- BY ISSIMO
- September 12, 2024
The buzz of fashion week, spectacular exhibitions, new bars and restaurants, and a jam-packed calendar of social events across the city…Milan dazzles! While the city impresses all year round with its elegance, creative energy and secret discoveries, it’s even more dynamic when a global event like Milan Fashion Week captivates the world’s attention and brings thousands of international visitors.
Milan enchants you with its architectural marvels, intimate neighbourhoods, and cultural rituals including the beloved aperitivo…our favourite! While it might not have the historical ‘beauty’ of Rome or Florence, Milan has its own character, and it reveals its charm to those with a discerning eye for design, architecture and artistry. Not to mention it’s one of the most well-connected cities in Italy. Read on to discover our tips for experiencing the authentic heart of this global ‘fashion capital.’
Getting there
If you’ve been to the region of Lombardia, chances are you’ve been to Milan. If not, it’s about time to visit. Milan is around an hour’s fast train ride from Turin to the west, and just over two hours to Venice in the east. It’s ideally located as a central base for exploring northern Italy. From Florence, the fast train also takes you to Milan in around two hours, and you can arrive in just over three hours from Rome.
Milan is also a short train journey from the spectacular lakes region to the north, with Lake Como, Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore all easy to reach for a day trip.
see
Connoisseurs of design and culture, make yourself at home! From ground-breaking modern art and design at Triennale Milano, Museo del Novecento and Fondazione Prada, to the work of iconic photographers and artists at Palazzo Reale, it’s hard to know where to look first. If classical art and architecture is more your style, it’s worth queueing up to see Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’ at Cenacolo Vinciano (Santa Maria delle Grazie), or heading to the Pinacoteca di Brera to discover masterpieces including Bellini’s Pietà. Be sure to grab a caffè and sit on the balcony upstairs when you need a moment to recharge.
While in Brera, stroll around and explore the niche boutiques, vintage shops, art galleries and spectacular palazzi unique to this neighbourhood in the Centro Storico district that represents the spirit of ‘classic Milano.’ From there, it’s a short walk to Parco Sempione, and also to the neighbouring areas of Moscova, Cairioli and Cordusio. These areas all have a distinct character thanks to speciality markets, shops and landmark buildings including the breathtaking historic library inside Pinacoteca Ambrosiana. The best way to get around? By metro, on foot or by bike! Just like the locals.
Opera fan or not, there’s no denying that Teatro alla Scala is a majestic architectural feat, a global cultural icon and a bucket-list destination for many people who visit Milan, and for locals too. Even if you can’t catch an opera or ballet performance, the theatre runs regular tours and welcomes visitors to its on-site museum, Museo Teatrale alla Scala. Architecture enthusiasts, rejoice! You can plan an entire tour of Milan based on its captivating buildings that represent diverse architectural styles and periods. From the city’s ornate Gothic-period Duomo, to Piero Portaluppi’s Villa Necchi (Porta Venezia), to modern feats like Gio Ponti’s Pirelli Tower (Central Station area) and Stefano Boeri’s striking Bosco Verticale skyscraper (Porta Nuova), Milan serves up an absolute feast of architectural marvels.
DO
Time for some shopping? (Or window shopping at least?) Home to the flagship boutiques of all the luxury fashion houses, the elegant streetscapes of Via Monte Napoleone and Via della Spiga in Milan’s Quadrilatero della Moda (luxury shopping precinct) really put on a show. Take a stroll down and admire the artistry of these immaculate boutiques and their window displays, especially during peak periods like Milan Fashion Week. Grab a panino from one of the cafés nearby and indulge in a bit of people watching too!
Whether it’s an Aperol spritz along the Navigli canals, or a Negroni Sbagliato at the iconic Bar Basso, L’aperitivo Milanese is one of the city’s most beloved social and cultural rituals – both for locals and visitors. Every night from about 5pm onwards, the outdoor tables at bars, cafes and even some pasticcerias across the city are packed with people enjoying a pre-dinner drink and snack. It’s also a great way to discover new parts of the city.
Speaking of ‘iconic Milano,’ a spin through the grand arcade-style Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II always feels like a charming step back in time. And if you’re happy to stroll the pavé and take in the city’s sights on foot, keep an eye for intriguing public sculptures and artworks like ‘Disco Grande’ by Arnaldo Pomodoro (Piazza Meda), Giorgio De Chirico’s ‘La Fontana dei Bagni Misteriosi’ (Triennale Milano gardens), and of course, Maurizio Cattelan’s infamous ‘middle finger’ statue ‘L.O.V.E’ (Piazza degli Affari).
FUN FACTS
- Milan’s canal network was designed in part by Leonardo Da Vinci at the end of the 15th century for trade and transport purposes. While most of the canals were covered as the city developed, what remains today are ones we see in the Navigli area.
- Traditional Milanese cuisine includes ‘Cotoletta alla Milanese’ (tender veal or pork coated in breadcrumbs and fried) and ‘Risotto alla Milanese,’ (a buttery risotto fragranced with saffron and often served with osso bucco). These dishes are certainly no light snack, and even the Milanesi don’t eat them everyday!
- The city’s Duomo took nearly six centuries to complete and is one of the largest churches in Italy behind St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. There are about 3,400 statues on this Gothic masterpiece.
- Milan has always been Italy’s economic hub, and its reputation as an important financial city in Europe continues to grow. It’s home to a large number of global companies in the fashion, banking, media, sports and manufacturing sectors.
- Scenes in several classic films from the 1950s and ‘60s were shot in Milan, including ‘Fiasco in Milan’ with Claudia Cardinale (1959), ‘The Night’ (1961) and ‘Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’ with Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni (1963).
eat
Renowned for its elegant restaurants, impressive bars, and chic pasticcerie that look like something straight out of a movie, dining out in Milan is something to dress up for.
For fine dining and special occasions, the likes of Ristorante Da Giacomo (Risorgimento) and Ristorante Cracco (Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II) are pure elegance, offering a menu of classic Milanese dishes with an artful twist such as Cracco’s marinated yolk ravioli with butter and sage and Da Giacomo’s ‘Gnocchetti alla Giacomo’. For a more relaxed lunch with friends, Milanese institutions LùBar (Via Palestro) and Peck Milano (near the Duomo) are a must. Don’t forget to grab a few jars of Peck’s ‘Salsa di funghi porcini’ to take home with you.
Artful interiors meet inspired menus and a cinematic atmosphere at a wave of new restaurants that have popped up across Milano recently. These include Gloria Osteria, Trattoria del Ciumbia (Brera) and Via Stampa (Carrobbio) where the decor is just as delicious as the food. For those who prefer a more authentic experience of Milanese cuisine, Trattoria Madonnina (Navigli), Trattoria La Pesa del 1902 (San Siro) and Il Solferino (Moscova) have been delighting locals with traditional dishes including Ossobuco, Risotto alla Milanese and handmade pasta for decades.
Gloria Osteria
Via Tivoli, 3, 20121 Milano MI
Trattoria del Ciumbia
Via Fiori Chiari, 32, 20121 Milano MI
Trattoria Madonnina
Via Gentilino, 6, 20136 Milano MI
Trattoria La Pesa
Via Giovanni Fantoni, 26, 20148 Milano MI
The city’s vibrant aperitivo culture means there’s a bar to suit just about every personality. From the sleek and industrial vibe of Moebius (Central Station area) to the iconic deco-style Camparino in Galleria (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II), you might need to extend your stay just to visit them all. Not to mention the city’s hundreds of charming pasticcerie including Marchesi (Centro Storico), Pasticceria Cucchi (Corso Genova), Pasticceria Gattullo (Porta Ticinese) and Pasticceria Sissi (Risorgimento) – the latter makes the most irresistible Brioche alla crema.
Bring your walking shoes, your appetite, a fully-charged camera…and maybe a pair of heels to change into for dinner. Ci vediamo a Milano!
