Milan

The Duomo of Milan is a symbol of this city and is located in the equally famous Piazza del Duomo, an important hub of the historic center. As soon as you look out onto the square, you will be struck by its grandeur. It is, in fact, the largest church in Italy(second only to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City State). At the highest point of the cathedral is the" Madonnina", a golden statue of the Madonna Assunta, also a symbol of the city. Although more than four meters high, it remains hidden from the tourist's eye due to the height and majesty of the cathedral.

The construction of the Milan Cathedral took about five hundred years . It was finished only under the order of Napoleon Bonaparte, who wanted to be crowned there as king of Italy.

Near the Duomo is the Royal Palace of Milan. Once a government seat, today it has become an important cultural center in the city. It will be possible to visit the palace museum and sometimes it hosts many paintings on loan from some of the most prestigious museums in the world. In addition, a series of exhibitions are organized every year, both modern and contemporary art, fashion or design.

Speaking of paintings, one cannot overlook the Pinanoteca di Brera, an important Milanese gallery of ancient and modern art. It is located in the Brera district, not far from the Castello Sforzesco.

Not far from Piazza del Duomo is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, another of Milan's great attractions. It is a gallery full of glitz, luxury and fashion. The place is really photogenic and bright, with its magnificent arcades and the superb dome made of glass and iron. Nicknamed “ The drawing room ”, the gallery is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe.

Inside, you can find some of the most famous designer shops, as well as many luxury restaurants.

Not far away, located in the heart of the city, is the Castello Sforzesco, an imposing 15th century fortification .

It was built by the Visconti family to protect and defend the city from its enemy, Venice. Destroyed and rebuilt several times, it is famous for hosting Leonardo Da Vinci's workshops during the Renaissance period. Today the castle houses a series of museums and, behind the castle, lies the largest public park in the city, Parco Sempione.

Parco Sempione is the largest public park in Milan and is a perfect place to relax. In the opposite direction to the Castello Sforzesco, there is the Arco della Pace, built to celebrate peace, and is located north of Parco Sempione, delimiting its width.

La Scala in Milan is famous for the Milan Opera House. Masterpieces of Italian opera have been written here, such as Vincenzo Bellini's" Norma" or Verdi's" Otello".

On the left of the building it is possible to visit the Museo della Scala and its collection of musical instruments, opera costumes and historical documents.

The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie is one of the most famous churches in Milan and is known for having one of the most famous masterpieces in the world: the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci(also known as the"Last Supper"), which depicts the last supper of Jesus Christ with the apostles. It was painted in the refectory of the monastery, now called" Cenacle", in reference to the masterpiece.

The Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio takes its name from the 4th century bishop saint and patron saint of the city. A first church dedicated to the saint was built on the same site in 386, while the current basilica, one of the oldest in the city, was completed in 1099.

The exterior of the church, with its two brick towers of different heights and a beautiful atrium, is quite unusual. Inside, it is possible to see the Sarcophagus of Stilicone and the crypt, where the remains of Sant'Ambrogio, San Gervasio and San Protasio are found.

San Sepolcro is another church in the historic center, whose style and colors recall this basilica.

An emblem of the historicity of Milan are the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore and the columns of San Lorenzo, dating back to the first centuries after Christ. Although the church was rebuilt in the Middle Ages, it retains the original structure.

This complex is located halfway between the historic center and the Navigli.

The Navigli of Milan are a system of navigable canals that crosses the Lombard capital. Once used as a crossroads for the transport of goods, the Navigli stretches for kilometers connecting Milan to Lake Maggiore, Lake Como and the Ticino river.

Outside the historic center in the southwest area, today they are an excellent place to take relaxing and relaxing walks along the canals. In the evening they light up with night clubs.