Visiting Milan, Italy for a Spectacular Tour of Italy's Past and Present

Milan, Italy, the second largest city in Italy, offers exciting tours through both the past and present times of Italy. Milan is a leader in fashion, music and design, but is also the "capital" in business, housing Italy's leading stock exchange.



Milan's Convenient Tourism Location

Milan carries a population of one and a half million people, and is located just south of the Italian Alps. Right next door are Venice and Florence, fabulous ski resorts, and also Liguria and Cinque Terre, which are by the sea.

Tourist Tips to Make Your Milan Trip More Pleasant

Prepare to Shop 'til You Drop

If you love shopping, then bring plenty of money and prepare to shop 'til you drop! Milan offers some of the most fabulous design shops and also showrooms for the most brilliant designers such as Krizia, Coveri, Versace and Armani. Shopping for clothing in Milan is a unique and thrilling experience. After all, Milan is known as the city of high fashion.

Touring the Churches of Milan

The Duomo is a must-see Gothic architecture that is dated back to 1300, and houses the famed Madonnina, which is a statue of the Virgin Mary covered in 3,900 pieces of golden leaf.

Another beautiful religious structure is the Basilica of Sant' Eustorgio, a medieval building that dates back to the fourth century.

Located in the reflectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie is the famous painting called "The Last Supper", painted by Leonardo da Vinci, and it's quite a sight to see!

If you're a woman, and plan to take a tour of the beautiful churches of Milan, be sure to wear long sleeves or take a light sweater (even in summer). You won't be allowed to enter the churches with bare shoulders!

The Museums of Milan

Milan is home to many fascinating museums such as the Museum of Science and Technology, which focuses on subjects of astronomy, computers and everything in between. The Museum of Ancient Art enables you to view some of the most important sculptures, some dating back to the fourth century.

If you're interested in theater, La Scala Theater Museum is worth a visit. You'll be able to view exhibits of costumes and theater settings from the past.

Visiting the Restaurants of Milan

Some of the most popular restaurants in Milan are the Armani/Nobu, Da Berti, Antico Ristorante Boeucc, Joia and also Alfredo. Milan offers a wide variety of either local or international cuisines to fit all taste buds. Fish and meat are always favorite entrees. Don't forget to tip the waitress or waiter! It's a custom (when service is pleasant), but not mandatory.

Cotoletta and risotto alla milanese are two of the most popular dishes served in Milan, as well as beef with olive oil and anchovies. Milan restaurants also offer a variety of delicious soups for those chilly winter evenings.

Interesting Events in Milan

One of the most popular events in Milan is the Teatro alla Scala opera performance, held December through May. Concerts and ballet are frequent during September. Milan is also known for its extravagant fashion shows which are held throughout the year.

Overall, Milan has much to offer to the tourist who's searching for fun, adventure or culture. The historical value along with modern attractions make Milan a great place to visit for anyone. Milan and Verona

Northern Italy is described as a ‘cultural paradise’. And the largest city in the area is Milan. Milan is even referred to as ‘the unofficial capital of Italy’ for it is purported to be the country’s ‘commercial and economic epicentre’. It has even been described as ‘the capital of all Europe in the world of fashion’ and even as ‘the style capital of the world’!

Occupying ‘pride of place’ in Milan and a ‘must see’ on any tourist’s itinerary is ‘The Duomo’, the city’s cathedral, and described as ‘Italy’s grandest gothic cathedral’. Considered to be the ‘third largest Christian church in the world’, Milan’s ‘Duomo’ is topped by ‘delicate pinnacles’, that, in turn are topped by statues. In fact, it’s claimed that the cathedral is ‘almost encrusted with statuary’ – with more than 2,000 statues standing in niches on the exterior alone. And figures depicted in bronze panels decorate and cover the cathedral’s central doors. The fashion houses of the ‘Quadrilatero della Moda’ – the famous Fashion Quarter with its designer shops – which has earned Milan the title of ‘the style capital of the world’ is situated but a short distance away from the cathedral.

‘Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is another shopping mall that is said to symbolise Milan. Built during the 19th century, it was described as ‘Italy’s first major work of modern architecture’. With its many ‘grand glass domed arcades’ it’s claimed that it was considered to be the largest shopping complex in Europe.

Milan’s world famous opera house ‘La Scala’, built in 1778, and which was closed for a time while it underwent structural renovation, has now been re-opened, and it is claimed that its ‘Carrara marble and elaborate chandeliers are still gleaming’! Certainly, it’s said that the demand for tickets for the performances that are being staged there is very high indeed!

Milan’s Renaissance Castle ‘Castello Sforzesco’ houses a group of city museums, including: ‘Musea d’Arte Antica’ – featuring sculpture collections from the Middle Ages and Renaissance; ‘Museo d’Arte Antica Armeria’ – featuring weaponry and armour collections; ‘Museo delle Arti Decorative’ – a wide ranging museum which includes amongst its many displays clocks, ironwork, ceramics, wooden sculpture, ivory, jewellery, furniture, and a collection of costumes beginning with the 17th Century which explores the origins of Milan’s pre-eminence in the realms of fashion; ‘Museo degli Strumenti Musicali’ – featuring musical items ranging from pocket-sized violins to ‘hurdy- gurdies’, and a rare 1520 instrument which is considered to be one of the earliest instruments still surviving; ‘Museo della Preistoria e Protostori – featuring Paleolithic, Neolithic and Iron Age artefacts; and ‘Pinoteca’ – featuring paintings from Medieval times through to the 18th century, and also a 20th century art collection, which is claimed to be one of Europe’s best.

The castle’s construction commenced in the 1360s and was completed in the 1450s. And some some creative re-construction work has since been carried out on the building. In Piazza Castello a particularly impressive fountain can be located which the people of Milan refer to as ‘Wedding Cake Fountain’ – ‘Tort de’Spus’! Among the many museums and churches that are to be found in Milan, the church building that seems to attract most tourist on a ‘prime priority scale’ is the 15th century Gothic Church of ‘Santa Maria della Grazie’.

For adjoining this building is ‘Cenacolo Vinciano where Leonardo da Vinci’s painting ‘The Last Supper’ can be located, which, it is claimed, is regarded as ‘one of the great masterpieces of Western Art’. Of particular interest is the ‘Pinacoteca Ambrosiana’ which is claimed to have been one of the world’s first public libraries when it opened in 1609. It was commissioned by Cardinal Frederico Borromeo, who wanted to house a valuable collection of documents. Later his personal art collection was placed in the building as well Being exhibited at the building are paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio and Brueghel, and Raphael’s cartoons for his Vatican frescoes. Milan is renown for its excellent restaurants. And a ‘restaurant’ can be classified as either a ‘trattoria’ – with a more limited menu and lower prices, or a ‘ristorante’. An ‘osteria’ is a wine bar which serves a selection of ‘snacks’, while a ‘pizzeria’ specialises in wood-oven pizzas! ‘Cucina casalingua’, on the other hand, is the sign that advertises ‘home-style cooking’. And Milan’s main speciality dishes are ‘Cotoletta Milanese’ – namely ‘Veal Cutlet’, or ‘Risotto’.

Milan also abounds with hotels of every kind. These include ‘Carlton Hotel Baglioni – featuring a famous gastronomic restaurant, the ‘Hotel De La Ville’ – with its top floor glass covered swimming pool which overlooks the ‘Duomo’ spires, and ‘Four Seasons’ – a former 15th century monastery which has been converted into a stylish hotel. Having arrived in Milan by air - Northern Italy’s major international airport being based near Milan - if one wishes to visit Verona, it is possible to travel directly there by train on the main ‘Milan/Verona/Venice Train Line’. It is claimed that there are few cities where Roman, Medieval and Renaissance influences blend so harmoniously as they do in Verona. And a trip that can combine a visit to both Milan and Verona is highly recommended.

Verona is generally described as a ‘beautiful city’, situated as it is within the curve of the Adige River. And its ‘city centre’ today is in the same location as it was in Roman times. A pedestrianised area, it also includes portions of the ancient Roman Forum which have been exposed following excavations. These include the pavement of the forum and an entire Roman gate, which had lain hidden for centuries, having been incorporated into the wall of a building And it’s claimed that Corso Porta Borsari, Roman Verona’s High Street still passes through the 1st century Roman gate of Porta Borsari. Another 1st century Roman gate ‘Arco dei Govi’ stands nearby, having been moved there together with the stone pavement that was beneath it, which still bears chariot tracks.

Verona’s ‘Roman Arena’ has always been a focal point of the city. With a seating capacity of 22,000, it is the third largest and best preserved Roman Arena in the whole of Italy. It once served as a field for gladiators, and then in 1913 became the venue for one of Europe’s foremost opera festivals ‘The Stagione Lyrico di Verona’. And it continues to host a prestigious opera festival each summer, along with various other concerts.

Verona’s cathedral ‘Duomo di Santa Maria Matricolare’ is considered to be ‘a fine example of the blending of architectural styles’. Claimed to have been built on the site of a Roman temple, and later a 5th century church, the building of the present cathedral was begun in1139. And in the course of the many years that it took to complete the building, Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles of architecture were incorporated in the cathedral.

Verona’s castle, ‘Castelvecchio’ which stands alongside the River Adige, and which is joined to the opposite bank by the bridge known as ‘Ponte Scaligero’, was built between 1355 and 1375, and now houses what is described as ‘one of Italy’s premier art museums’, which features the works of Bellini, Pisano, Francheschi, Rubens, Falconetti, Montagna, Tintoretto, Tiepolo and Guaidi.

One of Verona’s main tourist attractions is the ‘Casa di Giulietta’, a medieval building, which is claimed to be the ‘home’ of Juliet (who is likewise believed to be a fictional character) from Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet’. But, be she ‘fact’ or ‘fiction’, Juliet’s supposed home in Verona – ‘Casa di Giulietta’ – is, it is claimed, always packed with tourists! Verona can lay claim to a wealth of beautiful buildings, and it is a city that can be easily explored on foot. And by combining a visit to both Milan and Verona, one is able to view many of Northern Italy’s numerous historic sights.

Roberta Crookes has worked as a newspaper journalist throughout most of her life, writing news stories, editorial features, advertisement supplements, and reviews. And in the course of her work she has interviewed many famous people from all walks of life. She has also managed to combine parallel careers in both journalism and acting, and, being Welsh speaking from North Wales, her main television featured parts have been Welsh language roles with BBC Wales.