Milan – detailed information about the city with photos. Milan main attractions with descriptions, travel guides and maps.
Milan (Italian: Milano, Lombard: Milan) is the main city of Northern Italy and the capital of the Lombardy region. It is a modern metropolis that is considered the business and financial center of the country. Milan is the capital of fashion and business, the most stylish, expensive and wealthy city in Italy, which is quoted along with Paris and London by lovers of entertainment and shopping. But the capital of Lombardy is not only famous for this. Here you can see such famous sights as: the magnificent Duomo, Sforza Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which houses Leonardo Da Vinci’s legendary fresco “The Last Supper” and many other equally interesting historical and cultural monuments.
If Rome represents “old Italy,” Milan is its modern symbol. Despite some similarities with typical Italian cities, it is very different architecturally and atmospherically. Milan has a different rhythm of life, it is rather gray, as many buildings are built of limestone or dark stone, and the influence of Austrian and French styles is noticeable in the architecture. But despite all its seriousness, Milan is still a fun and emotional Italy!
Milan is located in the northern part of Italy between the Po River Valley in the south and the foothills of the Alps in the north. In the immediate vicinity are the large picturesque lakes Como, Lugano, and Maggiore.
The climate is humid subtropical. Summers are hot, autumns are rainy, and winters are quite mild with little frost. In cold weather, fog is quite common.
Milan can be visited all year round. Although in late fall and winter it is quite foggy and rainy. The city looks very cool during the Christmas season. In summer, Milan is quite hot and humid, so if you don’t like the heat, it’s better to choose spring or autumn to visit the main city of Lombardy.
Milan became part of the Roman Empire in the 2nd century BC. At that time, the city was called Mediolanus. In the 4th century, it competed with Rome for supremacy in the Western Roman Empire. But after a while it was destroyed by the Huns and Ostrogoths and fell into decline. In the 6th century, the ancient Germanic tribe of the Lombards settled here, giving the future region its name, Lombardy.
In the 11th century, Milan’s importance increased again. It became the capital of an independent state. The strengthening of its position in the region did not please Frederick Barbarossa, who sacked the city in 1162. Nevertheless, in 1176 the King of Germany and the Holy Roman Emperor were defeated, and Milan received privileges that allowed it to become one of the richest cities in Europe. In 1277, in the confrontation between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, the latter won. Milan became a monarchy, and the ruling dynasty was the Visconti family, which in 1450 was replaced by the Sforza family. During the Sforza reign, the great Leonardo Da Vinci and Bramante worked and lived in Milan.
In the 15th century, the Duchy of Milan was ruled by the French, and from 1540 to 1706 by the Spanish Kingdom. During this period, there was economic and cultural stagnation. In the 18th century, the city became part of Austria-Hungary and was (with a short break) ruled by the Habsburgs until 1859. Milan became part of Italy in 1861. They even wanted to make it the capital, but in the end, Ancient Rome was chosen. During the Second World War, the city was badly damaged.
Milan has two international airports at once: Linate and Malpensa. Malpensa is the main international airport. You can get from there to the city center by train. Some low-cost airlines operate flights to Bergamo Airport.
Milan Central Station receives trains from most major cities in Italy: Turin, Rome, Naples, Florence, Venice, as well as from many European capitals and cities: Barcelona, Zurich, Geneva, Paris, Munich, Stuttgart, Vienna, Prague. The railway station has access to the subway. Another important railway station is Cadorna. The express train from Malpensa Airport stops here and there is also a subway.
There is a catchphrase that “all roads lead to Rome”. So, all the roads of Northern Italy go to Milan. The city has excellent transport accessibility. But it should be noted that highways are tolled.
Milan has a well-developed public transportation system: subway, trams and buses. There is a single ticket that can be bought at special vending machines and tobacco kiosks. The fare is 1.5 euros. There are 4 metro lines: red, green, yellow and purple.
Hotels in Milan are generally more expensive than in many other Italian cities, even large ones. However, you can find quite budget options here, from hotels without a category to campsites and hostels. The trick is to pay attention to their location. For example, in the nearest (and not so) suburbs there are quite decent and acceptable hotels, but it will be convenient to get to them only if you have your own car. But it will be most comfortable to stay in such hotels if, for example, you are going to Bergamo airport or the lakes in the morning: this way you will avoid unpredictable Milan traffic jams.
There are plenty of medium-sized hotels from 2 to 4 “stars” in Milan. Almost all of them have a bathroom and TV in the room, and the reception is open around the clock. The relatively low price, for example, for a four-star hotel, is often explained by the worn-out interior and furniture.
The best hotels in the center can be found on Republic Sq. Respubliki Square or Manzoni Street, although there are five-star hotels in other parts of the city, including near the main train stations. However, the local “five stars” are not the best choice: the area is not very good from every point of view, and it makes sense to stay here only if you want to save money.
Milan is one of the main centers of world shopping and fashion. Here you can find everything from fashion brands to products of small design workshops. The main shopping district is the Fashion Quadrangle, which is located between the Duomo, Piazza Cavour and Piazza San Babila. Most of the famous boutiques can be found on Montenapoleone, Sant Andrea, Porta Venezia, Vittorio Emanuele, Della Spiga and Manzoni streets. There are as many as five large outlets near Milan, where you can buy designer and branded items at great discounts. The largest of the outlets is Serravalle. It is located an hour’s drive from Milan. Buses depart from Sforza Castle.
Despite the fact that Milan often follows the trends of fashion and modernity, it is one of the outposts of traditional Italian cuisine. Avoid restaurants around the Duomo, they tend to be popular tourist spots, with low quality food at inflated prices. Keep in mind that most restaurants charge an additional “service charge” of about 2 euros for each customer.
While Milan is not the first city many tourists associate with Italy, it does boast some great sights and attractions. For all its serious reputation as the country’s fashion, business, and financial center, it is a city with a rich history and cultural heritage.
The Duomo or Cathedral of Santa Maria Nazente is a symbol of Milan, located in the heart of the city on the square of the same name. It is one of the largest religious buildings in the world (accommodates about 40,000 people) and probably the most beautiful church in the Gothic style. The Duomo was built over 4 centuries starting in the 14th century. Its roof is crowned with 135 spires, and the facade is decorated with 2,245 marble statues. The modest interior is in stark contrast to the shiny and richly patterned exterior. The cathedral makes a strong impression with its 52 giant columns. The stained glass windows and the nave of the Duomo are the largest in the world. Inside, you can see the bronze candelabra of 1200, the tomb of Giacomo de’ Medici, and the San Carlo Borromeo Reliquary. A walk on the roof of the Duomo will be very atmospheric, from where the snow-capped peaks of the Alps are visible on clear days. Next to the central passage is the entrance to the underground, where you can see the foundations of the ancient basilica of the 4th century and baptisteries discovered during the construction of the metro. Entrance to the cathedral is free. Important: short skirts, shorts and bare shoulders are not allowed.
Galleria Victor Emmanuel II – located a little away from the Duomo and connects the Cathedral Square with Piazza La Scala. It was built in the 70s of the 19th century and at that time was the largest shopping gallery in Europe. It is home to expensive boutiques and elegant cafes. The gallery is an excellent example of 19th century architecture.
La Scala, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, is located in a rather unremarkable building on a small square. It can accommodate 2,800 spectators. The season lasts from December to May.
Santa Maria delle Grazie is a 15th-century brick Gothic church with an early Renaissance Bramante dome. It became world famous for Leonardo Da Vinci’s fresco The Last Supper. Unfortunately, the church and the fresco were damaged during the bombing during World War II. Leonardo’s fresco was painted in the refectory of the former Dominican monastery in the late 15th century. Unfortunately, da Vinci’s fresco is constantly being destroyed and restored (Leonardo painted the fresco on raw plaster).
Sforza Castle is one of the main attractions of Milan, included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The castle was built in the 14th century and was the main residence of the Milanese rulers – Visconti and Sforza. Now it houses a magnificent museum with such rarities as Michelangelo’s last masterpiece, paintings by Bellini, Correggio, Mantegna, Berggone, Foppa, Lotto, Tintoretto, Egyptian and other treasures of antiquity, medieval weapons. In front of the 70-meter-long Torre de Filare is a large fountain built under Mussolini. Behind the castle is the large neoclassical Sempione Park, one of the favorite places of Milanese.
The historic district of Cinque Vie is the oldest part of Milan, located between Piazza Cordusio, Meravigli and Orefici streets. In this area you can find many Roman archaeological sites, such as the theater, the imperial palace and the imperial mint. In addition, there are many ancient churches, such as Santa Maria alla Porta (the Baroque pearl of Milan), San Sebastiano, San Giorgio el Palazzo Santa Maria Podone, San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore.
San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore is a baroque church whose interior is considered the most beautiful among religious buildings in Milan. It was built in the early 16th century for a Benedictine convent. Inside, the church is painted with beautiful frescoes by the best masters of Lombardy. The monastery was built on the ruins of an ancient Roman circus and walls. Now it houses an archaeological museum that will introduce you to Milan during the Roman Empire.
The Pinacoteca di Brera — is a 17th-century Renaissance palace that originally housed the Jesuit School. Now it is one of the best art museums in Italy. It exhibits paintings by the best artists of Lombardy and da Vinci’s students, Venetian masters, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens, Picasso and many others.
The Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio — is one of the oldest churches in Milan, founded in the 4th century by St. Ambrose, who is the patron saint of the city. The church is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. It was built in the 12th century around the choir of an earlier church of the ninth century. The ancient altar of the 9th century is noteworthy.
The Cimitero Monumentale — is a monumental cemetery of the late 18th century, known for its rich tombstones and Art Nouveau sculptures.
The Da Vinci Museum is a national museum of science and technology located in a former monastery. Of particular interest is the Leonardo da Vinci Gallery with working models of many of his inventions and machines created from his drawings and blueprints. Also on display are instruments used by Galileo, Newton and Volta.
Naviglio is an atmospheric place near the canal of the same name with many restaurants and clubs.
The Basilica of Sant’Eustorgio — romanesque basilica of the 12th century with a beautiful high bell tower. Nearby is another church – San Lorenzo Maggiore, dating from the early Christian period. The Renaissance dome was added in 1574, the mosaic in the chapel of St. Aquiline dates back to the 4th century. In front of the church is a portico of sixteen Corinthian columns, which is the largest surviving monument of the Roman period.
The Porta Sempione is an interesting example of neoclassical architecture. This triumphal arch was built in the first half of the 18th century and is located in the center of a large square behind the Sforza Castle and the park. The construction of the arch was started under Napoleon Bonaparte, but was completed after his defeat at Waterloo by the Austrian monarch Francis I, who dedicated it to peace.
Santa Maria del Carmine is a church of the Carmelite order built in the 13th century of red brick. The church was destroyed in a fire in the 14th century and abandoned. It was restored in the 15th century by Antonio Solari. It is an interesting example of Lombard neo-Gothic.
The Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore – is a church built in the Renaissance style with an ancient baptistery and a Romanesque bell tower from the 12th century. The church was founded in the 4th century and is one of the oldest in Milan. There are mosaics from the late Antiquity period and several Roman columns.
San Babila is a brick church founded in the 11th century. The baroque building of the 16th century was rebuilt in the 19th century in the style of the original medieval appearance. The neo-Romanesque bell tower was completed in the 30s of the 20th century.
The Torre Velasca (Velasca Tower, in English) — is an interesting example of civil engineering. It is a 106-meter skyscraper of an unusual architectural form.
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