There is an opinion that Milan has few attractions. Of course, this is a misconception. If you read this article carefully, you will realize that Milan can easily compete with cities like Rome, Venice and Florence. Don't forget that it is also the center of the Italian economy, fashion and shopping. So, to be honest, it is impossible to fully explore Milan in one day (I mean a detailed acquaintance with the sights and museums). I will help you see its main attractions and find time for shopping.
Well, let's start the tour from Duomo Square (piazza del Duomo). You can get there by metro M1 red or M3 yellow line (stop Duomo).
One of the most important symbols of Milan is erected on the square - the Duomo Cathedral, which took more than 500 years to build. This fantastic temple has a triangular facade with more than 100 spiers and 3,500 statues (among them a 4-meter gilded copperMadonnina). The temple can accommodate more than 40 thousand people.
In Piazza Duomo you will also see a statue of Vittorio Emanuele II on horseback, the first king of a united Italy.
In the southern part of the square there is the Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale), which in its modern form it was built in 1772-1778. Currently, the palace houses the Museum of the Duomo of Milan.
Nearby is the Palace of the Southern Columns (Palazzo dei Portici Meridionali) with two identical, symmetrically located buildings of the Arengiario Palace. In one of them there is a museum of art of the XX century "Novocento".
If you face the Duomo, you will see on the left the entrance to the Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II.
This is a cross-shaped mosaic passage, the roof of which consists of glass domes, and the walls are decorated with frescoes. Among the windows of branded stores and restaurants, in the center of the gallery, you will see a mosaic image of the symbol of the city - a bull, which is said to bring good luck.
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If you drive through Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II from north to south, you will reach Piazza della Scala (Piazza della Scala). This is where the world famous La Scala Opera House (Teatro alla Scala) is located:
Opers by Rossini, Meyerbeer, Puccini, Verdi, Donizetti, Bellini and other famous composers were staged here. Enrico Caruso, Maria Callas, Mario del Monaco, Fyodor Chaliapin, Luciano Pavarotti and others sang on the theater stage. The building doesn't really stand out from the outside, but the inside is truly magnificent:
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In La Scala, it is also worth mentioning the statues of Leonardo da Vinci and his students. The facade of the Maryino Palace, which is currently the residence of the head of the city.
Now I offer 2 options:
The first option is to follow via Alesandro Manzoni from the theater and soon you will see on the right the Poldi Pezzoli Museum (Museo Poldi pezzoli).
Here you will see paintings by famous Italian artists, frescoes, sculptures, collections of weapons and watches, etc.
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About 700 meters from the museum is the Pinacoteca di Brera ("Brera Art Gallery"). To get there, follow back along via Alesandro Manzoni, turn right into via Romagnosi, then left into via Monte de Pieta and on the right on via Brera (by the way, the Brera quarter is called the “Milan Montmartre”). The museum is located on the right side of the street.
Here in 38 rooms there is a rich collection of paintings from different eras. The main theme of the paintings is Christianity. There is a lot to see in the Brera complex. If you spare no expense in purchasing a ticket, believe me, you will be satisfied.
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Now continue along Via Brera, turn left into via Fiori Chiari, then go through via Mercato (left), via delle Erbe (right), Foro Buonaparte (left), via Luca Beltrami. You will come to the fountain in Piazza Castello.
The second option - (if you are less interested in art and you are not going to visit the two previous attractions, especially since you will have to pay for it) - walk three hundred meters from the La Scala theater through the streets via S. Dalmazio, via Bassano Porrone and via S. Prospero and you will exit onto one of the main streets of the city - via Dante. Here houses with beautiful balconies and columns are real works of art.
At the end of the street, in Piazza Largo Cairoli, you will see the statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi on horseback, and behind it - the fountain of Piazza Castello (the so-called "Wedding cake") and Sforza Castle.
The Sforzesco Castle, also known as Castello Sforzesco, is over 700 years old. It houses museums of ancient art, decorative arts, furniture and wooden sculpture, Egyptian, musical instruments and other museums, as well as an art gallery, a hall with frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci and the last unfinished work of Michelangelo Buonarroti - the sculpture "Pieta Rondanini".
Entrance to the fortress is free, visiting museums is paid.
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Around and behind the Sforzesco Castle is Sempione Park (Parco Sempione).
There is a lot to see here. Among them are the Palace of Arts, which houses the Museum of Design and Art, the Torre Branca Tower with an observation deck, the city aquarium and the Arch of Peace.
Let's return to the fountain in Piazza Castello and passing through via Marco Minghetti, piazzale Luigi Cadorna, via Boccaccio, via Caradosso, via Sassi we will come to Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
In the refectory of this 15th century church there is one of the most famous frescoes in the world - “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci.
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Approximately 400 meters from here is the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology. To do this, you should go through the piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie, Corso Magenta, via Bernardino Zenale, via San Vittore.
More than 16 thousand exhibits are located on 50 thousand square meters. Here you will find the Leonardo da Vinci Gallery, the Aviation and Marine Pavilion, the Railway Pavilion, the Astronomy and Astrophysics Pavilion, the Planetary Clock by Giovanni Dondi, the Enrico Forlanini helicopter, the legendary Alfa Romeo racing car and many other interesting objects. Admission is paid.
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If you leave the museum along Via San Vittore (via San Vittore) you will reach Basilica of Saint Ambrose (Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio).
The temple was built in the IV century under the leadership of Bishop Ambrose of Milan. He was later canonized and considered the patron saint of Milan. Previously, the temple was called “Basilica of Martyrs”, because, according to legend, martyrs of the pre-Christian era were buried in this place. In the basilica, it is worth mentioning the golden altar of the 9th century, the Chapel of San Vittore of the 5th century (decorated with golden mosaics) and the bones of saints (St. Ambrose, Saint Gervasius and Saint Protasius). King Ludovico of Italy II is buried here.
The basilica is open every day. Admission is free.
From the basilica we will walk along via Lanzone, via Circo, via Santa Maria. After about 800-1000 meters we will reach Ambrosiana.
This is a two-story palace - Palazzo Ambrosiana, which houses a library (opened in 1609. It contains a copy of the Iliad Vcentury BC, a collection of poems by the Roman poet Virgil, manuscripts by Leonardo da Vinci, works by Francesco Petrarch and many others), Pinacoteca - an art gallery opened in 1618 (Portrait of a Musician is exhibited in 24 rooms Leonardo da Vinci, “Adoration of the Magi” by Titian, “Madonna” by Botticelli, “Fruit Basket” by Caravaggio and other masterpieces):
Entrance to Ambrosiana is paid. Ticket price 15 euros, free for children under 14 years old, 10 euros for youth 14-18 years old and over 65 years old.
This completes the 1-day tour of Milan. If you do not like museums or you do not have the financial ability to do so, do not go to the museums listed above, carefully read the article Milan in 2 days, and select other points of interest. Now you can return to Piazza Duomo - it's a 5-6 minute walk.
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