Milan Travel Guide – Tourist Attractions, Sights, Tips & Things to do

Milan is a vibrant city in northern Italy, famous for its fashion, art and culture. If you are planning to visit Milan, here are some of the top attractions and sights that you should not miss:

1. Duomo di Milano: The majestic Gothic cathedral that dominates the city center. It took nearly six centuries to complete and it is the largest church in Italy.
2. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: The oldest and most elegant shopping mall in Italy, located next to the Duomo. It features a stunning glass roof and a mosaic floor with the symbols of the four major Italian cities.
3. Teatro alla Scala: The world-renowned opera house that hosts some of the best performances of classical music, ballet and opera. It also has a museum that displays costumes, instruments and memorabilia from its history.
4. Castello Sforzesco: The imposing fortress that was once the residence of the Sforza family, the rulers of Milan in the 15th and 16th centuries. It now houses several museums and art collections, including Michelangelo’s last sculpture, the Rondanini Pietà.
5. Parco Sempione: The largest and most popular park in Milan, located behind the Castello Sforzesco. It offers a relaxing green space with a lake, a fountain, a bridge and several monuments and statues.
6. Pinacoteca di Brera: The main art gallery in Milan, located in the elegant Brera district. It boasts a rich collection of paintings from the 14th to the 20th century, including masterpieces by Raphael, Caravaggio, Mantegna and Bellini.
7. Santa Maria delle Grazie: The UNESCO World Heritage Site that houses one of the most famous paintings in the world: Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. You need to book your tickets in advance to see this masterpiece.
8. Navigli District: The charming canal district that was once used for transportation and irrigation. It is now a lively area with many bars, restaurants, shops and art galleries along the waterways.
9. Cimitero Monumentale: The monumental cemetery that is considered an open-air museum of sculpture and architecture. It contains thousands of elaborate tombs and mausoleums of famous and wealthy people from Milan’s past.
10. Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci: The largest science and technology museum in Italy, dedicated to the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. It displays models of his inventions, as well as exhibits on various fields of science and engineering.
11. Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio: The oldest and most important church in Milan, founded by St. Ambrose in the 4th century. It is a fine example of Romanesque architecture, with a beautiful façade, a golden altar and a crypt with the relics of the saint.
12. Quadrilatero della Moda: The fashion district that is home to some of the most prestigious brands and designers in the world. It consists of four streets: Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Sant’Andrea and Via Manzoni.
13. Piazza dei Mercanti: The medieval square that was once the heart of Milan’s commercial and political life. It is surrounded by historic buildings such as the Palazzo della Ragione, the Loggia degli Osii and the Casa dei Panigarola.
14. Museo Poldi Pezzoli: The private museum that showcases the eclectic collection of Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli, a 19th-century nobleman who loved art and antiques. It includes paintings by Botticelli, Piero della Francesca and Pollaiolo, as well as weapons, jewelry, clocks and textiles.
15. Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore: The hidden gem that is also known as the «Sistine Chapel of Milan». It is a former Benedictine convent that has been transformed into a stunning church with frescoes covering every inch of its walls and ceiling.
16. Biblioteca Ambrosiana: The historic library that was founded by Cardinal Federico Borromeo in 1609. It contains more than one million books and manuscripts, including some rare and precious ones such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus and Virgil’s Aene.
17. San Siro stadium: It is the home of AC Milan and Inter Milan, two of the most successful clubs in Italian football. The stadium has a capacity of 75,923 seats and is one of the largest and most iconic stadiums in Europe. San Siro stadium was built in 1925 and has hosted several major events, such as the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the 2001 UEFA Champions League final and the 2016 UEFA Europa League final.