Milan is an amazing city that many people associate with shopping. However, in it you can not only make good purchases, but also see many interesting places. In our article we want to talk about what to do in Milan. After all, this question is asked by tourists who visit the city for the first time. It is worth noting that Milan is beautiful and interesting in all aspects, so you need to do everything in time. What is there in the city, and all this must be seen.
A little about Milan…
It's not so easy to answer the question: "What to do in Milan?" It is so many-sided and interesting that it invariably attracts the attention of tourists. If you have been to Rome, you will immediately feel the difference. The modern city is very beautiful and green. On its territory you will find many attractions that are worthy of close attention of tourists. In Milan there is the famous Duomo, Vittorio Emmanuele Gallery, La Scala, majestic temples and palaces,good shops, great cafes and patisseries.
I must say that in Italy you don’t have to look for sights, they come across at every turn. The same goes for Milan. In general, experienced travelers say that Italy itself is a great attraction. Milan is no exception in this sense. Even in rainy and cloudy weather it is beautiful. There is always something to do and see here. Even the main attractions of Milan cannot be seen in one day.
Weather
Milan has long been a popular tourist destination. Guests come here throughout the year. As a rule, they are interested not only in sights, but also in local outlets, wonderful cafes with delicious dishes and beautiful architecture. The task of each tourist is to combine literally everything in one trip, you need to have time to see the sights and make purchases.
It's hard to say what time of year is best to visit Milan. As we have already mentioned, the tourist season here lasts throughout the year. And not only shopaholics come here, but also lovers of opera and painting. The high season is during the summer months. At this time, the city becomes very hot. Adds trouble high levels of humidity. Since the city does not face the sea, there are no refreshing breezes here. But tourists are not afraid of the heat, but the locals prefer to leave the stuffy city during their holidays and go to the sea.
There are few tourists in Milan in winter. Slight frosts and high humidity entail far fromall people. In January, the sales season begins, but in February, all those who are not indifferent to Italian fashion come to the city.
Fashion season
Probably everyone has heard about Milan Haute Couture Week, even those people who are not shopaholics. Such a grandiose event takes place four times a year. Famous designers present women's collections "spring-summer" in September and "winter-autumn" in February. Menswear is shown in January and June. The show period is a magical time when the city is in a fabulous, high spirits. Large screens are installed in the squares and screenings are broadcast for everyone to watch.
Sale Season
Shopping in Milan is what people from different countries come here for. The biggest discounts on things happen during the sales season. There are such "holidays for shopaholics" twice a year - in January and at the end of summer. The winter sale runs from January 5 to March 5, and the summer sale runs from July 7 to August 7.
How to get there?
Many tourists who decide to visit the city for the first time are wondering: "How to get to Milan?" It is most convenient to use the services of air carriers. In this case, you will reach your destination in a matter of hours. Direct flight Moscow - Milan is very convenient for residents of the capital and neighboring regions. Similar flights are offered by several Russian carriers. If you intend to visit other cities in Italy, then there is nothing easier. By train or bus you can get to Genoa, Venice, Padua and other cities. In general, the choice of transport will depend on your route. Flight Moscow - Milan will allow you to fly quickly for the weekend, if there is no time for a longer trip. Pay attention to the offers of the domestic low-cost airline Pobeda or Aeroflot. Italian Lines also offer direct flights, but they are quite expensive.
Milan Cathedral
If you don't know what to do in Milan, go sightseeing. One of the most grandiose buildings in the city is the Milan Cathedral. Its construction lasted for 600 years. It is for this reason that different directions can be traced in architecture. But in general, the cathedral is designed in the Gothic style.
On its facades you can see a lot of sculptures, in total there are more than three thousand of them. Tourists have a great opportunity to climb the observation deck on the roof of the cathedral and admire the city from a height. The Duomo Cathedral in Milan is a national pride. From the observation deck of the building you can take the best photos.
Santa Maria delle Grazie
The church is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The fame of the temple was brought by the frescoes "The Last Supper" in the refectory, made by Leonardo da Vinci. During the bombing during World War II, the frescoes miraculously survived. Everything around was destroyed, and the wall with the "Last Supper" survived.
To admire the frescoes, you must purchase an entrance ticket to the temple. Wishingvisiting Santa Maria delle Grazie is incredible. In the refectory run every fifteen minutes in small groups of 20-25 people. For tourists, there are audio guides at the box office.
Sforza Castle
What to see in Milan on your own? The Sforza Castle, built in the fifteenth century, is definitely worth seeing. I must say that Milan has a long history. One of the best periods of the city is during the reign of the Sforza dynasty. In those ancient times, each influential family had to have its own castle. Sforza had one too.
The castle contains the rarest canvases, busts of famous Italians, various sculptures. There is even a separate room dedicated to the work of the famous Leonardo da Vinci. By the way, it was he who was engaged in interior decoration. In the castle you can see household utensils, bedding, clocks, furniture and other things from the beginning of the fifteenth century. All these items were once in the homes of famous nobles. In one of the halls of the building there is the last sculpture by Michelangelo, paintings by Mantegna, Correggio, Giovanni Bellini, Filippino Lippi. In the castle you can see an unusual collection of musical instruments.
Amvrosian Gallery
The Art Gallery is the first museum in Milan, it was founded at the beginning of the seventeenth century within the walls of the archbishop's palace. To this day, paintings by famous artists - Caravaggio, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian - are kept in the old building. The gallery has a separate exhibition dedicated to the works of da Vinci. It contains the work of not only the artist himself, but alsohis followers. Here you can see the manuscripts of the famous master. The courtyard of the building is decorated with sculptures. The museum houses Napoleon's gloves, Lucrezia Borgia's jewelry and other interesting things.
Basilica of St. Ambrose
The exact date of the construction of the basilica is unknown. Experts say that it was built around the fourth century. The founder of the temple was Ambrose of Milan, who is highly revered not only by Orthodox, but also by Catholics. Tourists will be interested to see the gilded bas-reliefs of the temple depicting scenes from the life of Ambrose, as well as the mosaic "golden sky", which is made of gems and precious metals. The interior of the basilica impresses even the most avid travelers.
Leonardo da Vinci Museum
No less interesting in Milan is the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology. It can be safely called one of the most interesting places. And there are a lot of them in Milan. The museum is located within the walls of an ancient monastery.
It has a large number of exhibition pavilions, as well as all kinds of outdoor expositions. The exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions is very popular. The outdoor display features submarines, sailing ships, trams, trains, planes and more.
Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II
Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the oldest arcades. The locals call it the "living room of Milan". While making a sightseeing tour of Milan, you should definitely visitpassage.
The gallery connects two of the city's most beautiful squares - in front of the La Scala theater and the square near the Duomo Cathedral.
Brera Gallery
Where to go in Milan? If you like painting, you can visit the Brera Gallery. Milan has an amazing collection of paintings. The Brera Gallery presents paintings by prominent masters. It was founded by Napoleon at the beginning of the nineteenth century, having selected the most famous paintings from the monasteries. Now in the gallery you can see paintings by Picasso, Bellini, Rubens, Raphael and other famous artists. Art lovers will be interested not only in paintings, but also in the opportunity to see with their own eyes the process of restoration of old paintings.
Fondazione Prada
Fondazione Prada is no less attractive for art lovers. The artistic quarter was created on the territory of the factory in the southern part of Milan. Experts say that it is here that the center of contemporary art is currently located. The museum was organized in 1993 by the youngest granddaughter of the famous fashion designer Mario Prada and her husband. At first glance, you may not like the avant-garde direction, but usually after watching people's opinion changes dramatically. It can be seen that people from the world of high fashion have worked on the creation of the collection.
Opera Theater
What to do in Milan? If you have a free evening, be sure to visit La Scala Theatre. For 200 years of its existence, the most famous artists from different countries have performed on stage. It is worth saying that the theater in Milan isleading the world, it has its own orchestra, ballet group and choir. There is also the Academy of Arts, which teaches music, direction, dance and stage skills.
In the interiors of the theater everything screams about luxury: the chairs are upholstered in velvet, the walls are decorated with stucco, mirrors sparkle. To visit the theater, you need to purchase tickets, the cost of which varies from 20 to 200 euros. An interesting fact is that the rich interior decoration is hidden behind a very modest facade. This decision was made by the architect: since the building is still surrounded by other houses, there is no point in spending money on the entourage.
San Lorenzo Maggiore
The Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore is the second largest church in Milan. The building was erected at the turn of the fourth and fifth centuries. Unfortunately, information about who was the customer and architect of this amazing structure has not reached our days. The temple was consecrated in honor of St. Lawrence in 590
In the 6th, 8th and 17th centuries, restoration work and rebuilding were carried out, but they did not spoil the classic Byzantine style of the building. Separate parts of the temple throughout the long history had to be redone due to destruction. So, in 1573, a new dome was erected after the collapse of the old one.
Santo Stefano Maggiore
No less attractive is the Basilica of Santo Stefano Maggiore. The building is the oldest temple in Milan. It was founded by Bishop Martinian. True, the original building, built in 417, burned down after 600 years. In its place, a new one was erected - in the Romanesquestyle. Tourists will be interested to see the interior of the temple with its rare paintings by Fede Galicia, Cesare Procaccine, Francesco Kpairo. The oldest canvases are so damaged by moisture that it is impossible to determine who was their author.
What to see in one day?
If you have only one day at your disposal, you can start your walk around Milan from Duomo Square, located near the Milan Cathedral. There is usually a long queue at the temple, so you should hurry. Be sure to go up to the observation deck on the roof - it offers a stunning view of Milan, and the photos are incredibly beautiful.
Next, you can go to the gallery of Victor Emmanuel II, located nearby. Here are the most expensive stores of famous brands. But for ordinary tourists, they are not of interest, but the passage of stunning beauty itself. After walking through the gallery, you can walk through the streets of Milan and relax in one of the local cafes. The food in the city is amazing. Therefore, you can not chase after trendy restaurants, but visit any street cafe.
If you still have the strength to continue walking, you can visit several museums or look into the bohemian district of Brera. Then you can relax in one of the picturesque parks. It is worth visiting the Sempione Park, located near the Sforza Castle. There is also an oceanarium.
In general, it is difficult to cover all the most interesting places in Milan in one day. If you have a few days left, dedicate one of them to the sights of the city, and the second to shopping. It's impossibleto visit Milan and not to make purchases. This is an unforgivable oversight, even if you are not a shopaholic.
What to visit with kids?
If you are relaxing with the whole family, then the question will certainly arise: "Where to go with children in Milan?" The city is not the most childish place, there is no Disneyland or something like that. But still in Milan there are places that you can visit. In the warm season, you can go for a picnic in the Villa Real park. Here you can walk on the lawns, and in the reservoirs there are turtles and fish that you can feed.
Also worth a visit is the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology. Within its walls you can see a real train, a submarine and many other interesting objects. Children will certainly be interested in the exposition of the museum.
In the park "Sempione" there is a city aquarium, which contains a variety of representatives from different parts of the world. Of course, in Genoa there is a larger institution of this kind. But the Milan aquarium is also quite interesting.
Local guides offer an exciting trip to the farm. On its territory, the owner conducts a tour, and children are allowed to play with all pets. Afterwards, guests are invited to a restaurant to taste organic food, while children are entertained by animators.
Shopping
Currently, Milan is a trendsetter. People from different countries come here for High Fashion Week. The rest come to Milan for shopping. It's hard to resist the temptation to go shopping when you're in the fashion capital. Milan is known for itsoutlets, the prices of which amaze even the most sophisticated shopaholics.
If you decide to make a shopping tour, go to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II area. Under its roof, there is a whole alley of boutiques that sell the most chic outfits of famous brands. This place can be safely called the hallmark of Milan.
Shops of the "fashionable square" are no less popular. The amazing area is known all over the world, because on its territory there are villas, each of which can be called a landmark. Mansions belong to world-class stars. There are boutiques of famous brands in the area.
Less expensive items are sold at The Rinascente. It is located on Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Within the walls of the mall, there are a lot of shops that feature more democratic brands.
Corso Buenos Aires is another Milanese street full of boutiques with inexpensive brands. Here you can buy not only clothes, but also shoes, jewelry, perfumes and much more.
On Via Torino, which starts at the famous Duomo Cathedral, there are goods of a different category. It sells casual and sports items. In addition, in some stores you can buy unusual clothes from outrageous young designers. Experienced tourists recommend buying things on Via Marghera.
Milan is known not only for expensive shops, but also for democratic outlets. It is in them that all the guests of the city rush. These are mallshuge sizes, which feature branded items with very large discounts. One of the largest outlets - Serravalle Scrivia - is located between Genoa and Milan. In the mall you can buy things with a 70% discount.
It is worth knowing that in Milan there are clothing stores for fat ladies. Experienced tourists recommend visiting flea markets where you can buy not only antiques, but also designer clothes. Judging by the reviews of travelers, shopping in Milan is one of the components of the trip.
