Milan is one of Italy’s most famous cities and favorite destinations of tourists and businessmen from all over the world, among other reasons because of its outstanding artistic heritage. Are you planning to spend a weekend in this city? Read on and find out how to plan the perfect weekend trip.
5 top sights in Milan
You would need a whole month to visit Milan’s most important attractions: five of them, however, cannot be missed. Let’s get started.
1) Il Duomo
Milan’s cathedral is a true symbol of the city and anyone should visit it at least once in a lifetime.
Located in Piazza Duomo, it is the third largest cathedral in the world, after St. Peter’s Basilica and the Seville Cathedral. The cathedral took nearly six centuries to be built: construction began in 1386, and was completed over 500 years later by order of Napoleon. The façade is decorated with 136 spires and 2.000 statues (one of them the famous “Madonnina” which watches over the city) and the inside consists of 5 imposing naves supported by 52 columns.
Don’t miss a visit to the terrace, which offers a breathtaking view of the city and can be accessed by stairs or an elevator.
Please visit the official web page of the Duomo to check opening hours and book your tour.
2) Castello Sforzesco
Another symbol of the city, not far from the Duomo, is this imposing construction built in the mid-1400s by the noble Visconti family to protect the city. Leonardo da Vinci used to work here when he moved to the court of Ludovico Sforza during the Renaissance.
The Castle houses several museums, all very interesting: the Museum of Ancient Art, the Egyptian Museum, the Museum of Decorative Arts, the Museum of Musical Instruments, and the Museum of Antique Furniture and Wood Sculptures.
Moreover, you will be able to visit the prehistoric collection of the Milan Archaeological Museum and the famous gallery called Pinacoteca Sforzesca, which exhibits over 1,500 works of art dating between the 13th and the 18th century.
Please visit the official Castello Sforzesco web page for information about tickets.
3) Pinacoteca di Brera
Located in the Palazzo Brera, this permanent collection of paintings is one of the most important in Italy. Its 40 rooms house some of the major Italian works of art; masterpieces such as Raphael’s The Marriage of the Virgin, Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus, Mantegna’s Christ and Piero della Francesca’s The Virgin and Child, to name but a few.
The Pinacoteca was originally founded for educational purposes next to the Academy of Arts at the behest of Maria Theresa of Austria. When Milan became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, under Napoleon, the Pinacoteca took on its role as a collection of the main contemporary works of art as it gathered the French army’s booty coming from the spoliation of the places of worship of suppressed religious orders.
Please visit the official web page of Pinacoteca di Brera to arrange your tour.
4) Cimitero Monumentale
Many personalities have been buried in the Monumental Cemetery over the years. It is a true open-air museum and many of its graves have a high artistic value.
Inaugurated in 1866 and officially opened the following year, it has continually expanded and now covers an area of about 250,000 square meters. It contains many funerary works of art including obelisks, small temples, statues of all shapes and sizes, and a scaled-down version of Trajan’s column.
The high architectural value of the artwork it contains makes it one of the most interesting cemeteries in Italy. It accommodates the sepulchral monuments of well-known families of the Milanese upper class: Falck, Bocconi (founders of the Bocconi university), Campari, Bracco, Brambilla and Treccani (founders of the historical Italian Encyclopedia) among others.
The cemetery is open daily (except for Mondays) and admission is free. Opening hours can be found on the dedicated web page of the Comune di Milano.
5) La Scala
Located in Piazza della Scala, this is one of the most prestigious opera houses in Italy (along with San Carlo in Naples and La Fenice in Venice); it hosted the opening nights of Verdi’s Otello and Bellini’s Norma among others, and saw the performances of all the icons of “il bel canto”.
Milan’s main theater used to be Il Regio Ducale, which was destroyed by fire in 1776. Empress Maria Theresa of Austria decided to build a new one on the former location of the church of Santa Maria della Scala. Architect Giuseppe Piermarini completed construction in 1778 and the theater was inaugurated with an opera by Antonio Salieri.
The theater museum (Museo Teatrale alla Scala) has an important collection of musical instruments, opera costumes and historical documents. And if you wish to take a peek at the actual theater during your museum tour, you can do so from the third-order boxes!
Please visit the official web page of Museo Teatrale alla Scala to arrange your tour..
Hotel de la Ville: luxury and privacy a stone’s throw from Milano
Our 4-star luxury hotel is located opposite the magnificent Villa Reale of Monza, which is a sight for sore eyes. The hotel is a mere 16 kms away from the Milan Central Station and 22 km from the Rho Fairgrounds; it has always been a favorite destination for tourists and businessmen who love to combine comfort and sophistication with the opportunity to relax in a quiet environment.
- We have 62 finely furnished rooms and suites, equipped with all amenities and designed to make your stay unforgettable.
- A wonderful crystal veranda overlooking the Monza Palace is available to our guests. It is open for exclusive lunches or dinners as well as for drinks.
- Our in-house restaurant, The Derby Grill, is one of the most popular in Brianza.
Have you finally decided to visit beautiful Milan and want to treat yourself to a unique stay in a dream location just a few kilometers away? Do not hesitate to ask us for information: we will be happy to meet all your needs!