Live Your Best Lives
Milan (Milano/Milan), the former capital of the Western Roman Empire, is now the fashion capital of Europe and is often the first stop for tourists traveling to Italy.
Many people often ask, what else can you do in Milan besides the Duomo and shopping? The answer to this question is simple, just follow my steps.
Castello Sforzesco has witnessed the history of Milan and is a very important tourist attraction in Milan.
Built by the Visconti family in the 14th century, it later became the permanent residence of the Storza family, who ruled the Duchy of Milan. During World War II, it became a barracks and suffered Allied bombing. After repairs, the interior courtyard is now open to visitors free of charge.
You still need a ticket to visit the museum, which is 5 euros per person. It is said that Leonardo da Vinci once participated in the design of the castle.
After buying the ticket, you can enter the museum. This is the exhibition hall on the first floor.
The most attractive works in the entire museum are undoubtedly the Testa di Leda (Head of Leda) painted by Leonardo da Vinci and the Pieta Rondanini statue (Pieta/Rondanini's Pieta). Of course, there are also masterpieces by other Renaissance painters worth admiring.
One of the few works that Leonardo da Vinci left to the people of Milan, the fresco "SalaDelle Asse" from the late 1400s, is painted on the ceiling of a room in the castle.
SalaDelle Asse (Image from Wikipedia)
Testa di Leda (Image from Wikipedia)
Michelangelo's last work, the "Lendanini's Pietà", is one of the four Pietà (Madonna of the Sighing) statues sculpted by Michelangelo. It is displayed in another exclusive exhibition hall, which only displays this work.
Even though Michelangelo died before he could complete this work, future generations can still feel the Virgin Mary's heavy sorrow from the statue, and visitors all hold their breath and slowly watch it from 360 degrees.
This was our first time to see the works of Michelangelo. We were very excited to be able to see the works of such a great artist so closely. There are so many works of art in Italy that it is hard to count them all. For art lovers, Italy is the first choice for traveling in Europe.
After visiting the castle, continue to see Parco Sempione in Milan behind the castle. It is a good place for Milanese people to relax. There are not many tourists, and it is quiet and relaxing.
There is an ancient city gate, Arco della Paco, in the park, which separates the old city area called Zona 1 di Milano (Milan's First District), which includes most of the historical sites in the old city of Milan, and outside the city gate is Milan's new development area.
After passing through the ancient city gate, there is a bus station and several trams running. One of the yellow trams reminded us of Lisbon's 28 small yellow trams.
The tram is also made of wood and looks very retro. If you have time, I highly recommend taking a ride. The yellow tram can go directly to the Convent of Santa Maria in Milan, where you can admire the famous painting The Last Supper.
The Convent of Santa Maria del Fiore was founded in the 15th century as a Dominican monastery and is widely known for housing Leonardo da Vinci's fresco of the Ultima Cena (The Last Supper).
Ultima Cena is also known as Cenacolo. The one painted by Leonardo da Vinci is the most famous and one of his most famous works.
But it's not easy to see the original, you must book online in advance. The secret to a successful reservation is to check the official website at least 3 months in advance: http://www.vivaticket.it/?op=cenacoloVinciano
The official website will write down the next date for ticket release in advance, and then you just have to wait quietly for the Italian working hours on that day, which is around 8 or 9 in the morning Italian time. Of course, not all the tickets will be released at once, so you need to refresh.
The first day has the most tickets available, making it relatively easy to find your preferred time. If you miss your online reservation or can't find your desired time, try calling, retrying the website on another day, or finding a booking agent on Taobao.
Arrive at the venue 15 minutes early on the day, go to the office on the left side of the monastery to exchange your ticket, and hand the email you received after the payment is successful to the staff. You can enter only after you have exchanged your ticket. No one will be waited for after you have done so.
The ticket looks like this!! You can collect it, I like it very much~~~
Each visit is limited to 25 people and the visit time is 15 minutes. You can take photos inside the venue, but flash is prohibited. You can raise your selfie stick and take a photo with "The Last Supper".
The following is my homemade introduction to the characters in "The Last Supper"~~~
There is a tram at the bus stop opposite the monastery that takes you to the cathedral area, which is very convenient.
I actually prefer taking the bus to the subway, probably because through the window on the bus, I can carefully observe the clothes of pedestrians on the road and the city's buildings, and better observe the city.
After getting off the bus and crossing the road, you can easily find the huge Arc de Triomphe-style building on the square.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, built by Italian architect Giuseppe Mengoni in 1865, is now a shopping mall in Milan. It is named after King Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy and uses the popular technique of the time, cast iron and glass, as the dome cover of the corridor.
However, ironically, on December 30, 1877, the architect fell to his death from the dome of the cloister he had built himself (there are rumors that he committed suicide because he was criticized for his poor architectural skills), and even more bizarrely, the king also died 10 days later.
Beautiful vaulted ceiling, very magnificent.
If you look carefully under the corridors, you will see the coats of arms of different Italian cities, including Milano, Como, Firenze and Roma.
Remember to find the Torino bull. Legend has it that spinning around its balls will bring you good luck! This is a must-do for every tourist.
The Duomo di Milano, the Cathedral of Milan, was started to be built in 1386. On the inner walls deep inside the church, you can still find the date recorded. However, the project was not completed until modern times. It is currently the largest Gothic church in the world.
However, due to the long period of construction, it started as a pure Gothic building, but by the Renaissance period, the exterior walls were decorated with more than 3,000 statues of people, which is a Baroque decorative style.
The carving on the big bronze door features a calf that tourists believe will bring good luck if touched. The calf has been rubbed smooth, so don't miss it.
Once you step inside the church, you will be amazed by the characteristic Gothic style of the church – its height!
My favorite is the cathedral's exquisitely crafted seven-color stained glass windows. When the sunlight shines through them, the word "dream" is not enough to describe it.
Inside there are tombs of many bishops, statues and paintings, as well as an underground palace. I recommend you take some time to visit it.
The basement of the church is a large brick space of 4-8 meters, which was originally the Church of Santa Tecla, the predecessor of the cathedral. In addition, the entrance on the inside of the church front leads to the Treasure House (Tesoro).
The characteristics of Gothic architecture: rose windows (Rosone), spires (Pinnacoli), and flying buttresses (Rampante) are best exemplified in the Milan Cathedral.
You must climb to the top of the cathedral, called the Terrazze. Not only can you enjoy the view of Milan, but you can also see the design of the cathedral's flying buttresses up close.
There are also statues of different figures carved on each spire of the church, which shows the huge scale of the project at that time.
The exquisite golden Madonnina, the highest point of the cathedral, was cast in 1774 and has stood for over 230 years. Legend has it that praying to the statue will bring you back to Milan.
Tips:
The main bodies of all churches in Italy are free, which means a large number of visitors. In addition, Milan Cathedral is the top must-see attraction in Milan, and there are often long queues for ticket purchase and security checks, so Baobao sincerely recommends that you buy tickets in advance.
You can choose to visit only the summit when buying a ticket, but I would recommend buying a package ticket so that you can also visit the museum, baptistery, etc.
The statue of the knight facing the Duomo in Piazza del Duomo Milano represents Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of unified Italy. This photo was taken before dusk, and you can see a large number of tourists in the square.
This is always a gathering place for many tourists and pigeons. Be careful of people who come over and keep putting a bunch of pigeon food in your hand. When the white pigeons fly over, they will ask you to pay (5 euros). This is a scam. People who take pictures in the square should be especially careful. I have seen many people fall into this trap.
Tips:
The best time to photograph the cathedral's exterior is in the afternoon, dusk, and evening. In the morning, it is backlit.
The Pinacoteca di Brera is unassuming and easy to miss. Once you walk through the main entrance, you'll find Canova's Bronze Statue of Napoleon I in the atrium.
Continue through the atrium and up the stairs to the entrance.
Official website: http://pinacotecabrera.org/en/
Every Thursday evening, from June 30th to September 29th, the Pinacoteca di Brera is open until 10:15pm and the entrance price is 2 euro starting from 6:00pm until the ticket office closes at 9:40pm. (Please be sure to check the official website before departure!)
This art gallery is one of the most important collections of Italian paintings, housing paintings from the Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods, as well as works from the Lombard and Venetian schools from the 15th to the 18th centuries.
The museum features two masterpieces: Mantegna's "Dead Christ (Lamentation of Christ)." Mantegna, a representative painter of Northern Italy, embodies this work, a departure from the art of the Middle Renaissance. The painting's most distinctive feature is its use of perspective, placing the reclining Christ high in the frame and painting from the feet. The viewer's gaze is captivated by Christ's footsteps, creating a truly impressive scene.
Raphael's "The Marriage of the Virgin"
The painting depicts the wedding of the Virgin Mary and her earthly husband, the blacksmith John, and is a tribute to his master, Perugino, who had previously painted a fresco called "The Handing of the Keys to St. Peter," which now adorns a wall in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
Although the two paintings are very similar, some minor modifications have been made. First, Raphael increased the background church from 8 sides to 16 sides, almost making it a cylinder, which enhanced the three-dimensionality and depth, highlighting the central position of the church.
In addition, the characters are arranged with the church as the center and spread out to the surrounding areas, leaving spaces between the characters, so that they will not be crowded like in his master's painting.
The museum also has many famous works, such as Rubens' "The Last Supper" and Giovanni Bellini's "Pietà", which is also a very important painting in this museum.
China-TravelNote related route recommendations:
Although I didn’t stay there for long, I still have a few delicious restaurants to recommend to you.
Pizzeria Spontini (Recommendation Index: ★★★★★)
Via Santa Redegonda, 11, 20121 Milano, Italy
Monday to Friday 11:45-14:30, 18:00-23:30;
Saturday 18:00-24:00;
Sundays and holidays 18:00-23:00.
After visiting the beautiful promenade, you can find good places to eat in Milan.
The first place we visited was Spontini, across from the Ferrari store. This is one of the best pizzas in Milan. Unlike the thin crust pizza in Naples, this pizza is more like an American pizza with a thick crust.
The Margherita pizza is a must-order. It's incredibly thick and topped with a generous amount of cheese. The crust is crispy and the inside is soft. Pair it with a Coke or beer. One is enough for two people; one for just one is too much! And remember, there are other delicious treats waiting for you on this street!
Gelato: Cioccolati Italiani (Recommendation: ★★★★★)
Via San Raffaele 6,20121Milan,Italy
Monday to Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 11:00 PM
Thursday and Friday: 07:30 – 24:00
Saturday and Sunday: 08:30 – 24:00
Opposite Spontini is this delicious chocolate ice cream shop!
When you come to Italy, Gelato is definitely one of the foods that you cannot miss. If there is anything that people remember most about Italy, Gelato is definitely the first choice.
Let's talk briefly about Gelato: Gelato in Italian refers to Italian ice cream. It is different from ordinary ice cream (Ice Cream). In addition to the diverse flavors, what is more important is the production method, which limits the ratio of milk fat and air. In addition, the taste mainly depends on the flavor of the ingredients themselves. It uses less sugar than ordinary ice cream. Although it does not have the soft and smooth taste of ice cream, it is more refreshing and healthier.
You can pay directly after ordering at Gelateria, or some old shops that also operate as coffee shops require you to pay at the cashier first, and then bring the receipt to the counter to order the flavors.
Prices are generally based on the number of gusti (flavors) or serving sizes. You can choose from a Cono (a crispy cone with chocolate or nuts for an additional fee) or a Coppa (a cup with different serving sizes: Piccolo (small), Medium (medium), and Grande (large)). Small drinks typically come in two flavors, medium drinks in three, and large drinks in four or five. A must-try here is the chocolate flavor, a rich, all-you-can-eat treat.
Reminder: Please eat the gelato quickly after paying, as it will melt quickly, otherwise you will end up in a mess.
Luini (Recommendation Index: ★★★★★)
via S.Radegonda 16(Piazza Duomo), 20121 Milano
Monday 10:00-15:00
Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-20:00
Closed on Sundays and throughout August
This is another delicious restaurant that requires a long queue. It is actually opposite the Cioccolati Italiani mentioned above. It is a takeaway restaurant. Although there is often a queue, the service is very fast.
This restaurant's specialty is panzerotto, shaped like a dumpling with a pizza-like filling. The rich cheese fills your mouth with a bite, giving you a truly stringy experience. As a Milanese specialty, I highly recommend everyone try it.
Gelato: Grom (chain ice cream shop) (Recommendation index: ★★★★★)
Via Santa Margherita 16
There are many Grom stores in every city. It is the most famous Gelato chain store in Italy. It is my favorite Gelato store and I have been thinking about it since I returned to China.
There are so many flavors that you'll definitely be spoilt for choice. I've tried many specialty gelato shops during my travels, each with its own unique flavor. For this one, I recommend the Fichi (fig), Pesca (peach), and Albicocca (apricot).
The above attractions and restaurants can be packed into a single day without any problems. Of course, you can also add or remove attractions as you like. If you like shopping, you can also add some time for shopping.
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