Discover the city under a different light. Milano, when the monuments light up and the sun sets, the skyscrapers sparkle in the dark and the lights of the clubs and houses are reflected on the waters of the Navigli canals, acquires a whole new charm. There is no shortage of evening tours to discover the city from a new perspective, as several exhibitions and museums are open until late. But it is also nice to walk around the city to enjoy the changing scenery. Get your camera ready: we will take you to the most beautiful places during the evening and night hours in Milano.

Evening tour of Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

The warm light of the sunset between the spires, the square that comes alive under your feet, and then the twilight. As summer approaches, once a week you can go up to Duomo’s terraces also in the evening to enjoy the view of Milano from above (info and timetables on the official website). But even from the square the view at night is among the most beautiful you can admire: the lights illuminate the facade of the cathedral, and the entrance to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the surrounding buildings glitter with luxury and style.

Castello Sforzesco illuminated at night

You have to come to Castello Sforzesco during the day, to wander through the courtyards and visit its great museums (including Michelangelo's Pietà Rondanini, his last and most psychological sculpture). But don't forget to take a tour even when darkness falls: the soft lights illuminate the walls, the tower, the moat and the battlements making this Renaissance castle one of the most fascinating monuments in the Milano night.

Torre Branca: the view of Milano in the evening

It is one of the best sites to see Milano from above. Even at night. During the summer, from Thursday to Saturday (but check the website for the updated timetables) you can climb to the top of the Branca Tower, a steel construction built in 1933 on a project by architect Giò Ponti, inside the Sempione Park behind the Castle. From its 108.6 meters of height, you will be able to see the skyscrapers, the white spires of the Duomo and the majestic Arco della Pace glistening in the dark.

Piazza Gae Aulenti and the Porta Nuova skyscrapers

At a stone's throw from the Garibaldi train station, lies one of the most popular and modern plazas in the city. Try to capture the beauty of Piazza Gae Aulenti in the evening with your smartphone: capture the geometries of the building towers, the play of reflections on the mirrors and capture the colored lights of its three fountains. Admire the changing looks of the new Milano at night: the Unicredit tower, Italy’s tallest skyscraper, and the Unicredit pavilion, an auditorium that hosts concerts, events and exhibitions. Not far from the plaza, and linked to it by pathways, there are the Diamond Tower and the Vertical Forest: welcome to 21-century Milano.

 

The Navigli: the heart of Milano by night

It is the place the Milanese come to see in the evening and at night. From the bridges that cross the Naviglio Grande you will be able admire the most beautiful sunsets over the city, observe the lights that turn on when it gets dark and are reflected on the waters of the canals, and take pictures in one of the most instagrammable corners of Milano. But it is not just urban scenery, this the nightlife district, with the streets that come alive with all kinds of people from aperitivo time until late night: get ready for the Milano movida.

Sant’Ambrogio Basilica

Definitely beautiful to admire during the day, even to have breakfast in the many cafes n in the surrounding college area. But go back to the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio at nightfall to appreciate its nocturnal charm and get ready to snap a picture: it's not easy, but if you find the right shot, you'll have one of the most evocative photos of Milano at night. You are in front of the ancient church of the city, built by its patron saint, second in importance only to the Duomo. But don't forget to look around: near the church you will notice the devil's column with a rather curious history. Find out ots secret.

Visit the Crypt of San Sepolcro with lanterns

Behind Cordusio and Milano della Finanza, right next to the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, the church and crypt of San Sepolcro is one of the underground jewels of Milano. An almost legendary place for the history and rites linked to the cult of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Built at the intersection of Cardus and Decumanus, where the Romans did trade in ancient Mediolanum, the building was studied by Leonardo da Vinci, whose Codex Atlanticus is in Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, during his stay in Milano. Today, until July (info and timetables updated on the website), it can also be visited in the evening with special guided tours in the light of a lantern.

The museums open in the evening in Milano

If you visit the Crypt of San Sepolcro, don't miss  the Ambrosiana Art Gallery, next door. There are several museums in Milano that have evening openings scheduled throughout the year. Like the MUDEC - Museum of Cultures, in the historic Porta Genova district, designed by British architect David Chipperfield: on Thursdays and Saturdays the museum remains open until 10.30 pm (for updated times and admission procedures, visit the website official), why not take advantage of it for an evening visit to its many exhibitions? The Museo del Novecento, in Piazza Duomo, is also open until 10.30 pm on Thursdays: the view over the Duomo from the Fontana room, with the artist's neon art work, will captivate you.

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