Milan is often a bit of an afterthought when it comes to deciding which Italian city to visit. The Renaissance majesty of Florence, food-filled streets of Bologna or ancient ruins in Rome tend to grab people’s attention, but we believe Milan has just as much to offer! If you’re considering adding this northern city to your Italian itinerary, here’s our Milan city guide to help start your planning:
An Introduction to Milan
Milan was already an important settlement at the time of the ancient Romans, having been founded by the local Celtic people around the 6th century BC. The Romans conquered the city in the 2nd century BC, calling it Mediolanum (a name you will often see still) and it became a key location for the northern edge of the expanding empire.
During the turmoil that developed after the fall of the Roman empire, Milan was the site for multiple battles which caused a lot of destruction. Despite this, the city was able to rebuild and by the 11th century Milan was at the heart of a small but powerful kingdom covering much of modern-day Lombardy.
Milan’s upward progression continued through the medieval period and into the Renaissance. It was one of the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe in the 13th century and the ruling Sforza family were able to attract masters like Leonardo Da Vinci and Donato Bramante to improve their city.
While in later centuries Milan would fall under the control of French and Spanish regimes at times, it always kept its sense of independence and free-thinking ideas. It was one of the main centers of the Italian Enlightenment movement in the 18th century and played a key role in the various conflicts through the 19th century before Italian unification in 1861.
Modern Milan
After unification, Milan had a rapid industrial development period. The very first power station in Europe was opened here in 1883, factories were built and Milan’s economy boomed. A lot of this was undone during World War II when Milan was heavily bombed, but the city was determined to rebuild.
Today Milan is the home of the Italian Stock Exchange, as well as being the leading city in Italy for fashion, publishing and industry. Milan balances modernity with an ancient legacy, fast-paced life with a love for good food and the sacred aperitivo time, and is absolutely worth visiting!
Milan City Guide – Must-See Attractions
When you visit Milan there are certain places you absolutely have to go and see. Here are our Milan must-sees:
The Duomo
Milan’s cathedral is iconic. The largest church in Italy (the larger St Peter’s Basilica is in Vatican City not Italy) and covered in intricate spires and sculptures that gleam in the sun, the Duomo has to feature on any trip to Milan. Even after multiple visits the sight of the cathedral across the Piazza del Duomo never fails to stop us in our tracks!
Those shining spires and the impressive facade were only added in the 19th century but the creation of the Duomo was in the 1300’s. Originally there were a number of ancient churches on this spot, but the city rulers and archbishop felt it was time for a new, impressive church in Milan.
Deliberately designed to be imposing with its Gothic style, the Duomo took a long time to be completed. Work has been done on the cathedral almost constantly, with modifications, improvements and restorations continuing through to today.
You can see the cathedral from the outside but it is absolutely worth taking the time to go inside. The soaring Gothic ceiling is spectacular and you have to see the stained glass windows from the inside too.
Once you’ve explored the inside, it is possible to go up onto the terraces of the cathedral and see the details of the statues, spires and buttresses up close. The wide area is truly unique, and is not a modern creation; the original architects incorporated the concept of people being able to see the building like this from the start!
Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper
Another of Milan’s iconic attractions, in the refectory of the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie is one of the most famous artworks anywhere in the world; The Last Supper. Created by Leonardo da Vinci in the 1490’s, the work was commissioned by Da Vinci’s patron, Ludovico Sforza, who was then Duke of Milan.
Depicting the moment where Jesus tells his disciples that one of them will betray him, this fresco is famous for a reason. Da Vinci’s use of light and delicate touches make each figure in the scene spring to life, and the more you look at it, the more you see.
Because the fresco is on a wall in the dining hall of the monastic complex, meaning space is limited, visits are carefully timed and no more than 35 people are allowed in at once. This is also to help preserve the painting as it is extremely delicate. If you wish to see the Last Supper (which we highly recommend) you will need to check when tickets for your dates get released on the official website and book them as soon as you can.
Castello Sforzesco
The current Sforza castle was built on the ruins of an earlier castle, which was intended to be both the official residence of the dukes of Milan and part of the city’s fortifications. This status continued all the way through to the unification of Italy, with the castle being home to a succession of Milan’s rulers and conquerors.
After the creation of the Italian state, the castle no longer had a military or regal purpose. Instead, it became the home of several museums. These include the Pinacoteca showcasing the art collection of the Sforza family, an archeological museum and the library which holds Da Vinci’s Trivulziano Codex (a collection of his papers, notes and drawings).
Today the castle is a symbol of the city, and holds some of Milan’s most precious history, which is why we class this as a must-see.
Milanese Food and Drink
Milanese cuisine is nowhere near as famous as Neapolitan pizza or Roman pasta but it is filled with delicious dishes.
The land around the city is perfect for raising cattle so unlike in most of Italy, dairy products are common. Butter, cream and a huge variety of cheeses give Milanese dishes a richness that is ideal for keeping one’s strength up in the cold winter months.
You’ll find plenty of meat-focused options, such as ossobuco alla milanese (braised veal or beef shank), cassœula (pieces of pork slow cooked with cabbage) and cotoletta alla milanese (tender veal cutlet breaded and fried in butter).
However the most famous Milanese dish has to be risotto alla milanese, delicate saffron risotto made with the top quality rice grown in the region. Showered with grated local cheese, there is nothing better than this to us!
Milanese Aperitivo
If all this food seems a bit much, you can always opt for a long-standing tradition and focus on aperitivo time instead.
Today aperitivo is popular all over Italy, but it was not always like this. Back in the 1800’s there was a wave of new alcoholic drinks being created. Vermouth was created in Turin, made from wine, but in Milan a pharmacist called Ramazzotti created the first aperitif that was not wine-based, using herbs and botanical ingredients instead.
It became common in these northern cities for people to meet in the afternoon, have an aperitif and a small snack before dinner. The number of aperitif options began to grow and the concept of a pre dinner cocktail became even more popular. The bitter Campari was created in 1860, and by the turn of the century Milanese bartenders and cafe owners had turned the aperitivo into an art form.
Popular Italian drinks we enjoy today weren’t created until the 1920’s, like the Negroni and Aperol, at a time when Milan had been enjoying aperitivo for decades already. We love exploring this history in Milan’s long-running bars, which we always highlight whenever we create Milan experiences for our guests.
Exploring Italy’s Fashion Capital
Milan has long been famous for its style and influence on fashion. The city was importing luxury fabrics to create beautiful clothing and accessories from as early as the 16th century. Heavily influenced by the French (who had a significant presence in Milan) who were always developing new trends and styles, the Milanese put their own spin on European fashion.
The aristocracy were obsessed with being up to date so there was a huge amount of dressmakers and tailors in the city. Reports of performances at the La Scala opera house would include descriptions of what people were wearing – not that different from today!
Milan solidified its position as the fashion capital of Italy when shopping became more widely accessible. Italy’s first department store opened in Milan in 1865 and the industrial revolution meant that pieces of clothing could be made more cheaply and in higher quantities, but still maintaining the high quality Milanese fashion was famous for.
Many of Italy’s most famous brands were founded in Milan, and even more are based here, including Armani, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Prada. This means the city center is home to a huge range of boutiques and shops, which are fun to window-shop even if you don’t want to actually buy anything!
The main shopping areas are in the Quadrilatero della Moda, Corso Buenos Aires and Porta Ticinese, but the crowning glory of Milan’s stores is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
The Galleria is a huge covered shopping arcade that goes between the Piazza del Duomo to Piazza della Scala, connecting two of Milan’s historic sites together. One of the very earliest shopping malls, it has inspired countless others.
Topped with a stunning roof made from cast iron and glass, the design was revolutionary when it was created in 1861. Other arcades had been built previously but these were smaller than the Galleria in Milan, so the architects had to devise a way to hold up the huge glass dome safely.
The final result speaks for itself. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is one of our favorite places in Milan, with intricate details everywhere and the soaring glass roof above.
Once you’ve admired the architectural details, make sure to spend some time browsing the stores and then sit and enjoy a coffee or aperitivo at one of the historic cafes inside.
How To Reach Milan
Milan is a major transportation hub so it is very easy to get here from within Italy, other places in Europe or long-haul locations.
Milan Malpensa airport is the primary airport for the city, but depending on your starting point you could also use Linate or Bergamo – these tend to be where European flights land. None of these airports are particularly close to the center of Milan but there are good connections available at all of them.
If you’re traveling within Italy, using the high speed trains is absolutely the best way to travel. You can get between major cities like Rome, Naples, Florence, Venice and Milan within a few hours and prices are generally reasonable. If you’re looking at train schedules, make sure to set Milan Centrale as the destination train station.
Once you’re in Milan, it is easy to get around. The historic city center is pretty compact and is very walkable, but there is also a large metro network, buses, trams and taxis when needed. Check out the official public transportation site for Milan here for more details.
We hope this introductory Milan city guide has inspired you to explore somewhere beyond the more traditional Italian destinations. If you would like to get to know Milan better, we can create a custom experience tailored to your interests – contact us to find out more!
