You may think you know Italy if you visited Rome, Florence, and Venice, but you haven’t experienced true Italy if you haven’t paid pilgrimage to modern Milan. This fashionable city is the energetic heart of Italy’s commerce but also packs a historical punch and culinary delights for travelers of all ages and tastes.
Day 1
If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then what better way to start your trip than with a traditional Milanese breakfast with the locals? Milan is famous for its coffee, so get your authentic experience on and have a civilized espresso and pastry at the many neighborhood coffee bars on street corners across the city. The experts swear by centuries-old Pasticceria Marchesi.
Energized with breakfast, we recommend you indulge in the many historical wonders that Milan offers. A crossroads of cultures and countries throughout history, Milan has a wealth of ancient and modern sights. A good place to start is the famous Duomo cathedral in the centre of the city. The magnificent cathedral is the largest church in Italy and the fifth largest in the world, taking six centuries and no less than 74 architects and engineers to complete. (Take that, Sagrada Familia in Barcelona!) Art historians often affectionately refer to the Duomo as the wedding cake cathedral emblematic of the International Gothic style. Throughout the years, it’s been the site of famous visitors; Napolean Bonaparte was crowned King of Italy at this Duomo, and authors Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, and Henry James all had differing opinions on the aesthetics of the Duomo. Form an opinion yourself, you’re in excellent company!
Another stellar spot is the Castello Sforzesco. The former Visconti fortress is home to ten museums proudly displaying masterpieces by Mantegna, Titian, Caravaggio, and Michelangelo as well as ancient Roman and Egyptian works. It is easy to spend days in this museum complex. Don’t miss Michelangelo’s powerful last sculpture in The Museum of Rondanini Pietà.
If you fancy a spot of lunch, head to Luini, strolling distance from the castle. Line up with the locals for panzerotti, a sort of little deep-fried calzone stuffed with fillings like tomato and cheese. If elbowing your way through for fried business isn’t your style, there’s Giacomo Arengario, a “ladies-who-lunch” spot serving Milanese specialities and wonderful view.
Panzerotti
Nearby is the storied Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This stunning glass, marble, and steel covered arcade is not only a premier destination for high-end shopping, but also a marvel of Belle Epoque engineering named after the first King of Italy. It’s also deservedly known as the salotto di Milano (Milan’s living room) where the refined and well-heeled Milanese shop. Expect to see the best in haute fashion; Milan is widely recognised as one of the cutting edge fashion destinations in the world.
Once you’ve had your fill of shopping, go for dinner at one of the city’s many high quality restaurants. As you might expect, Milan is a food lover’s paradise and the city plays host to an array of culinary fare from across the globe. For a truly special evening, check out Cracco, which offers two Michelin stars of contemporary Italian cuisine, or Hostaria Borromei where you can enjoy traditional regional dishes in an unpretentious space.
Day 2
After an early breakfast, take a stroll to the Santa Maria delle grazie (Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie) to check out one of Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic Last Supper. Unsurprisingly, the masterpiece is extremely popular with tourists so make sure you book tickets to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site in advance.
Afterwards, enjoy a beautiful lunch at La Brisa, this modern Italian trattoria is among the best in town and caters to both meat-eaters and vegetarians. With an excellent wine list, it would be a shame not to order a glass to top off a delicious lunch in elegant surroundings.
Art lovers can spend the afternoon checking out the city’s fine museums. The Pinacoteca di Brera (Via Brera, 28) features one of the country’s most magnificent collections of mediaeval and Renaissance art. Meanwhile, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana (Piazza Pio XI, 2) features a smaller collection including some of da Vinci’s earlier works.
Brera Picture Gallery
A trip to Milan would not be complete without trying out the city’s favorite pastime, aperitivo. This Milanese tradition takes the concept of a happy hour and gives it a local twist for a city which isn’t known for its booze-soaked exploits. Once the clock strikes 6, locals like to enjoy a drink alongside a buffet of delicious appetizers.
A great place to check out some of the best aperitivo joints is the Navigli area, a beautiful canalside district packed with the city’s cool kids enjoying a glass of wine and some nibbles. The options are numerous and the best way to find your favorite is to go for a stroll around the area. La Prosciutteria Milano Navigli is a great option.
No trip to Milan would be complete without a visit to the legendary Teatro alla Scala (Via Filodrammatici, 2), one of the world’s most prestigious opera houses. Known simply as La Scala, it has presented the world’s most famous opera singers over its 240 years in existence, including Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo to name just a few. It hosted the historic world premiere of perennial opera darlings, Turandot and Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini (the original Andrew Lloyd Weber). Take a tour of the magnificent gilt interior or even better, attend a performance. It will be a perfect finale to your trip to refined Milan, a thrilling modern city of history, arts, commerce, and culture.
