Local area

The view from the lofty spires of Milano’s Duomo is an experience you will treasure: the Cathedral brings to life in its smooth marble half a millennium of history, light filtering through from the glass-stained windows to the aisles and the priceless artworks within.

Since 1778, operas and ballets at La Scala have provided exhilarating emotions for enraptured audiences: its famous stage has hosted the greatest conductors and artists - from Arturo Toscanini to Claudio Abbado, on to the magnificent voice of the iconic Maria Callas.

Nowadays the Castello Sforzesco, the city’s former fifteenth-century defensive fortress, is now a place where art can be relished in several first-class museums. The most prized artworks are certainly Leonardo's Sala delle Asse and Michelangelo's Pietà Rondanini, but many other great Masters are represented. The Castello is also a place to enjoy in the open, pausing to take in the spectacular courtyards, embraced by the massive walls.

The elegance of the Milano Salotto par excellence, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, is a pleasure to walk through without haste, shielded by the glass and steel dome of its central Ottagono, enraptured by the charm of its stylish shop-windows

The Navigli district is the ideal place for a romantic evening stroll along the city’s waterways, as well as for a montly visit to the bustling antiques market, or chilling out at one of the many restaurants and bars.

With its four-sided portico welcoming visitors and the evocative remains of its early Christian church, the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio (St. Ambrose, Patron Saint of the City) is one of the most beautiful examples of Romanesque architecture in Lombardy.

The Last Supper, painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, has fascinated and intrigued art lovers and countless visitors for centuries.

Set in one of the most charming neighbourhoods of the city, the Pinacoteca di Brera belongs to the exclusive club of Europe's premier art galleries: not to be missed are magnificent works by Mantegna, Raphael, Bellini, Piero della Francesca, Caravaggio and Hayez, along with many others

The heart of exclusive, high-end shopping in Milano is very close to the city centre - in the area bordered by via della Spiga, via Montenapoleone, via Manzoni and Corso Venezia: most of the designer labels that have made ltalian style and fashion famous all over the world will be found on these streets

The city of Milano is also fascinating from above: its belfries, lofty towers, skyscrapers, evocative brick roofs, floral terraces and modern glass and steel penthouses create a wonderful scenario. On the one side, you can glimpse the mountains, the Alps, in the distance, on the other, the eye can see as far as Parco Sud and the Po Valley. Without forgetting of course that Milano skyline boasts Italy’s tallest skyscraper, in the City Life district, and that the Duomo is the only Gothic church i

Milano is rich in Museums. Its long literary, artistic, musical and scientific tradition has left behind an impressive number of artefacts that are now housed in important collections. Milano’s Museum network is a testimony to the city’s great cultural liveliness, inclusive of public and private institutions, from church museums to corporate foundations. Follow our suggestions to discover the top 10

The diocese of Milan is one of the largest in the world and is the only bishopric in the western Church to maintain its own Ambrosian liturgical rite, originally introduced by Saint Ambrose, the Patron Saint of the city. This extensive and important diocese includes some Catholic Churches of major historical and artistic interest

Industrial, frenetic, vibrant Milano… doesn’t the continuous daily hustle and bustle ever stop? Yes, luckily it does! Downtime starts at 18:00 in Milano when you can switch off from the workday, order an aperitif and make plans for the rest of the evening.

Who said nothing is free in Milano? Museums without entry fees, street art tours, Art Nouveau architecture, parks and even a visit to the opera for everyone. Here is a list of 10 things you can do without opening your wallet

The most evocative bodies of water of the Peninsula, Lake Maggiore, Lake Como and Lake Garda, lie a few dozen kilometers from Milano. It takes less than an hour by train or car from Milano to reach the lakes, longer if you bike there or take your bicycle on a regional train. In the summer they are a relaxing but also sporty alternative to seaside locations. Below you’ll find some destinations that we recommend you visit. The romantic atmosphere of the lakes will captivate you!

Visitors wishing to take a guided tour have many options

also in Milano you can find covered markets where you can sit at table and eat traditional and gourmet food, and make quality gastronomic purchases. You will find organic food stalls for sustainable groceries, highly selected products from all over Italy and the rest of the world, but also famous Milanese restaurants, bakeries and patisseries who have opened a gourmet corner among the shops

Milan has many large pleasant parks where visitors can enjoy going for a run or a long walk. Parco Sempione is one of the best known, together with the 640 hectares of Parco Nord, and BAM – the Library of Trees at the foot of the Bosco Verticale. Numerous smaller scale gardens entice their visitors with natural elegance