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.

history

Getting there: Duomo or Cordusio subway stations

Directions Suggest a nearby place

Listing from Wikivoyage: Milan/Centro Storico, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

Close by

BuyCentro Storico
Peck
Foodies in the Duomo area should not miss this place. It is the Dean and Deluca of Milan, a gorgeous food shop that stocks the finest of just about everything. The prices are high, but since everything is counter service, you can graze a wide variety of delicacies for your money. Speaking of counter service, there is a special way to buy things at Peck. First, you order from the counter. They give you a little receipt. Once you have collected all your receipts, you pay at one of two registers. Then, you return to each of the counters you visited, where the staff have wrapped your treats exquisitely.
EatCentro Storico
Cracco
Via Victor Hugo 6
SeeCentro Storico
Piazzale Cordusio
A central and busy square in Milan, right near the Duomo. It boasts some grand and beautiful late-19th-century architecture. Once, and to some extent still today, it was an economic hub of the city, with the headquarters of several companies, and big banks and postal offices.
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.