Arco della Pace

The Arch of Peace is one of the central attractions in Milan with a unique history. The construction was laid by order of Napoleon I. However, it was completed after Bonaparte's defeat and was dedicated precisely to the victory over him! The structure is decorated with symbolic sculptures and bas-reliefs. At the top, there are equestrian statues that embody the triumphant march and peace. The horses are said to stand with their backs towards France, representing the defeat of France in 1815. Get directions.

Santa Maria delle Grazie

Santa Maria delle Grazie is the main church of the Dominican order, built in the 15th century. It is made in the Italian Gothic style, and its construction was carried out by Bramante, the architect of the dome of the Florence Duomo and the St. Peter in the Vatican.

But still, people come here, first of all, for the sake of the Last Supper painting by the great master of the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci. Just a couple of years after its creation, the painting had already undergone many adjustments and corrections, so that today’s painting is not likely to fully correspond to the original idea of Da Vinci.

The entrance to the church is free, whereas visiting the Last Supper is paid and must be booked in advance through the official website. Get directions.

Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio

Sant'Ambrogio is the second most important church in Milan after the Duomo. The basilica was founded in 379 by the first Milanese bishop Ambrose, a reformer of the church. It was built over the relics of the holy great martyrs Gervasius and Protasius, and in 397 Ambrose himself was buried here. The church acquired its monumental Lombard-Romanesque appearance in the 11th century. Right beside the building, there is the Devil's Column, a white marble column with two holes – said to be made by the Devil hitting the column with his horns, because he could not tempt St. Ambrose into sinning.

Entrance to the church is free – check out the official website (It) for the visiting schedule. Get directions.

Duomo

The Cathedral of the Nativity of Saint Mary is known all over the world as Duomo di Milano, an old building in the Gothic style and the main symbol of Milan. Its impressive size and even more striking finish took no less than 600 years to complete! In contrast to its bright exterior, the interior of the Duomo is very subdued, quite shaded and gothic gloomy.

A separate attraction of the cathedral is the breathtaking view from its rooftop, where visitors will also be able to examine up close its external decoration, like the lace of spiers or chiselled silhouettes of statues. Visits to the cathedral as well as its rooftop are paid. Get directions.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the oldest shopping arcades in the world. Located in the heart of the city, this shopping gallery connects the Duomo and La Scala with a splendid indoor arcade with a glass ceiling at 32 meters. The decoration of this architectural gem is incredible, with walls decorated with mosaics depicting the four largest continents, bright frescoes, graceful sculptures and intricate stucco mouldings. The fine mosaic floor depicts the coats of arms of Milan and the three former capitals of the Italian Kingdom – Turin, Rome and Florence. Get directions.

Teatro alla Scala

La Scala is the global centre of opera culture, built in 1776-1778 on the site of the church of Santa Maria della Scala, from which the theatre got its name. After the very first production, which was Salieri's opera ‘Recognized Europe’, one of the most important virtues of the theatre was noted. Thanks to its unrivalled acoustics, from anywhere in the hall, you can hear singing and music in the finest nuances.

The quite restrained facade hides a riot of luxury, the seats are upholstered in velvet, the walls are lavishly decorated with stucco and gilded, not to mention the incredibly expensive costumes of the actors. Check out the official website for tickets. Get directions.

Colonne Di San Lorenzo

The Colonnade of San Lorenzo is a magnificent addition to the Basilica of San Lorenzo. Contrary to the assumption of many, the columns were erected along with the very first version of the basilica, to surround its inner courtyard. The columns, as was usually done across Italy, had been removed from other ancient buildings. There are many places where they could have been taken from, including an ancient palace, a pagan temple, or even a bath.

The square of the Colonnade is also really popular with locals, who like to meet up here for an evening chat or a drink. Get directions.

Porta Ticinese

Porta Ticinese is one of the few medieval remains preserved in the city. Together with the arches of Porta Nuova in Via Manzoni, it is the only survivor of the ancient 11th century Milanese walls. Initially, it was designed to be a one-span gate, but in the mid-19th century it was reconstructed and two more arches were added. The ancient Roman road to the city of Ticinum, modern Pavia, ran through this gate – which gave the gate its name. Get directions.

Cimitero Monumentale

The Monumental Cemetery is an architectural gem and an open-air museum worth visiting to see the richly and skillfully crafted tombstones and sculptures of renowned masters. One of the most famous of them is considered the "Last Supper", erected for Davide Campari and his family, the producers of the famous Campari liqueur. In this peculiar city of the dead, you will find all the possible shapes like Egyptian pyramids, Greek temples, beautiful saints and angels.

The cemetery (It) is free to visit and only closed on Mondays. Get directions.

Stazione Centrale

Milano Centrale is one of the main train stations in Europe. The station was inaugurated in 1931, replacing the old station from 1864. It is mostly done in the Art Deco style with some Art Nouveau elements as well. However, since Mussolini’s rise to power, more brutal elements have been added to show the power of the regime.

The most unusual part of the Milano Centrale building is its steel dome topping the roof at 72 meters, designed by engineer Alberto Fava. It covers an area of over 66,000 square meters and has a diameter of about 110 meters. Get directions.

Basilica di Sant'Eustorgio

The Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio originates from the 4th century, and is named after Bishop Eustorgius. According to the legend, this priest transferred the relics of the Three Kings from Constantinople to Milan. They were kept here until the conquest of Milan by Frederick Barbarossa, who not only destroyed the church but also took the relics to Cologne, where they are kept to this day. In the crypt of the current church, you can still see traces of the old building.

The Basilica di Sant'Eustorgio is open daily, with a break from 12h to 15h. Get directions.

Piazza Mercanti

Piazza Mercanti is an ancient square, a real Italian gem, preserved from the Middle Ages. This small place was dedicated to accommodating important events in the life of the townspeople, like the administration of justice, hosting the city market or meetings of the guild of merchants. The charming square is surrounded by palaces, each of which of considerable historical and cultural value. The most famous is the Palazzo della Ragione or the Palace of Justice, also called "Broletto". It was built in 1233 for sessions of the Milan court.

Piazza Mercanti is quite secluded but free to access. Get directions.

San Bernardino alle Ossa

The 13th century Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa is a unique place known for its crypt chapel. In those days, people were mowed down by ulcers and other misfortunes, such that when there was no more space in the adjoining cemetery, the bones had to be put inside the crypt. In 1269, the chapel of Ossario was added to the church – a mysterious and at the same time alarming place. This is a small square vaulted room with frescoes, whose architectural elements are lined with human bones and skulls that have been preserved for centuries in the crypt. An extraordinary sight where death merges with the grace of Rococo.

The church (It) is open daily. Get directions.

Luini

Luini is a must-visit for traditional panzerotti pastries. Their recipe has been kept secret and passed down from generation to generation for several decades. The story begins after World War II in 1949, when Giuseppina Luini came to Milan from Puglia to open a small business. She quickly gained popularity among the locals, as her fried tiny pies were a hit. They are made from soft dough and melt in your mouth.

We advise you to take the original panzerotti with tomatoes and mozzarella, or, if you want something sweet, try the panzerotti with cocoa and nuts. Get directions.

San Siro

San Siro, or Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, is the largest Italian football stadium. The first name comes from the old stadium in honour of Saint Syrus. The arena received the other name in honour of Giuseppe Meazza, the legendary Italian footballer, two-time world champion, who successfully played for the two main clubs in Milan – A.C. Milan and Inter. Currently, both clubs are tenants of the stadium. On the official website, you can find more information about tickets and stadium tours. Get directions.

Basilica di San Lorenzo

The Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore was built at the end of the 4th century on the site of an ancient temple or bathhouse, whose stones were used as building materials. In the 16th century the temple was restored, while retaining its original Byzantine architecture with a dome and four towers, reminiscent of the spiers of Istanbul's Hagia Sophia. It is believed that on this site in 313 Emperor Constantine proclaimed the free confession of Christianity. In honor of this, his statue was installed in front of the entrance.

The basilica (It) is open daily with a break from 12.30h to 15.30h. Get directions.

Via Dante

Via Dante is one of the central pedestrianized streets in Milan. Until 1996, public transport drove along with it and even a tram line functioned, but then the city authorities decided to give it completely to the power of pedestrians. The street was named after the famous Florentine poet Dante Alighieri. It is mainly built up with houses erected in the 18th and 19th century, as any kind of "modern replica" buildings are not allowed here. So those walking along Via Dante may indeed get a feeling that they have been transported in time several centuries ago. For a complete sensation on the street, only carriages and riders are missing. Get directions.

Via Monte Napoleone

Via Monte Napoleone is a street in the centre of Milan, passing through the Fashion District known as Quadrilatero della moda. On a length of about 500 meters, there are boutiques of the most famous Italian and international designers, as well as jewelry and antique shops. It received its name in 1804, during the reign of Napoleon. Most of the buildings that have survived to this day were built in the 19th century in the neoclassical style, with shops moving in as of the middle of the 20th century, when Milan became the capital of fashion. Get directions.

Università Degli Studi - Ca' Granda

Milan State University is the largest university in the Lombardy region. Its faculties of law, history, philology and medicine are located in the beautiful Ca’ Granda (It) building, one of the first Renaissance buildings in the city, which housed Ospedale Maggiore until early 20th century.

The oldest section from the 15th century is the most prominent one, with beautiful Renaissance arcades on the ground floor and Gothic arched windows with terracotta decorations on the top floor. Get directions.

Porta Nuova

Porta Nuova which means "New Gate" in Italian, used to be part of the city wall Mura Spagnole (It) and was originally built during the Spanish rule in Milan (It). It was located on the ancient Roman road between Milan and the Brianza region in northern Italy at the foot of the Alps. The modern gate was built on the same site in 1810-1813 and worked as a customs checkpoint. It is made of yellow sandstone blocks, decorated with bas-reliefs. Over time, most of the original decorative elements were destroyed and are now practically invisible.

Today, trams run through the arches, which looks inimitable. Get directions.

Casa degli Omenoni

Casa degli Omenoni was commissioned in the 16th century by the famous jeweler and engraver of the Imperial Mint Leone Leoni, to store his rich collection of paintings and objects. It is known, for example, that he possessed the Atlantic Codex by Leonardo da Vinci, which is now in the Ambrosian Library. The first floor of the facade is decorated with statues of eight Telamons (Atlanteans), representing the barbarian tribes defeated by the ancient Romans. Above their heads, you can see their names, including Svevo, Quado, Adiabene, Sarmata and Marcomanni.

Today this building belongs to the most exclusive private men's club in Italy. The members of the club are representatives of the richest aristocratic and bourgeois families in Italy. Get directions.

Rotonda della Besana

Rotonda della Besana is a baroque complex consisting of a church and portico built at the end of the 17th century. Initially, it was a cemetery for the poor, where about 150 thousand people were buried. When the Austrians came to power, it was decided to close it for sanitary reasons. Throughout the 18th century, the place was used for the seriously ill, as a wing of Ospedale Maggiore. At the beginning of the 20th century, the old graves and tombs were devastated, and eventually, it was turned into a public space.

Today Rotonda della Besana is a calm and quiet place where locals just relax or visit a concert. Inside the former church you will find a café today. Get directions.

Via Torino

The wide and spacious Via Torino will delight you with many shops with clothes and cosmetics at affordable prices. Here you will find one of the most affordable Italian labels Tezenis, the French Pimkie, as well as the Spanish Bershka and Pull & Bear. Slightly more expensive collections can be found in stores such as Miss Sixty denim or the American Guess. Look for luxury footwear and accessories from designers such as Gucci, Michael Kors or Lanvin. Via Torino in Milan is always crowded, not only tourists but also locals come here for shopping, especially during the season of discounts. Get directions.