Milan Shopping and Art Itineraries

MILAN SHOPPING AND ART ITINERARIES

Milan: the Italian metropolis, capital of the affairs and of the fashion, offering any type of distraction, but also lots of culture that can be found between the many ancient palaces, the churches, the cathedral “Duomo di Milano”, the countless museums and art galleries. A vacation to Milan lets also to taste typical dishes coming from several italian regions and, due to the geographic position, Milan is also an excellent base for your tours in northern Italy.

Architectural masterpieces and spellbinding window displays, all within a few square meters. The hub of the old city of Milan is the cathedral, the third biggest in the world, which dominates and dwarfs everything around it. The exterior, described by D.H. Lawrence as "an elaborate wedding cake", is a mix of pink, grey, peach and fawn marble topped by 135 spires. From the top of the highest (108.5metres) a gilded bronze figure of the Virgin looks down upon the city.Behind the elaborate facades the interior is no less monumental. The floors are covered in white marble ornamented with red and black. The carving and decoration is heavy. The stained glass is splendid. And there are a multitude of interesting works of art, the most notable of which are the Gian Giacomo Medici tomb by Leone Leoni and D'Agrate's grotesque representation of St. Bartholomew. Take time to visit the roof for an unforgettable view from amongst the gleaming spires.

As if in antithesis to the dominance of the cathedral, Italy's commercial prosperity is celebrated in the nearby ''Galleria"'. Elaborate decorations look down upon this marble paved concourse, beneath massive iron and glass vaulted roofs. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was designed by Guiseppe Mengoni between 1865 and 1877. With its upmarket shops, cafes and restaurants this is one of Milan's most fashionable places to be seen. The Galleria leads the way to exclusivity of a different sort, represented by the world's most famous opera house - La Scala. Composers such as Rossini, Bellini and Verdi made their debuts here. Some of the greatest conductors and singers have worked in this auditorium. The theatre was completely renovated between 2001 and 2004. You may not be able to enjoy an opera, but you can see the sumptuous interior with a ticket from the Scala Museum.

Grand Hotel et de Milan 5 *****

Hotel Manzoni 4 ****

Vittorio Emanuele Gallery is probably the best place to do shopping in Milan. Once out from Vittorio Emanuele Gallery, we reach Cordusio Square, from where we cross Dante street up to Sforzesco castle. The Sforzesco Castle, where it's possible to visit the inner rooms containing many sculptures and paintings made by Leonardo da Vinci and other world's famous artists, like Michelangelo with its Rondanini Pietà. TheSforzesco castle was built starting from XV century by Francesco Sforza, but was partly destroyed, rebuilt and modified during the subsequent centuries. One of the Sforzesco castle's cylindrical tower and the outside walls.

Another religious complex, the church and convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie is custodian of one of the most famous works of art in the world - Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper". The painting, which is include in UNESCO's World Heritage list, hangs on the end wall of the convent's refectory. Opposite the Leonardo is Giovanni Donato Montefano's "Crucifixion". The church and convent were completed in 1469 and are in a combination of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Bombing in 1943 destroyed much of the buildings but "the Las Supper" was saved. But perhaps the most famous art collection in Milan is to be found in the impressive Palazzo di Brera. Amongst other treasures hung here are paintings by Mantegna and Piero della Francesca. It is in this district of the Brera and that of Navigli that "the other" Milan "comes out to play" at night. From Milan Brera neighborhood, the most exclusive area in central Milan, famous for shops dedicated to arts and antiques. The narrows streets, normally crossed only by pedestrians or bikes, has also a good selections of typical restaurants. Villa Necchi Campiglio Museum, restored by FAI Fondo Ambiente Italiano.

Weekend in Liguria - 2 hiurs from Milan suggested Hotel Abbadia di San Giorgio - Moneglia