Since Roman times Milan Centre has been a hub of fashion, art and religion. First settled in 600 B.C.E., the city quickly made its name as a commercial crossroads, a status it still holds today. The long history of Milan’s textile industry is visible in the elaborate outfits of passersby, who seem always on their way to or from the catwalk. Imitate them with a visit to the boutiques of Milan Centre, or stick to the exuberant collection of fine arts in the incredible museums in this area.
Begin at Milan’s most famous landmark, the Cathedral of Milan, the famous Duomo. Join the crowds as they mill about the elaborate façade, and take in the sheer scale, best appreciated from a café on the Piazza del Duomo. A few steps away, the world-famous La Scala opera house is worth visiting for the architecture alone. Also near the Duomo is the Palazzo Reale, where the former kings of Italy lived and now is home to exhibitions. Discover the city’s political history at the Castello Sforzesco.
Head to the Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli to see the Contemporary Arts Pavilion (PAC), one of the city’s newest landmarks filled with cutting edge works. For more traditional art, spend a few hours at the Pinacoteca di Brera or, to see Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, head to Santa Maria Delle Grazie. For wearable art, browse the boutiques in Italy’s oldest shopping mall, the art nouveau Galleria Vittorio Emanuele I, or in La Rinascente, the city’s most famous department store.
Milan Centrale, the city’s main train station, offers rail connections to every major city in Italy and to neighboring countries. Malpensa Airport is about an hour away from Milan Centre by rail or by car and there is a good system of subways and trams. The wide availability of public transportation, as well as a general lack of parking, make Milan a city better explored without using a car. Numerous taxis are available.
After a long day of walking, shopping and eating, unwind at the famous Terme Milano, a public bath and spa that is a perfect antidote to tired muscles.
