
by the Sforza family, with the artistic
contribution by Bramante and Leonardo da
Vinci.
Dont miss
The Torre del Bramante
Castello SforzescoThe Duomo and the square

THE MILAN CITY GUIDE

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26

THE MILAN CITY GUIDE / Milan Directory by Travelplan

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