Milan - Milan guide, attractions and pictures


Milan Travel Guide


Milan (Milano) is one of the largest cities in Italy - a business, media, fashion and financial center. Milan is also well known as the fashion center of Italy with its fashion houses and shops. Milan is located in northern Italy in Lombardy region and is a home of one of the largest churches in the Christian World – The Duomo.

The Piazza del Duomo houses the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. The marble, chosen for its construction, came from the quarries of Candoglia. The most cherished relic of the cathedral, a nail from the Christ`s cross, is placed on a grandiose crucifix above the chancel.

To the west side of Piazza del Duomo is the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana. Its founder, Cardinal Federico Borromeo, established one of the largest European libraries in the 17th century. Here, the visitor enjoys his extensive art collection. The highlights of the exhibition are the masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci and Jan Brueghel. The famous art gallery of Milan, Pinacoteca di Brera, is another landmark. The gallery contains a superb collection of Italian paintings by artists such as Bonifacio, Veronese, Tintoretto, Bellini, and Carpaccio. The highlight of the collection is the Raphael`s Marriage of the Virgin. Housed in the former residence of Napoleon, the Civica Galleria d`Arte is one of the top galleries in Milan. The main collection contains 19th century masterpieces by Marini, Corot, Millet, Boccioni, and Morandi. The highlight of the smaller Collezione Vismara is Picasso`s Battle of the Centaurs.

The most famous opera house of Italy, the La Scala, is an architectural masterpiece completed during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa. Here, Arturo Toscanini undertook major reforms that aimed to draw the attention of the audience to the opera performance. The city of Milan had built the huge fortress Castello Sforzesco to protect its wealth. During the Renaissance, the renovated castle had served as the home of the powerful Sforza rulers of Milan. Today, their residence hosts several first-rate museums. Local archaeological artefacts are displayed at the Museo della Preistoria. The Museo d`Arte Antica displays a superb collection of Lombard`s sculptures and the last and unfinished work of Michelangelo, Pieta Rondanini.

The church Santa Maria della Grazie preserves the famous mural of Leonardo, the Last Supper. Leonardo had strolled around Milan for nearly two years, in search of models for his work. Unfortunately, little has remained from the original colouring. Leonardo’s choice of oil paint has made the mural a subject of constant restoration.

Visitors wanting to recuperate from the heavily loaded cultural tour may rest in the oldest park of the city, Giardini Publicci. The shady allies and the small lake make the park an enjoyable site for locals and visitors.

Milan, the centre of corporations and the stock market in Italy, is one of the wealthiest cities in the country. Tourists who shun noise and traffic may find the place less appealing than other destinations. However, the cultural wealth and charm of the city will make the trip to Milan unforgettable.



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Castello Sforzesco
Castello Sforzesco and Parco Sempione were once part of the Visconti estate.
Duomo Milan
The Duomo in Milan is one of the largest churches in the Christian World.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a stylish shopping mall in Milan.
Pinacoteca di Brera
Brera Art Gallery has one of the most extensive art collections in Milan.
Santa Maria delle Grazie
Santa Maria delle Grazie contains the masterpiece "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci.
Teatro alla Scala
La Scala is one of the greatest venues in the world to see opera.

User Comments about Milan



hio says:
I've been in Milan during the winter. Every where you could see people well dressed. It is not the typical Italian city but I loved it.