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The top 4 cultural spots in Milan you have to see
When thinking of the city of Milan, you can’t help but imagine a bustling place full of immaculately dressed Italians going about their everyday life. From the early morning espresso to the evening aperitivo. The city screams culture from the architecture to the historical monuments.
Milan has been recognised as one of the world’s four fashion capitals, so you can imagine how stylish the city is. From the galleries that hold some of the most important collections in the world, including major works by Leonardo da Vinci, to the astonishing Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) that takes centre stage – this city is a treasure trove for those searching for a weekend of cultural exploration.
To make your visit to this city completely incredible, we have narrowed our top four top cultural spots in the city of Milan that’re worth a visit.
Duomo di Milana
Let’s start this list with the must-see monument in Milan. The symbol of the city is located on Piazza del Duomo, in central Milan. .
Started in 1386, the construction of Milan Cathedral took nearly 500 years. It was finished under the order of Napoleon Bonaparte.
The Gothic Cathedral is made entirely of perfectly carved stone, marble white statues and multiple pinnacles and spires that point up to the sky. Due to the many years it took to complete this piece of history, you can see a number of contrasting styles clashing together to create the iconic design of this Cathedral.
The highlight of visiting the Cathedral is the terrace which is open to the public. The view of Milan from this angle is breathtaking! The price of entry varies from €7 – €12 depending on whether you take the stairs or the lift
La Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Just outside the cathedral you’ll find Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, another top attraction in Milan.
A top spot with influencers, and a great place to get ‘the’ snap for your Instagram page. The building is rather magnificent with a glass dome made of both glass and iron accompanied by spectacular, opulent details that are extremely Italian.
Inside, you can find some of the most famous fashion designers stores, including Vuitton and Prada, as well as many high-end restaurants. Depending on your budget, it’s either one for window shopping or the credit card, but either way it’s worth experiencing.
And if you’re completely done with shopping, don’t forget the Aperol Terrace just outside. You can’t go to Italy and not have an Aperol Spritz.
Castello Sforzesco
If you take Via Dante from the Piazza del Duomo, you’ll arrive at the main entrance of the Castello Sforzesco or Sforza Castle in English.
This stunning castle was built in 1358 by the famous Visconzi family to protect and defend the city. What this castle is most famous for is having the man himself, Leonardo DaVinci, host many workshops during the Renaissance period.
Today, the castle has several museums within its walls:
- The Museum of Ancient Art
- Then Archaeological Museum of Milan
- Museum of Decorative Arts
- The Egyptian Museum
- The Pinacoteca del Castello Sforzesco
- The Museum of Musical Instruments
- The Antique Furniture and Wooden Sculpture Museum.
If you don’t fancy look around the museums then why not take a stroll around the vast inner courtyard of the castle, which is open to the public.
Santa Maria Delle Grazie
Without a doubt the most famous church in Milan is Santa Maria delle Grazie. One thing that makes this church so special, especially to the western world, the painting of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.
Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper is an iconic piece of art. It was painted in the refectory of the monastery, now called “Cenacolo”. Thousands of tourists come every year to admire this painting that represents the last meal of Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion.
As you can see, Milan is full of iconic and historical buildings that hold so much gravitas in Europe. The history this city holds will leave any tourist feeling culturally fulfilled, but perhaps a little overwhelmed.
Discover Milan with Free walking tour !
A tour of Milan may be a great solution. Joining a small group and walking around the city with a tour guide is an excellent way to see all the sites whilst finding out mind-boggling facts about Milan. As a company, we try to share our passion for life and duplicate our successful formula to other cities. One of them on top of our minds is Milan. If you want to be a partner in organising unique Free walking tour in Milan, contact us on info@rivierabarcrawl.com or on the mobile number: +33 649 244 407.
We love providing free walking tours in Nice, France. It’s incredible to see the delight on travellers faces when we reveal unknown information about the city they’re visiting. And we’d love to do the same in Milan…
So watch this space, Milan – Free Walking Tours are coming your way hopefully very soon! We can’t wait to see you.
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