Via Mozart 14

Treat yourself to a dreamy afternoon, and enter into a wonderful villa with a garden, swimming pool and tennis court, in via Mozart, in the most elegant area of central Milano.

Villa Necchi Campiglio is a splendid treasure trove of art and architecture. Designed in the 1930s by the architect Piero Portaluppi, it was built with an unlimited budget for the Necchi family, exponents of the Lombard industrial upper middle class.

The garden is full of plants, some very ancient, so it’s the perfect place for admiring the autumnal shades. The villa’s interior has remained intact, with the original furnishings and extensive collection of artworks: from Canaletto and Tiepolo to masterpieces by Picasso, Fontana, Modigliani and Matisse.

As you end your visit, you might like to take a break in the elegant bistro immersed in the greenery of the ancient greenhouses.

In 2001, the owners donated the villa to the FAI (Italian National Trust), thus making it possible to open it to the public with guided tours. Discover all the events on the website. 

Via Brera 28

To discover an unexpected natural oasis a stone's throw from the Duomo, we suggest this lesser-known hidden gem: the Brera Botanical Garden.

Established in 1774, it has been open to the public since 1998. In addition to 300 different botanical species, you can admire the original architecture, such as the wonderful greenhouse attributed to Giuseppe Piermarini and the eighteenth-century pond with irises and water lilies.

This is a historic garden, a place that protects biodiversity and rare species. A magical place with flowerbeds, exotic species and centuries-old trees.

You enter the Botanical Garden through the Brera Art Gallery, that hosts a collection of some of the most important artworks in the world, masterpieces of Italian and foreign art from the 13th to the 20th century.

We highly recommend a stop-off at Caffè Fernanda, the beautiful and stylish 1950s bar, which also has an outdoor space, one of the 5 Museum bars in Milano that we have put on our not-to-be-missed list.

A few steps from the Botanical Garden we recommend another small park that is maybe lesser-known: Giardino Perego.

In autumn, this historic English-style garden is bursting with colours thanks to the many species of trees such as maples. It’s the perfect place for a relaxing walk, immersed in greenery and culture.

Via Gaetano De Castillia 18

For those who love contemporary design, the Biblioteca degli Alberi (BAM) is an innovative public park surrounded by the stunning skyscrapers of Porta Nuova. This contemporary botanical garden was inaugurated in 2018.

Amongst the paths, created by renowned landscape designers, you will discover an arboreal 'library', a real botanical catalogue with over 100 different species. The plants are arranged in circles to offer visitors green areas, natural environments within which to relax.

Different trees and shrubs, such as red oaks, cedars, poplars, pear trees and birches guarantee extremely colourful autumn foliage!

The geometric layout created by the paths are beautiful. The walkways are enhanced with quotes and poems that and induce calm and relaxation.

From here you have the perfect viewpoint to discover the autumnal shades of the famous Bosco Verticale, the most photographed skyscraper in Milano!

In the adjacent areas of Piazza Gae Aulenti, Isola and Corso Como, discover the many places that offer refreshments of all kinds, from coffee bars to pastry shops, pizzerias and award-winning menus.

Piazzale Cimitero Monumentale

Milano’s grandiose Cimitero Monumentale is much more than a cemetery: it’s a go-to destination for lovers of art, history and culture. The over 15,000 tombs and monuments were created by some of the greatest sculptors and architects between the 19th and 20th centuries and, strolling among the illustrious sepulchres, you can admire those of Alessandro Manzoni, Giuseppe Verdi, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and many other eminent figures from Italian history.

In autumn, the wide avenues are an oasis of peaceful silence amongst the evocative colours of the centuries-old trees, which add extra atmosphere to the hallowed venue. You can decide to let yourself be guided by the poignant works of art that catch your attention, or follow one of the many itineraries dedicated to themes such as the famous women buried at the Monumentale: eternal love, fashion, sport.

Entrance to the Monumentale is free.

As you leave the Monumentale, you’ll enter into one of the most eclectic neighbourhoods to explore in Milano: Sarpi/Chinatown. Here are our 5 tips on what to do in the surrounding area, such as tasting bao buns and dumpling, or visiting the ADI Design Museum.

Piazza Pio XI, 2

The autumn colours are not only to be admired in the open air: they are also harmoniously on show in one of the most famous artworks conserved in Milano, Caravaggio's Basket of Fruit.

In this delicate still-life you can admire the artist's unmistakable light and shadow style applied to a wicker basket filled with various types of fruit: clusters of white and black grapes, pears, a rotten apple, figs and a peach. The fruit is surrounded by desiccated leaves ravaged by insects to signify the transience of life.

The Basket of Fruit is preserved in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, in the city centre. You will also be able to compare the Basket of Fruit with some of Caravaggio’s other works present in the Pinacoteca, such as the Ritratto di musico - Portrait of a Musician and the Bacco malato -Sick Bacchus.

The Canestra is just one of the masterpieces preserved in Milano: discover them all here. The closest is at the Museo del Novecento, in Piazza Duomo.