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A TOUR OF THE CENTER OF MILANO
Museums, theaters, iconic places: what to see and not to miss
A classic that never goes out of fashion, the historical center of Milano is the city’s welcome message to the world. Here you can find some of the most visited monuments, chic restaurants, and luxury shops. Because of the Duomo, the Galleria, the Teatro alla Scala, the Fashion District, and the Last Supper, it is almost certain that your first encounter with Milano will take place here.
But perhaps you didn’t know that downtown you can also visit a navy submarine or an old tram, and visit hidden villas and secret gardens. What’s best to see in the heart of the city?
Here is an itinerary to follow and the attractions that are not to be missed.
From Piazza Duomo, take Via Orefici and walk until you reach the Sforza Castle at the end of the street. Along the way, you can stop by Piazza Cordusio (M1 Cordusio) for an espresso in the historic Palazzo delle Poste, which has now been transformed in a sumptuous Coffee Roastery. Once you’re inside the walls of the Castle, head for the Civic Museums: you’ll be able admire one of Milano's masterpieces, the Pietà Rondanini by Michelangelo Buonarroti, his last sculpture.
How to get there: M1 Cairoli red line
Alternatively, you can decide to get lost exploring the district of Cinque Vie (Five Ways) which straddles Via di Santa Marta, Via del Bollo, Via Bocchetto, Via Santa Maria Fulcorina and Via Santa Maria Podone, and is bordered by Corso Magenta: in the tangle of streets you can discover artisan workshops, traditional restaurants, modern and contemporary art galleries and pastry shops.
How to get there: M1 Cordusio red line, Tram 16
The arch-symbol of Milano, cherished by the Milanese and admired by visitors the world over for its sheer beauty: the mighty Gothic cathedral with the golden Madonnina on its highest spire, where everything in Milano converges and irradiates.
Take a photo in front of the Duomo (one of the most Instagrammed places of the world), but don't forget to climb up to the terraces: from there you will see one of the most beautiful views of Milano, skyscrapers and Alps included.
How to get there: M1/M3 Duomo red/yellow lines
At Palazzo Reale, you will always find major international art exhibits, while next door, there is Museo del 900 ready to surprise you with its unmatched collection of Italian futurist and modern art: Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla, Fortunato Depero, Giorgio De Chirico, Lucio Fontana, Giorgio Morandi, some of their great works reside here.
It takes a short walk to get to Piazza Pio XI and reach Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, that hosts the Codex Atlanticus by Leonardo da vinci.
How to get there: M1 and M3 Duomo stop
Next to the Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II opens, the "living room" of Milano. Stop by here if you want to see what's in fashion today, you'll find the windows of high fashion brands set up for the holidays, the large Christmas tree, but also historic shops, restaurants and terraces where you can have an aperitif.
How to get there: M1 and M3 Duomo stop
It takes only a short walk from Duomo to reach the dazzling Fashion District, one of the world’s trendiest. Turn on the right after Piazza della Scala, and walk along Via Manzoni, from which on the right, you will find yourself walking along Via Manzoni, from which Via Montenapoleone, the heart of Quadrilatero della Moda, departs. Explore also Via della Spiga and Corso Venezia, as well as the more secluded but charming old lanes full of boutiques, such as Via Borgospesso, Via Santo Spirito, Via Gesù, Via Sant'Andrea, and Via Bagutta.
You will see scenographic shop displays that are like works of art and showcase the latest collections from the best fashion houses. There are also stores where to buy fashion show items at discounted prices and other good fashion bargains. But also set aside time to visit some of the most beautiful museums in the city that are embedded in this luxury neighborhood: Poldi Pezzoli, Palazzo Bagatti Valsecchi, and Palazzo Morando.
How to get there: M1/M5 San Babila red/blue line, M3 Montenapoleone yellow line
Watching an opera, concert or ballet at Teatro alla Scala is a memorable experience and the theater, inaugurated in 1778, renovated in 2004 and enlarged in 2023 (on a project by Mario Botta), is a marvel in itself.
Downtown you can also find major theaters that feature plays and dramas, like Teatro dei Filodrammatici near Duomo or Teatro dal Verme near Castello, and especially Il Piccolo Teatro, one of Italy’s most important institutions for modern theater. Established in 1947 and informed by the cultural values of the Resistance, five decades later it spawned the larger sister theater of Piccolo Teatro Strehler (formerly Teatro d’Europa), named after the great Milanese theater director.
How to get there:
La Scala and Filodrammatici - M1 Duomo stop
Piccolo: M1 Cordusio red line
Piccolo Strehler - M2 Lanza green line
Teatro dal Verme - M1 Cairoli red line
Book early to make sure you get to see the Last Supper, Leonardo’s immortal painting preserved in the refectory of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milano. You will come across the church (don't miss its enchanting Cloister of the Frogs) as you along Corso Magenta (from the center, take Via Meravigli from Piazza Cordusio, which then becomes C.so Magenta after you cross Via Carducci).
How to get there: M1 Conciliazione red line, M1/M2 Cadorna FN red/green lines, Tram 16
A five-minute walk from the Last Supper takes you the the Leonardo Da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology, which exhibits 170 models and full-scale reproduction of the machines and mechanisms designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Among the museum's treasures, however, you will also find a fragment of the Moon, a model of the first Vega launcher (VV01) developed by the European Space Agency, and two larger-than-life attractions: you can go inside the belly of the huge Enrico Toti submarine, or jump on an actual 1928 Carrelli electric tram, Milano’s iconic and resilient mean of public transportation.
Outside the museum, you will another icon of Milano: the romanesque Basilica of St. Ambrose, the oldest church of the city. Named after the city’s patron saint and site of major ceremonies, it is only second to Duomo in the hearts of the Milanese.
How to get there: M2 green line S. Ambrogio