The city of Milan is known across the globe for its place in the fashion industry. From fashion shows to sample sales, people flock to Milan for its style and fashion opportunities. But there’s so much more to this city as well. Milan is a financial hub, home to lots of delicious high-end restaurants, and its shopping options range from massive historic malls to unique shopping concepts. As far as culture goes in Milan, the city is full of opportunity, from opera houses to museums to churches like Il Duomo, which is an icon in the city, and Chiesa Santa Maria delle Grazie, which is home to the famous Last Supper painting by Leonardo da Vinci.
Il Duomo
Il Duomo is the grandest cathedral in Milan. Construction on this glorious piece of architecture began in the 14th century, and took approximately six hundred years to complete.
Castello Sforzesco
Castello Sforzesco, or Sforza Castle as it’s called in English, is an iconic symbol of Milan’s metropolis.
Museo del Novecento
Art lovers will have a field day at the Museo del Novecento, which houses over four thousand works of Italian art. The museum first opened in 2010, and it focuses on more contemporary Italian art, rather than the classical and historic pieces that can be found in many other museums.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
With a high, domed glass ceiling above its elaborately decorated four-story arcade,Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the oldest shopping mall in Italy. It was originally built in 1877, and it is the center of luxury shopping in Milan, a city known for its incredible fashion and shopping opportunities.
Teatro alla Scala
There’s something so refined and sophisticated about Milan, and what’s more refined and sophisticated than the opera? Teatro alla Scala is a beautiful and historic opera house in Milan which has been putting on world-class productions and thrilling audience members since it first opened in 1778.
Peck
In a place already known worldwide for its amazing food, it takes a real winner to stand out in the Italian food scene. At Peck, customers can find all the high-end Italian food and wine of their dreams.
Chiesa Santa Maria delle Grazie
Visitors from younger countries may find it sometimes difficult to wrap their heads around the sheer history of everything in Europe. One prime example of this is the Chiesa Santa Maria delle Grazie, a church and convent in Milan that was first opened in 1497 (only a handful of years after Columbus landed in the Caribbean).
Brera
When visiting Milan, travelers will need to take a stroll through the historic district of Brera, which is located in the center of the vibrant city, just east of the Parco Sempione.
Pinacoteca di Brera
In a city well known for its art, Pinacoteca di Brera stands out from the crowd of galleries and museums, which should say a lot for its collection of Italian paintings.
Parco Sempione
The largest park in Milan is without a doubt Parco Sempione, located just north of the city center and within easy walking distance to many of Milan’s biggest attractions.
Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
Practically every inch of the interior of Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore is covered in elaborate murals, frescoes, paintings, mosaics, and architectural details.
Milano Centrale Railway Station
Countries in Europe are so well connected by train, it’s an experience that, for many visitors, is very unique to the continent. The Milano Centrale Railway Station is an excellent example of this; the huge train station is the largest in Europe by volume.
10 Corso Como
Italy is well known for its incredible food, history, and culture, and Milan is renowned worldwide for its influence on the world of style and fashion. 10 Corso Como is a unique concept shop that combines these aspects of Milano culture and many more.
Cimitero Monumentale
The thing about having as much history as Italy does is that there’s a lot of people who have come and gone in that time. Cimitero Monumentale is one of the largest cemeteries in Milan, and its rows and rows of graves and tombs are filled with some of the most elaborate statues, memorials, mausoleums, and tombs you’ve ever seen.
Navigli
Milan is a diverse city with many distinct neighborhoods and districts that each possess their own unique flavor. One of the most famous districts in Milan is the Navigli district, an area originally named for and formed by a system of canals, which brought goods into the city, like the marble used to build Il Duomo.
Fondazione Prada
The name Prada is widely revered in the fashion industry, and even among the uninitiated has a reputation for creating high quality products with an emphasis on quality design and style. So it should come as no surprise that the Fondazione Prada in Milan is an institution devoted to art and culture.
Torre Velasca
Due to space constraints and sheer amount of history, there are a lot of small cities throughout Europe that do not have large skyscrapers or tall buildings as part of their skylines. Torre Velasca is a unique building, a 26-story skyscraper with a distinct shape that billows out at the top.
The Milan Tram
Milan is a very walkable city, but for those who wish to relax and watch the world go by, or for those who simply need a break from all the walking, The Milan Tram is a great way to get around the city.
San Siro Football Stadium
Football, or soccer as we call it here in the United States, is a cultural institution in Europe, and Italy is no exception. San Siro Football Stadium has a staggering capacity of over eighty thousand people, which gives it a place of honor as one of the largest football stadiums in all of Europe, and the largest in all of Italy.
L’Osteria del Treno
It’s so easy to rush through a meal these days, looking at food as fuel and sustenance and not an experience to be enjoyed, but at L’Osteria del Treno, mealtime is sacred, and patrons at this restaurants should be prepared to enjoy every last bite of their food.
Essenza Ristorante
Under the watchful and expert eye of master chef Eugenio Boer, Essenza Ristorante delivers high quality and impeccable taste with every item on their extensive menu.
Antica Osteria il Ronchettino
From the outside, this beautiful little restaurant, with its street lamps and climbing ivy on its walls, looks charming and picturesque. The interior is no disappointment either; inside Antica Osteria il Ronchettino, dining rooms feel like a mix between a quaint cafe, a formal dining experience, and a visit to a friend’s house.
Osteria La Voliera
Located in the Porta Romana district of Milan, Osteria La Voliera is a romantic and intimate dining option that is perfect for special occasions and celebrations, and is especially popular among couples.
Fioraio Bianchi Caffe
Fioraio Bianchi Caffe serves Italian fare, like so many other great restaurants in Milan, but from the moment guests enter their doors and see the trendy, rustic-chic atmosphere of the dining room, it becomes clear that Fioraio Bianchi Caffe is not like the stuffy white table clothed restaurants that can be found elsewhere.