- 1. Duomo
- 2. "The Last Supper"
- 3. Duomo Museum
- 4. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
- 5. The Golden Triangle
- 6. La Scala
- 7. Pinacoteca di Brera
- 8. Sforzesco Castle
- 9. San Lorenzo Maggiore Church
- 10. Museo del Novecento
One of the world’s largest gothic cathedrals, which took more than five centuries to complete, this is also one of Europe’s most beautiful monuments. Inside are gigantic pillars lit by stained-glass windows, while the roof (accessible to tourists) is a forest of spires, pinnacles, and flying buttresses.
Tickets: Duomo Tours and Tickets
Official Website: www.duomomilano.it
One of the most iconic works of art of all time can be seen in the refectory of the 15th-century convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. You’ve seen many reproductions of the “Last Supper,” but here you’ll see Leonardo da Vinci’s original. Only a few visitors are allowed per day, so you need to book your visit with weeks (or months!) in advance.
Tickets: The Last Supper Tours and Tickets
Official Website: legraziemilano.it
Sculptures, stained glass, paintings, and tapestries that were once on display in the Duomo or that never made it inside are now presented in this museum, which also tells the history of the monument. It includes the treasury, with pieces that predate the cathedral itself, mostly made of gold and ivory.
Official Website: museo.duomomilano.it
This monumental shopping gallery is what a shopping mall looked like in 1865. It is adorned with mosaics and an arching glass roof and dome, and contains luxury shops, cafés and restaurants, plus a hotel, the Town House Galleria.
Locate it on the map: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Milan is known as a fashion capital, and its Via Montenapoleone is one of the world’s best shopping streets. It's one of three streets that make up the so-called “Golden Triangle,” where most of the Italian designers and international labels have their stores. Even those who can’t afford the luxury of designer wear will still enjoy the window shopping.
Locate it on the map: Via Montenapoleone
The opera house that served as a model for several others around the world is a neoclassical building inaugurated in 1778. It remains one of the world’s most important theaters, with Europe’s largest stage, and includes a museum displaying costumes, set designs, and exhibits focusing on the history of opera.
Tickets: Theater and Museum Tickets
Official Website: www.teatroallascala.org
Milan’s best art collection is in a 17th-century palazzo and houses some of Italy’s best renaissance and baroque paintings. There are works by Caravaggio, Piero della Francesca, Raphael, Tintoretto, among others. The masterpieces to look for are Mantegna’s “The Dead Christ and Three Mourners,” Francesco Hayez’s “The Kiss,” and “The Marriage of the Virgin” by Raphael.
Tickets: Museum Tickets and Tours
Official Website: pinacotecabrera.org
This Renaissance castle is surrounded by gardens and hides a wonderful interior with rich collections of art, including paintings, sculpture (such as Michelangelo’s unfinished “Pietà Rondanini”), and decorative pieces.
Official Website: www.milanocastello.it
The origins of this church go back to Roman times. It is known for its mosaics inside, and for 16 ancient columns (from the 2nd and 3rd centuries) outside.
Official Website: www.sanlorenzomaggiore.com
Inaugurated in 2010, this museum faces the cathedral and was meant to show 20th-century art from Italy. However, thanks to donations from private collectors, it now also has works by foreign artists like Matisse, Roy Lichtenstein, Picasso, and Andy Warhol.
Official Website: www.museodelnovecento.org
