Historic places in Milan

Historic places in Milan

1. SeeCentro Storico

   Ambrosian Gallery and Library

   Pinacoteca e Biblioteca Ambrosiana

   Historical library that also houses the Ambrosian art gallery with treasures such as Leonardo Atlantic Codex.

   €17, or €20 including the crypt

2. SeeCentro Storico

   Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore

   Saint Lawrence

   A lovely 4th-century basilica, perhaps is one of the oldest basilicas in Western Europe. It is famous for its beautiful courtyard, with Roman-age columns and statue of the emperor Constantine. The Colonne di San Lorenzo (St. Lawrence's columns) are actually a remain of the Roman "Mediolanum", dating from the 3rd century AD. Further south the square you can see Medieval Porta Ticinese (there is also a homonymous newer gate which lies about 600 m south by Corso di Porta Ticinese).

3. SeeCentro Storico

   Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense

   Biblioteca di Brera

   A library established in 1770 by the Austrian governor. It has since acquired other historical collections and the archives of RAI (Italy's state television). It is very active in organising workshops and debates on new media and new technologies.

4. SeeCentro Storico

   Castello Sforzesco

   "See who's in charge!" The round corner towers of the castle are two fists smacked down on the city plains, while the central square tower stares balefully down towards city centre. Who'd dare challenge the Duke? Yet so confident is he, he's built an extra redoubt within those walls, the military design is already outdated by the 15th century, and that rasping noise is his own family sharpening their knives against him. The Sforza-Visconti dynasty was ousted in the 16th century and the city was ruled by Spain, Habsburg Austria then Napoleon. The castle encloses a large grassed courtyard which is free to enter. Within are several museums, including museums of applied arts, ancient art, historical musical instruments, prehistory, Egyptian art and fine arts.

5. SeeOuter Milan

   Chiaravalle Abbey

   A beautifully-preserved medieval abbey still run by monks today.

6. SeeCentro Storico

   Duomo

   Cathedral

   Massive, impressive and slightly mad: the cathedral is a late Gothic confection in white marble, festooned with spires and statues. You can admire the facade free from the piazza; getting inside or onto the roof involves three separate queues that may take over an hour, unless you book online. First locate the ticket office: it's along the street on the cathedral's south flank but has been known to wander, with various pop-up outlets. Here you queue #1 to pick up a number to queue #2 for the ticket desks. Buy your ticket, which will be for a specific time slot that day. When that time approaches (and off-peak it could be immediate) join queue #3 at the cathedral door for security and ticket check. There's a tedious list of what is and isn't allowed. Despite this list, shorts which end just above the knee are indeed allowed. Short-shorts are prohibited. Small backpacks are allowed (there is a bag check station). The interior is just as impressive as outside, though if you hate it you'll be in distinguished company. The problem was that construction went on in fits and starts for over 500 years, with every ruler adding bits or disliking previous work. Then in 1805 the conquering Napoleon said "Get this finished tout de suite, and my treasury will pick up the bill" and lo! it was finished. (Though he never paid up.) The Crypt of St Charles is entered within the cathedral, no extra fee, it closes around 17:00. The Baptistery of St John (extra fee) is within the cathedral. The roof (extra fee) can be reached by a lift or by 250 steps. The museum (included in ticket, closed W) is in the adjacent Church of St Gottard in Corte. It displays the story of the construction, with walk-in wooden models, façade designs from several centuries, sculptures and more.

   Daily 08:00-19:00, roof from 09:00·Cathedral: adult €3; roof by stairs €13, by lift €15; Baptistery of St John €3

7. BuyCentro Storico

   Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

   The mother of all shopping malls: upscale shops in a splendid 19th century palace of a mall, with a stunning mosaic floor, and wonderful glass roof and cupola. Contains boutiques such as Louis Vuitton and Prada, a McDonald's fast-food restaurant, a silverware store called Bernasconi, and eating places such as the Zucca in Galleria, Biffi or a Gucci cafe (and loads more, notably art galleries, fashion boutiques, bookstores and restaurants). At Christmas time, it becomes an enchanting place, with beautiful lights and glitzy decorations. For real Milanese cheap food, go to Luini for a Panzerotti on nearby Via San Radegonda.

8. SeeNorth

   Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli

   Public gardens

   An 18th-century park complex in the Montenapoleone/Porta Venezia district, designed in an English Romantic garden style. Inside, you can find rockeries, water features, fountains, statues and monuments, and other interesting features. You also get a planetarium, a natural history museum, and on the other side of the Palestro street, you can also find an opulent Royal villa which today hosts a contemporary art collection within grand ornate halls. Reachable via P.ta Venezia, Turati or Palestro metro stations. The gardens are in an excellent position since they're quite near to the Duomo and Brera district, and extremely close to the Montenapoleone street and the glamorous shopping area around it.

9. BuyCentro Storico

   La Rinascente

   A big department store in Milan, right in the centre of the city near the Cathedral and Galleria, and very close to the chic Montenapoleone shopping zone. Here you can get houseware, design and appliances, male, female and children's fashion, youthful sports clothes, jewellery, accessories, cosmetics, watches, perfumes, glasses, socks, underwear, lingerie, gifts, table decor, a hair stylist, a restaurant, sushi bar, food market, sandwich, drink and chocolate bar, an enoteca (wine bar) and several other things. Good place to do some shopping of all kinds in a very central location and then stop for a drink, snack or meal at the cafe or restaurant.

   Mon-Thu 09:30-21:00; Fri Sat 09:30-22:00; Sun 10:00-21:00

10. SeeWest

    Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology

    Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia

    As the name tells, it is a museum to learn more about science and technology. Hosted in a former monastery, San Vittore al Corpo.

    Tue-Fri 09:30-17:00, Sat & holidays 09:30-18:30·€10, concessions €7.50, disabled and children under 3 free. Guided tours €8 or €10 with reservation

11. SeeCentro Storico

    Piazza Belgiojoso

    A small, yet very impressive square, which hosts the magnificent neoclassical Belgiojoso Palace, built by Milanese noblemen in the late 1700s, and the House of Manzoni, where notable Italian writer and literary figure Alessandro Manzoni lived, and which today hosts a library and the Centro Nazionale di Studi Manzoniani (National Centre of Manzoni-related studies).

12. SeeCentro Storico

    Piazza San Babila

    Busy and modern square just north of the cathedral and near the city's fashion district. Architecturally, Piazza San Babila's buildings are virtually all Art-Deco office blocks from the 1930s, but it has a trendy business and cosmopolitan feel to it, and despite being very modern, boasts a very old sight, San Babila, a tiny, pretty, Romanesque church standing shadowed away by the huge modern skyscrapers. Piazza San Babila also contains numerous banks, post offices, fast-food restaurants and today also a touch of some funky designer stores too. Convenience wise, it's a great place to go, because it connects the Montenapoleone shopping area, with the more central Duomo zone.

13. SeeCentro Storico

    Piazza dei Mercanti

    A truly enchanting and tiny medieval square, hidden by the grand palaces in the central part of Milan. Here, in "Merchants' Square" you get lovely Gothic and Renaissance-porticoed houses, and a well right in the middle. At the one side of the square there is the Palazzo della Ragione (1233), the old town hall, aka Broletto Nuovo. At the other – Loggia degli Osii (1321) decorated with black and white marble, used to host judicial and notary offices. At Christmas time, the square fills up with markets selling local produce, including mouth-watering panettone, sweets, bonbons and souvenirs.

14. SeeCentro Storico

    Piazza del Duomo

    The grandest square in the city, the Piazza del Duomo is the cultural and social heart of Milan, and contains several of its most famous sights. There's the majestic cathedral and classy Galleria, plus the 18th C Palazzo Reale and several big, venerable buildings. The square is centred around the statue of King Victor Emmanuel II at Solferino – his horse is skidding to a halt as if it's just noticed the Austrian bayonets. The square is grandiloquent yet softened by its cafés, restaurants and shops, pigeons, and passers-by. Exchange kiosks here offer decent rates, better than those in the VE arcade.

15. SeeCentro Storico

    Piazza del Liberty

    Small square, which however, is noted for a stunning Art Nouveau palace today called the Hotel del Corso, but once the Trianon. You reach it just off a tiny opening at the beginning of the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

16. SeeNorth

    Pirelli Tower

    Grattacielo Pirelli

    Completed in 1956, the Pirelli Tower became a turning point in the history of global architecture, even though its looks may pale now in comparison to the newer postmodern-era towers, as well as a symbol of the rebound of Milan and the Italian economy following the Second World War. It was built by the Pirelli company known for tire manufacturing, and was the seat of government the Region of Lombardy until it moved to Palazzo Lombardia.

17. SeeCentro Storico

    Royal Palace

    Palazzo Reale

    Always hosts many exhibitions, usually very interesting. Tickets are sold separately for each exhibition!

    €17

18. SeeWest

    Sempione Park

    Parco Sempione

    A big space of green land right behind the Sforzesco castle, and one of the most famous and popular in the city. Designed in like a neoclassical landscape garden, there are loads of features - such as a lake, the aforementioned arch of peace, a Roman-style sports' amphitheatre, a tower (which today hosts the Just Cavalli Hollywood), and several interesting features. It's a lovely leafy place to enjoy a walk at any time of the year. Reachable via Cairoli, Lanza, Cadorna or Moscova metro stations depending on what side of the park one refers to.

19. SeeCentro Storico

    Torre Velasca

    A tall, huge, castle-like skyscraper built in the 1950s, and one of the first in Italy. Stunning modern architecture. Unfortunately it is not possible to go on top, since it is a private building.

20. SeeCentro Storico

    Via Dante

    One of the grandest and most frequented fashionable high streets in Milan. The Via Dante, named after the poet, is a beautiful and debonair pedestrian avenue which goes from the busy Piazzale Cordusio, all the way to the Largo Cairoli, just in front of the city castle. With loads of street vendors, restaurant and cafe tables, and often, street art, glamorous boutiques and often bustling with people, it's great for anyone who wants to get to the Sforzesco Castle, but who also wants to do some high-class shopping, observe at some glorious Milanese palaces, and possibly sip at a coffee in one of the many open-air bars. It also contains the Piccolo Teatro, a renowned local theatre. At times, especially Christmas and some of the holidays, it can be chokingly filled with locals, shoppers and tourists.

21. SeeCentro Storico

    Via della Spiga

    Lovely and classy little cobblestone street, with some beautiful ancient buildings. The street and its neighbourhood are more famous for the center of high-class shopping, where almost every luxury brand can be found.

22. Buy Not mapped

    Serravalle Scrivia

    One of the biggest shopping outlets in Europe, containing 180 stores, despite being 1 hours' drive from the city and in the Piedmont region, it is definitely worth a visit if you're a shopping fan. And it has a very pleasant feel because it is more like a mini-town than an actual outlet, with Italian-style piazzas and pretty alleyways, surrounded by rolling hills and a lovely local countryside, and absent of cars. With over 20 million visitors having come ever since its opening in 2000, you can find luxurious designer names, such as Dolce & Gabbana, Etro, Diesel, Roberto Cavalli, Ferragamo, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, Prada, Geox, Swatch, Bulgari, Swarovski, and several more (at bargain prices)! Then, if you want to have a meal, you can stop for some fast-foods at Burger King or the Italian Spizzico, have an ice-cream or sip at a drink in a café. Despite the slightly long trip, it makes a truly great day out, and is heaven for any fashionista or passionate shopper! Tour company-operated buses, including one that leaves from near the Castle, will take you there and back (roughly €20 for the round-trip as of early 2008). Reputed to be the first designer outlet in Italy and the biggest in Europe. Over 180 stores stock clothing, footwear and accessories, and it has a parking with 3,000 parking lots, a children's playground, bars and restaurants.

    All days: 10:00-20:00

23. SeeCentro Storico Not mapped

    Viale Beatrice d'Este

    Viale Beatrice d'Este is a street in the center of Milan, which is a 1 kilometer walk from Piazza del Duomo, begins in piazzale di Porta Lodovica and ends at the ancient Porta Vigentina, continuing with the name of viale Angelo Filippetti. It is a tree-lined avenue, which is connected in its continuation with viale Regina Margherita and viale Majno. The street is named after Princess Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Milan in 1494 and wife of Ludovico Sforza.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Milan (CC BY-SA 4.0).