Milan: My Milan in Two Days Top Attractions Itinerary

Milan
My Milan in Two Days Top Attractions Itinerary
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Day 1, Saturday, October 8 2016
12:00 San Siro Stadium
The city's main stadium, home ground to A.C. Milan and
F.C. Internazionale Milano
13:00 Break
13:45 Sant'Ambrogio
A Lombard Romanesque church with Lombard stucco
canopy and Tiepolo frescoes
15:00 Santa Maria Presso di

San Satiro
9th century church with Gothic frescoes, wooden sculptures,
trompe l'oeil painting
16:05 Royal Palace of Milan

Palazza Reale houses the Contemporary Art Museum and
Duomo Museum
17:05 Milan Cathedral

The large Gothic Duomo has 135 spires, 3159 statues and a
patterned floor
18:05 Piazza del Duomo

The main square site of the Duomo and other historic
buildings
18:35 Galleria Vittorio

Emanuele II
A historic covered walkway, now a mall entered through a
grand entrance
12:00 San Siro Stadium
Visit Duration: 1 hour
Milan's primary sports stadium, Stadio Giuseppe Meazza is situated in the San Siro District. It is the home
ground of A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano. San Siro was first opened in 1926 and since then has
undergone many structural changes enlarging the venue and adding more facilities. San Siro can
accommodate just over 85,000 spectators in an all-seating arena as well as seating in the Sky Box for VIPs
and journalists. There are 11 cylindrical towers around the periphery of the stadium supporting the distinctive
red girder frame roof which is transparent letting in natural light. In addition there are 256 floodlights on the
stadium ceiling.
In addition to football the stadium hosts musical events and in the past these have included concerts by
Madonna, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones and U2. The stadium also hosts boxing matches
and rugby. The stadium has its own museum which focuses on the two home football teams, their history,
achievements and memorabilia. It is also possible to take a guided tour of the stadium.
Address: Piazzale Angelo Moratti, 20151 Milan,
Italy
Phone Number: +39 02 4046430
Opening Hours: museum and shop daily
10:00am - 17:00pm
Web: http://www.sansiro.net
13:00 Break
Notes: deschidere Saint Ambrogio
13:45 Sant'Ambrogio / Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio
4.9 KM, 32 minutes by transit from Break
This church is named after Milan's patron saint and former bishop who founded the church in 386AD, at the
time the church was named after St. Gervasio and St. Protasio. Over the years the church was expanded, a
Benedictine convent was constructed adjoining the church in the 8 th century and in 1492 Donate Bramante
began construction of the cloisters and portico. The work was continued following damage sustained during
WWII and by 1955 Ferdinando Reggiori had completed the work.
Visitors enter the church through the 11 th century Anspert Atrium from where you can see two bell towers.
The Torre dei Monaci dating back to the 9 th century and the Torre dei Canonici which is a Lombard style
addition from 1128. The atrium is surrounded by a portico, part of which is decorated with animal motifs and
topped with a loggia.
The church is built in the Lombard Romanesque style and has three naves with a ribbed vault ceiling Address: Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, 17-23, 20123
supported by columns. The focal point of the interior is the ciborium, a canopy decorated with Byzantine Milan, Italy
Lombard stucco and supported by Roman porphyry columns. Beneath the canopy is the Golden Altar created Phone Number: 02-8645-0895
Admission: Church: Free admission. Sacello di
with Carolingian goldwork by Volvinio in the 9 th century to hold the remains of St. Ambrose. The altar
San Vittore: 2€
features scenes from Christ's life and the life of St. Ambrose. The remains of Saint Ambrose, St. Protasio and
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 9:00am - noon,
St. Gervasio are kept in the crypt in a large bronze and glass container. A women's gallery overlooks the two
2:30pm - 6:30pm
side aisles of the church. The ceiling of the church apse is decorated with murals which predate the 11th Web: http://www.santambrogio-basilica.it
century structure and one of the chapels features murals by Tiepolo. The church has several chapels Transportation: Bus: 50, 58, or 94. Metro:
including the Chapel of San Vittore in Ciel d'Oro which features murals depicting Saint Ambrose, Gervase and Sant'Ambrogio
Protase.
15:00 Santa Maria Presso di San Satiro
1.3 KM, 31 minutes by transit from Sant'Ambrogio
This is a small church sandwiched between larger more recent constructions, what it lacks in size it makes up
for in decoration. The church dates back to the 9th century and Gothic frescos, two bays and a vaulted ceiling
remain from this original structure. From the 14th century church a wooden sculpture of St. Christopher and
baby Jesus remains which was restored in the 15th century. It was in the 15th century that architect Donato
Bramante transformed the church in an effort to expand its limited size and added the Church of Saint Mary
adjacent to the original structure.
The church has a barrel vaulted ceiling and a dome at the point where the nave crosses the transept. In an
effort to make the church seem larger Bramante added a trompe l'oeil painting adding depth to the church
behind the altar by Giuseppe Peroni. The illusion uses trompe l'oeil paintings of realistic looking columns,
arches and a dome to extend the 97cm space to look more like almost 10 meters. This was the first know use
of the trompe l'oeil painting technique. The church holds the votive painting Madonna and Child and Pieta, a Admission: Free admission
sculptural group with 14 terra cotta figures created by Agostino de Fondutis in 1483. Opening Hours: Daily 9:00am - noon, 2:30pm -
6:00pm
Transportation: Metro: Duomo or Missori
16:05 Royal Palace of Milan
0.3 KM, 5 minutes walking from Santa Maria Presso di San Satiro
The Palazzo Reale (once called the Royal Ducal) is located on Piazza del Duomo in central Milan; it is home
to the Contemporary Art Museum and the Duomo Cathedral Museum. The palace covers 7,000m² and is one
of the city's most important cultural centers and exhibition spaces. The palace was the center of Milan
government in the Middle Ages and during the rule of Torriani, Visconti and Sforza. In the 16 th century the
Governor took on the project of raising the standard of the palace. Pellegrino Tibaldi was employed from 1573
to 1598 to design the interior with the help of major artists of the time. During the 17 th and 18 th century the
palace was damaged by fires and in 1745 was restored and Francesco Croce was used to design and furnish
the interiors.
The building has sweeping staircases and large elegant halls which can be credited to 1769 designs by Luigi
Vanvitelli and construction by Giuseppe Piermarini. The leading artists of the time were commissioned to
decorate the interiors including the Maggiolini family. Other contributors to the sumptuous interiors were Address: Piazza del Duomo, 12, Milano, Italy
Phone Number: +39 02 0202
Giulio Traballesi and sculptors Giocondo Albertolli, Gaetano Caldani and Giuseppe Franchi while Giuseppe
Admission: 9€
Maggiolini designed a lot of the furniture.
Opening Hours: Mon 2:30pm - 7:30pm, Tue -
Sun 9:30am - 7:30pm, Thu and Sat 09:30am -
The neoclassical palace became the home of successive rulers including Maria Theresa, Napoleon,
10:30pm
Ferdinand I and the Savoy family. In 1920 the palace ceased to be the home of the wealthy rulers and was
opened to the general public. The building was bombed in 1943 during WWII and later restored. One of the
most stunning rooms is the Hall of the Caryatides (Sala delle Cariatidi) which was the only part of the
structure to survive unscathed by the bombing. The palace is adorned with rich tapestries, decorated ceilings,
chandeliers and murals.
17:05 Milan Cathedral / Duomo di Milan
0.0 KM, 1 minutes walking from Royal Palace of Milan
The Duomo di Milano is the city's main Catholic place of worship, it is located in the center of Milan with the
city streets radiating and circling the cathedral and the square where it is located. It is one of the largest and
more famous cathedrals in the world. Construction of the cathedral began in 1386 with the help of Milan's first
duke, Gian Galeazzo Visconti. The duke made all of the most valuable resources available so that the edifice
would be the greatest in the world. In 1418 the cathedral was consecrated, but construction was still
underway, the building process continued until 1813. Up until 1965 finishing touches were still being added to
the church. As the cathedral took so long to build it was influenced by a number of architectural styles but
overall the general impression is of an elaborate Gothic design.
The cathedral is 157 meters long and can accommodate 40,000 people. The exterior is topped with 135
spires and pinnacles bearing statues while the central spire is 109 meters from the ground. It is possible to go
up to the roof and get a closer look at the many statues. In all the building has 3159 statues of which 2245 Address: Via Gaetano Giardino, 2, 20123 Milan,
are on the exterior. The Madonnina is the most famous of the cathedral statues, a copper figure which stands Italy
on the cathedrals central spire. Phone Number: 02-7202-3375

Admission: Duomo: Free admission. Roof: 5€ by
The exterior is covered with marble and the interior has five naves which each lead to an entrance in the stairs, 8€ with elevator. Crypt: 2€. Baptistery: 2€.
façade. The five entrance doors have panels depicting scenes from the lives of Saints, Mary, the history of Museum: Before its closing, admission was 6€
adults, 3€ children younger than 18 and seniors
Milan and the history of the construction of the cathedral. Visitors can see the excavations of a 4 th century
over 6
Christian baptistery, the crypt where the tomb of Cardinal Borromeo is located as well as the Cathedral
Treasury which holds a number of medieval treasures. The high cross-vaulted ceiling is supported by 52
pillars made up of clusters of columns and the floor has a bright pattern of different colored marble. The
cathedral holds several pieces of valuable artwork.
18:05 Piazza del Duomo
Visit Duration: 30 mins
0.2 KM, 2 minutes walking from Milan Cathedral
Milan's most popular square is home to the Duomo, the city's cathedral and is the heart of the city. The
rectangular square covers 17,000m² and is surrounded by several important buildings. This area has been
the focal point of the city since the Roman era then in 1859, when the cathedral was nearing completion, the
city held a competition for the best design for a square in front of the cathedral. Giuseppe Mengoni's design
was chosen, with grand buildings surrounding the square. Leading off of Cathedral Square is Via Mercanti
which runs to the Piazzo Cordusio and the covered Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade connecting the
square with Piazza della Scala.
The Gothic white marble Duomo is the focus of the square but the square is also surrounded by the Palazzo
Settentrionale with a triumphal arch leading to the 5 storey high Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade; the
Royal Palace of Milan; the Palazzo Meridionale; Palazzo dell'Arenario; Palazzo Carminati and two
symmetrical modernist buildings known as the propylaea. The floor of the square has a beautiful mosaic Address: Piazza del Duomo, Milan
pattern.
At the center of the square stands a monument to the first king of unified Italy, Victor Emmanuele II created
by Ercole Rosa. The equestrian monument was installed in 1896 and stands upon a marble pedestal with
lions on either side.
18:35 Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Visit Duration: 1 hour, 30 mins
0.1 KM, 2 minutes walking from Piazza del Duomo
Milan's elegant shopping mall is within buildings lining two arcades which form a cross-shape. Giuseppe
Mengoni designed the structure in 1877 when he was chosen to redesign the historic area between Piazza
della Scala and the Duomo. The purpose built structure was an immediate success and earned the nickname
the "Salon of Milan" as it was a popular gathering place.
Shoppers can walk through the large arched opening on Piazza del Duomo which resembles a triumphal arch
and along the 196 meter long arcade or the shorter 105.5 meter arcade. The arcades are flanked by
four-storey high buildings with facades resembling a grand palace. The arcades have a high curved glass and
iron ceiling and a marble mosaic tiled floor. At the point where the two arcades meet the ceiling has a 36
meter wide glass dome 47 meters above an octagonal central piazza. The Galleria has patriotic symbols in
the decoration, mosaics and murals; on the façade are statues of Italy's greatest scientists and artists.
Address: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, 20121
Shops line the walkways which lead through the arcades; the stores have large glass windows and house Milan, Italy
exclusive brands like Louis Vuitton, Vittorio Emanuele, Umberto Boccione, David Campari, Gucci and Prada. Transportation: Metro: Duomo
The shopping mall in this historic building is also home to some of the city's most well known and oldest cafes
and restaurants like Biffi Caffe (1867), Savini, Camparino and Zucca's Bar. The stores in the Galleria sell
predominantly luxury goods, jewelry, books and art. It is the heart of haute couture fashions and designer
jewelry; you can also find art galleries selling the next-big-thing. Several well known retailers in the mall
include the Bernasconi silverware store, the art bookshop Libreria Bocca which dates back to the 1800s and
Feltrinelli, one of Italy's largest stores.
Day 2, Sunday, October 9 2016
11:00 Santa Maria delle
Grazie
Site of the da Vinci fresco The Last Supper
12:05 Museo della Scienza e

Tecnica Leonardo da
Vinci
Technology and Science Museum focuses on inventions
14:05 Break
15:15 San Maurizio al

Monastero Maggiore
A stunningly beautiful church with frescoes on every surface,
now a concert venue
16:25 Castello Sforzesco

Sfarzo Castle surrounded by walls and towers and fresco by
da Vinci
18:30 Parco Sempione

A 116 acre park with monuments, public art, pond and
landscaped gardens
11:00 Santa Maria delle Grazie / Santa Maria delle Grazie and The Last Supper
This church in the Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie is home to Leonardo da Vinci's fresco The Last Supper
which is within the Cenacolo Viniciano building. The artist spent from 1495 to 1497 painting the scene of
Jesus last meal with the disciples before his arrest. The painting is in the former Dominican convent's
refractory and over the course of time has suffered from damp walls, the fumes and dirt from the convent
kitchen, Napoleons troops using the wall for target practice, WWII bombing, exposure to the elements and
bad restoration efforts in the 18 th and 19 th century. So the painting is not in the greatest condition but is still
one of the most iconic images in art. In an attempt to preserve the painting a limited number of people are
allowed into the room where the fresco is at any one time. Viewers are checked to make sure they are not
carrying anything that could contaminate or damage the painting before being let into the room. It is also
necessary to buy tickets in advance and often long lines form waiting to go in. In addition to the Last Supper
the church is worth taking a look at, it was completed in 1490 by Guiniforte Solari and later additions were
made by Donato Bramante including the dome. The vaults have frescos dating back to the original
construction of the building and the church has beautiful cloisters. Don’t miss the door of the church which Phone Number: Last Supper: 02-9280-0362,
Church: 02-467-6111
dates back to 1463.
Admission: The Last Supper: 10€ plus a booking
fee of 2€. 5€ plus 2€ booking fee for EU citizens
18 to 25. EU citizens under 18 and over 65 pay
only the booking fee. Church: Free admission
Opening Hours: Last Supper: Tue-Sun
8:15am-7:00pm. Church: Mon-Sat 7:30am-noon
and 3-7:00pm. Sun 7:20am-12:15pm and
3:30-9:00pm (may close earlier in winter)
Web: http://www.cenacolovinciano.org
Transportation: Metro: Cardona or Conciliazione
12:05 Museo della Scienza e Tecnica Leonardo da Vinci / National Museum of Science &
Technology
Visit Duration: 2 hours
0.3 KM, 5 minutes walking from Santa Maria delle Grazie
This technology and science museum was opened in 1953 and is named after Leonardo da Vinci and
features an entire section focused on his inventions. The museum is housed in the 16 th century San Vittore
al Corpo Monastery. The museum examines the development of science, technology and mans relationship
with these fields since da Vinci. The museum is separated into sections covering materials, transportation,
energy, communication, da Vinci and his inventions, new frontiers. This is the country's largest science
museum it is spread over 40,000m².
In the Leonardo Gallery there are models of several of the Renaissance artist's inventions. Da Vinci's
drawings were used to create the models which are of machines, the study of nature and several of his
works. Together with the models there are Leonardo's drawings on display and a workshop where the public
can try their hand at working the inventions. Throughout the museum there are 13 interactive areas and
models which can be operated by visitors. Phone Number: 02-485-551, 02-4801-0016
Admission: 8€ adults, 6€ younger than 18 and
Among the unusual displays is a piece of moon rock; the S-506 submarine Enrico Toti; a model of da Vinci's older than 60
early design for a machine resembling a helicopter and a Foucault pendulum which demonstrates the Earth's Opening Hours: Tue-Fri 9:30am - 5:00pm.
rotation. Visitors can see a collection of maritime transportation, a collection of watches and clock-making and Sat-Sun 9:30am-6:30pm
Web: http://www.museoscienza.org
a display of different kinds of energy sources. One display follows the life cycle of materials from raw
Transportation: Metro: Sant'Ambrogio
materials to the recycling process. In the transport section there are exhibits on air transportation, where there
are replicas of war planes; rail transport where there is a reconstruction of a 19 th century train station and
water transport. Astronomy, sound and telecommunications are covered in the communications section. The
museum also holds the Regina Margherita Thermal Power Plant which dates back to 1895.
14:05 Break
Notes: Lunch
15:15 San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
0.9 KM, 11 minutes walking from Break
This Milan church was formally the church of a Benedictine convent today the convent is an archaeological
museum and the church is used by locals and as a concert venue. The church interior is one of the most
stunningly beautiful in the city with frescoes covering every surface and bursting with color. The church took
12 years to complete and was inaugurated in 1515. The church was designed by Gian Giacomo Dolcebuono
and completed by Solari; it was constructed on ancient Roman ruins. The rectangular church has a barrel
vaulted ceiling with decorative ribs, the hall is divided into a public area where the main altar is located and an
area for the nuns (the Hall of Nuns) where the choir is located. There is an impressive organ dating back to
the 1500s designed by Antegnati with decoration by Francesco Medici da Seregno. The breathtaking
frescoes where painted in three different cycles. With most being created after 1530. One of the stand-out
murals is by Bernardino Luini, one of da Vinci's students. In the Simonetta Chapel you can see the work of
the Piazza family and the paintings on the partition wall were painted by Simone Peterzano in 1573. The
Address: Corso Magenta, 15, Milan, Italy
painting on the altar is The Adoration of the Magi created in 1578 by Antonio Campi. Outside the church you
Phone Number: +39 02 85561
can see some of the remains of the original structure in the form of two Romanic towers.
Admission: free
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 9.30am - 5:30pm
16:25 Castello Sforzesco / Sforza Castle
0.8 KM, 10 minutes walking from San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
Sfarzo Castle is an historic fortress which houses several of Milan's best museums including the Pinacoteca
del Castello Sforzesco. The original fortress on this site was constructed in 1368 and at that point it had four
80 meter long walls with square towers at the corners. Later the fortress was expanded and converted to a
palace residence. With the proclamation of the Ambrosian Republic in 1447 the palace was destroyed as the
people of Milan saw it as a representing the Visconti regime. One of the leaders of the new republic was
Francesco Sforza who made himself Duke of Milan and had the castle rebuilt with the addition of a central 70
meter tall tower, Torre del Filarete. Sforza's heirs made further additions and changes to the structure
beginning in 1450. During the Renaissance Ludovico Sforza used the talents of Leonardo da Vinci and
Donato Bramante to enhance the interior.
In the next few centuries Milan found itself ruled by foreigners and the castello was used for military purposes.
Under the Spanish the castle became one of the largest citadels in Europe, a star-shaped fort was Address: Viale Petfi A. Petrovich, 20121 Milan,
constructed with 12 bastions and the external walls were fortified and reached 3km in length. In 1861 Italy Italy
was unified and the building's fate was in the balance. Luckily the castle was saved and converted into a civil Phone Number: 02-8846-3700
Admission: Free admission to the castle
building with many of the original features renovated and rebuilt. The castle's reconstruction was done under
courtyard
the watchful eye of architect Luca Beltrami.
Opening Hours: Castle courtyard daily 7:00am -
6:00pm (7:00pm in the summer). Civici Musei
The complex has a quadrangular layout with three internal courtyards and several impressive towers. Each
Castell Sforzesco Tue-Sun 9:00am - 5:30pm
corner of the complex has four towers, there are 2 round towers on one façade, the Torre di Santi Spirito and
Transportation: Metro: Cairoli, Cadorna, or
the Torre del Carmine and two square towers on the opposite façade facing away from the city, the Torre
Lanza
Castellana and the Torre Falconiera. The complex is entered through the Torre del Filarete, which leads to a
large inner courtyard, the Piazza d'Armi. You can see ceiling paintings by Leonardo da Vinci in the castle's
Sala Delle Asse.
18:30 Parco Sempione
0.3 KM, 4 minutes walking from Castello Sforzesco
This Milan park covers 116 acres behind the Castello Sforzesco and is home to a number of monuments and
works of art. The park was opened in 1893 and designed by Emilio Alemagna. The landscaped park is
criss-crossed with paths and has plenty of open green spaces and tall trees. There is a pond with a quaint
bridge crossing it. Several existing pieces of architecture were incorporated into the park's design including
the Arco della Pace (Peace Arch) and Arena Civica which were both constructed as part of Napoleon's
planned Foro Bonaparte. The arena was designed by Luigi Canonica in 1806 and Napoleon was at the
inauguration. The large venue has been in continuous use since then and even today is still used for special
events. Another structure in the park is the Acquario Civico, which was originally designed by Sebastiano
Locati and constructed for the Milan World Expo in 1906. This aquarium building has a distinctive colored tile
façade. The Torre Branca is a 108 meter high tower constructed in 1933 in the western area of the park
grounds. Visitors can take an elevator to the observation platform to get views across the park and nearby
Address: Piazza Sempione, 20154 Milano, Italy
Sforzesco Castle. The park is also home to several museums including the Palazzo d'Arte Triennale a
Phone Number: +39 02 8846 7383
prestigious design museum.
Admission: free
Opening Hours: winter - 7:00am - 6:00pm,
Visitors can canoe on the park pond; drink in the park bars; lounge around in the meadows; enjoy outdoor
summer - 7:00am - 7:00pm
cafes; kid's playgrounds and recreational facilities. In the park there are works of public art including
sculptures by Arman, Giorgio de Chirico, Francesco Barzaghi and Antonio Paradiso.
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Milan

My Milan in Two Days Top Attractions Itinerary

15:00 Santa Maria Presso di

16:05 Royal Palace of Milan

17:05 Milan Cathedral

18:05 Piazza del Duomo

18:35 Galleria Vittorio

Notes: deschidere Saint Ambrogio

on the cathedrals central spire. Phone Number: 02-7202-3375

12:05 Museo della Scienza e

15:15 San Maurizio al

16:25 Castello Sforzesco

18:30 Parco Sempione

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