Milan (Italian: Milano) is financially the most important city in Italy. It has the second most populous city proper in the country, but sits at the centre of Italy's largest urban and metropolitan area. While incorrectly not considered as beautiful as some Italian cities, having been partly destroyed by Second World War bomb raids, the city has rebuilt itself into a thriving cosmopolitan business capital. In essence, for a tourist, what makes Milan interesting compared to other places is that the city is truly more about the lifestyle of enjoying worldly pleasures: a paradise for shopping, football, opera, and nightlife. Milan remains the marketplace for Italian fashion - fashion aficionados, supermodels and international paparazzi descend upon the city twice a year for its spring and autumn fairs. Don't get fooled by the modern aspect of the city, since it's one of the most ancient cities in Europe with more than 26 centuries of history and heritage!
Milan is famous for its wealth of historical and modern sights - the Duomo, one of the biggest and grandest Gothic cathedrals in the world, La Scala, one of the best established opera houses in the globe, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, an ancient and glamorous arcaded shopping gallery, the Brera art gallery, with some of the finest artistic works in Europe, the Pirelli tower, a majestic example of 1960s modernist Italian architecture, the San Siro, a huge and famed stadium, or the Castello Sforzesco, a grand medieval castle and the UNESCO's World Heritage Site Santa Maria alle Grazie Basilica, containing one of the world's most famous paintings: Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper.
Milan, depending on how you want to tour the city, is a rewarding visit all the year. Keep in mind most places, including tourist destinations and museums, are closed on Mondays.
In autumn, the weather is warm/cool, and in later months can be quite rainy and foggy. At this time of the year, the city's inhabitants are very busy with work, so the only people you're likely to see wandering around are tourists. All the major venues and shops are open, since it is the working part of the year.
In winter, the city can become cold (often below or around zero degrees centigrade), and the weather is usually foggy and rainy if not snowy. However, the city, in the few weeks before Christmas, becomes delightful to visit - the main sights are all illuminated by stunning lights, a huge Christmas tree is set up in front of the Duomo, vendors and markets can be found everywhere, many shop and display windows are decorated and the streets become bustling with locals and tourists alike. However, the only downside is that it can become extremely crowded, noisy and busy.
In spring, the weather is similar to that of autumn. People go back to work, and the atmosphere becomes more quiet, yet serious unlike that of the winter. Parks become nice to visit, as trees blossom. The city is also quite nice to visit at Carnival, where people dress up and celebrate, and during Easter, where there are special services held in churches and some special events.
In summer, Milan can become extremely hot and humid, with the odd powerful rainstorm here and there. Whilst in July, apart from the weather, most shops remain open, in August, as many locals go off to take their summer holidays, many businesses and venues shut down (with the notice Chiuso per ferie, or shut down for vacation). The city may become quite empty with the odd tourist strolling around, and with several of the main sights shut down. Despite it's not the best time for shopping and the weather's not at all times very pleasant, it's good if you want to enjoy the city to yourself when it's quiet, and maybe want to stroll around, sipping at the odd open bar or at an ice cream, or walking in a silent park. Despite many businesses shut down, some still do remain open, and you will still be able to find some open shops, restaurants and museums.
Milan has two main international air gateways, Linate airport and Malpensa airport. Sometimes referred to as Milan's additional airports, Bergamo's [url=http://www.bergamo-airport.com]Orio al Serio airport[/url] (45km East) and Parma airport (100km South) mostly host budget airlines.
The main railway station is the Central Station ('Milano Centrale')[url=http://www.milano-centrale.com/],]which is served by Trenitalia [url=http://www.trenitalia.it/[/url],]the State Railways. Regular express and fast trains serve all Italian cities ([[Turin[/url]], [wiki=607d28488d1859e84884914a1b3598bd]Venice[/wiki], [wiki=1f49f770adc6c84629f50ce3ca2a2109]Rome[/wiki], [wiki=866f0aee219a317e89a5909c9cc9e541]Naples[/wiki], [wiki=bbf5e1be3178100ef6a81c2e4ba0304e]Florence[/wiki] and many others), and some European cities ([wiki=550d05ab240ec337038af814ff0de287]Barcelona[/wiki], [wiki=2b29c5739ec4158573c66d2124e2c7e9]Zurich[/wiki], [wiki=3f6765c843a517aa042ae011230aa976]Geneva[/wiki], [wiki=7b88a4aca50f33c258efc438d098c9f4]Munich[/wiki], [wiki=e20d37a5d7fcc4c35be6fc18a8e71bfa]Paris[/wiki], [wiki=a330ac6c48198545d4d2f9ff2cb0fc05]Stuttgart[/wiki], [wiki=601f9226a92f0a314068aa4395f65528]Vienna[/wiki], etc.).
The station building is in itself worth a visit being a masterpiece of rationalist architecture.
The station area is not in a great part of town at night, though in the area there are a number of decent budget hotels (see "Sleep" below) and some business-oriented international brand hotels. In general the area south of the station (characterized by a few skyscrapers) is a business and local government center, pretty active during working hours but almost deserted at night. Should you need a few supplies for your trip, there is a supermarket in the west side of the station in the basement, as well as cafes and other small shops. Internet points in the main square overlooking the station. In 2008 the station is completing extensive renovation. At night, parts of the Central Station become a sleeping area for vagrants. Usually around the station there are children aggressively targeting tourist for pickpocketing, so pay attention to your bag.
The Central Station is served by MM2 and MM3 metro lines. Taxis stops directly in front of the station (on the sides during the renovation period), and ATM buses on the West side (IV November Square) and buses to Linate, Malpensa and Orio airports on the East side (Luigi di Savoia square).
* Another important railway station is Cadorna, served by Ferrovie Nord [url=http://www.fnmgroup.it/]](North Railways), where the Malpensa airport Express stops and which is also a stop for MM1 and MM2 metro lines. This is a good station if you are travelling to Como Lago station
* Garibaldi station is the terminus for most commuter railway lines and is served by the state railways. It is also a stop for the MM2 metro and for the Passante suburban commuter train link (see [[#Get_around[/url]]).
* Other main train stations are Lambrate (connected to MM2 metro line), Greco-Pirelli, Rogoredo (connected to MM3 metro line) and Porta Genova (connected to MM2 metro line) for the FS Trenitalia railways and Bovisa (connected to the Passante suburban commuter train link) and Domodossola for the Ferrovie Nord railways. Domodossola station is very close to the city section of the Milan Exhibition Centre - fieramilanocity, also connected to the subway system by the MM1 metro line.
Ferrovie Nord (FNM) and Trenitalia (FS) are two different railway networks, with different stations, different trains and different tickets. For example, if you need to go to Malpensa airport and you are in FS Greco Pirelli, you need to go first to Garibaldi train station, then take the MM2 metro to Cadorna train station and then the Malpensa Shuttle train to the airport. In some cases from Garibaldi station, you can take the Passante suburban commuter train link to Bovisa FNM station (these trains leave from the underground station below Garibaldi station and next to the MM2 underground station. Be sure that the train you take stops at Bovisa). From Bovisa you can get on the Malpensa shuttle train.
The main motorways linking Milan to the rest of Italy are:
* A1, the Autostrada del Sole (Highway of the Sun), a six-lane motorway linking Milan to [wiki=7014d0181914fb4722b90a49d53f5471]Bologna[/wiki], [wiki=bbf5e1be3178100ef6a81c2e4ba0304e]Florence[/wiki], [wiki=1f49f770adc6c84629f50ce3ca2a2109]Rome[/wiki] and [wiki=866f0aee219a317e89a5909c9cc9e541]Naples[/wiki].
* A4 Westbound, a six-lane motorway linking Milan to [wiki=42dc29389d6318f0fe5b21396ce73b22]Turin[/wiki], the Westyern Alps and France.
* A4 Eastbound, the Autostrada Serenissima, an eight-lane motorway linking Milan to [wiki=3a8f916e8f8560773ac9b8eb6349b1c4]Bergamo[/wiki], [wiki=0c3c889cb60322b10d890d76a05f816e]Brescia[/wiki], [wiki=d32a635cff5dcc73a609d313801541d4]Verona[/wiki], [wiki=48a09f4956b196a2489d69e3c117000d]Padua[/wiki] and [wiki=607d28488d1859e84884914a1b3598bd]Venice[/wiki], and further to [wiki=1d8b2ddc05f3f931791003d2ccd75e43]Trieste[/wiki] and [wiki=00247297c394dd443dc97067830c35f4]Slovenia[/wiki].
* A7, a six-lane motorway linking Milan to [wiki=5e59a42459a2d6cd3d93d5aab0764ca6]Genoa[/wiki], the Ligurian Riviera and the Cinque terre.
* A8, the Autostrada dei Laghi (Highway of the Lakes), an eight-lane motorway linking Milan to Lake [wiki=b2114cc02aeee3cd3f80a773ca6597de]Como[/wiki], Lake Maggiore, [wiki=581df48b4c75f9e166eb77e67725cbd3]Lugano[/wiki] and the rest of [wiki=3ad08396dc5afa78f34f548eea3c1d64]Switzerland[/wiki].
* A9, a four-lane motorway linking Milan to [wiki=d3b6d55296263bf57362405ee40f4e97]Varese[/wiki] and Western [wiki=6141423ca28df564c911b1d85c6d0a20]Ticino[/wiki] in [wiki=3ad08396dc5afa78f34f548eea3c1d64]Switzerland[/wiki].
* A50, A51 and A52, respectively the West, East and North Ringroads (Tangenziale Ovest, Tangenziale Est, and Tangenziale Nord) connect the various motorways forming a six-lane ringroad around Milan.
* A53, a four-lane motorway linking Milan to [wiki=180ab0761158b959facf0feae6115c4e]Pavia[/wiki].
The main highway operating company is Società Autostrade per l'Italia [http://www.autostrade.it/].
Because of heavy traffic, it is strongly recommended not to drive in Milan during working days. Driving is much better during weekends. A recommendation is to leave your car in one of the well-marked, huge commuter car parks near several exits of Milan's motorway ringroad; they're managed by ATM and are easily connected with Milan's underground metro lines, but they close around midnight. They're near highway exits in Cascina Gobba (East), Lampugnano (North West), Molino Dorino (North West), Bonola (North West), Rho-Pero (North West), Bisceglie (South West) and San Donato (South East). If you must drive in Milan during weekdays, then make sure you have an up-to-date map showing the one-way system.
Traffic congestion fee - Since January 1 2008, cars entering Milan's central area within the former walls of the city (cerchia dei navigli) must pay a fee (€2,€3, €5 or €10 depending on the engine and age of the car): there are cameras in all entrances to this area and all registration plates are recorded. Payment can be made by purchasing entrance cards at newspaper stands, online or by sms (call 020202 for information). Failure to pay within 48 hours from entering the area implies a fine of €75.
MM1 Lampugnano station is Milan's main Bus terminal.
The main national bus lines are operated by Autostradale [url=http://www.autostradale.it/],]but there are many other small companies offering even international travel [http://ibus.it/english/index_en.htm[/url].
The [url=http://www.atm-mi.it/en/]Metro[/url] (short for Metropolitana) has a big white M on a red background as a logo and has four lines, each commonly identified by a colour as shown below, and is the best way to get around Milan. The lines are: MM1, red (rossa); MM2, green (verde); MM3, yellow (gialla); MM5, violet (lilla). Line MM4 is under construction, as many other extension of existing lines. The subway network is rather extended (lines split into different sections and its 103 stations cover most areas of town). Trains run every 1-3 min, 06:00-23:59 (02:00 on Saturday nights).
Be careful:
Groups of pickpockets are constantly positioned around the metro ticket vending machines at the main station (Centrale). As soon as a person starts a ticket demand process they arrange themselfs around this person and start to grab your change, not afraid to attack you physically. The security vanishes immediately. This is well known for years and the city of Milan is obviously not fighting it.
You better get your ticket in advance or at the ticket office.
(Streetcars) run above-ground on rail lines running through the streets. Milan is par excellence the city of trams, and it's the second city in the world for tramway lines extension. They're everywhere, and they are a true symbol of Milan, just like red double decker bus is for London. Being above ground means you get a view of what you're passing, so if you don't need to go far, they're convenient and fun. Some tram lines are operated by the ultramodern 'jumbo' green tram, others are run by yellow or orange antique traditional carriages (similar to the ones in San Francisco) with wooden panelling inside and glass chandeliers. There is also a restaurant tram and a party tram with disco music. Many tram stops have electronic information panels with indications on how many minutes to wait before the next available service. These are known as trams and an Italian (or non-American foreigner for that matter) will have no idea what you are talking about if you ask them where to find a 'streetcar'. Many trams are really museum pieces, which makes of Milan a sort of an open air transportation museum. The most important historical trams are the "serie 1500" type, dating back as far as 1929! They survived even to the WWII bombings and are still now in perfect conditions. Since their historical value, no retirement option is even considered for these tram types.
Buses should probably be your third public transport option. Equally comfortable, rather punctual and clean with many routes to choose from. ATM tram and bus services stop around 02:00. However, some lines end their service earlier and some do not have a night service at all. In any case check your route and timetable in advance if you want to travel late at night.
Several buses connect suburban cities and towns surrounding Milan. Some are managed by ATM. You can travel on most of them with an inter-urban ticket (biglietto interurbano) which are sold in two forms: including travel in Milan or without. In the without form you can only go to the end of the line, while with the cumulative version you can transfer to any ATM line. There are several rules and distance limits which apply, so be aware of them when you purchase your ticket.
Many bus stops have electronic information panels with indications on how many minutes to wait before the next available service.
20:00-02:00 a special shuttle service is operated by ATM, called [url=http://www.atm-mi.it/ATM/Muoversi/Radiobus/]Radiobus[/url], an on-call bus accessible only by pre-booking on +39 2 4803-4803 at least 20 min in advance (a couple of hours is better). The bus will stop at a dedicated place (these have an hexagonal panel with blue writing RADIOBUS and telephone number on white) and will leave you virtually any place. Memorize the pick-up location. The driver will wait for ladies to enter the home door as a courtesy. Costs €2 per person. You may buy the tickets in advance, or pay on the bus.
The Suburban Railway System or S-lines (the logo is a big green S on a blue background) includes a special line known as Passante ferroviario (railway link), considered Milan's fourth subway line (although trains run every 6-15 mins), and has eight more lines, each identified by a number (S1, S2, S5, S6, S10 trough Passante Ferroviario and S3, S4, S8, S9, S11 trough other railways), connecting metro area towns with Milan. Suburban trains run less often than Metro trains (depending on the line, they range from 1 to 4 per hour) but, as some lines share tracks and stations, you can expect as many as 10 trains per hour in central Milan between Lancetti and Porta Vittoria stations. Suburban Railway 'S' Lines are usually marked in blue on subway maps. The Passante is not heavily used by the Milanese and in non-peak hours stations can be deserted so would not be recommended for lone (and particularly female) travellers.
Taxis can be expensive and drivers are allowed to pick passengers up from designated taxi ranks, through phone bookings and directly from the street. The main taxi companies can be reached at 02.40.40, 02.69.69 or 02.80.80, or alternatively, from a land line dial 848.814.781 to be connected to the nearest taxi stand. If you book a taxi by phone you'll start paying from the moment the driver accepts the call and comes to pick you up. Local law define some fixed fee trips: Milan to Malpensa Airport €70, Malpensa Airport-Rho Fair €55, Malpensa Airport-Linate Airport €85, Linate Airport-Milan Fair €40. All fees are intended for a one-way, non-stop trip; taxi waiting time and booking are extras. A surcharge will apply in the evenings so don't be surprised if the meter has €6+ on it when you enter, even if at a taxi-stand.
Definitely not a good idea to get into the city centre. Like most major cities traffic is a considerable problem, not to mention the hassle of parking. During working hours traffic is often blocked, inside the city as well as on the highway ring surrounding it. It is much better at night, but you'll probably have problems finding a place to leave the car near enough to nightlife attractions. And a Congestion charge will be applied anywhere from €2 to €10 per day to enter the second city ring (i Bastioni) in accordance with how much your vehicle pollutes. The charge is only applied on weekdays, 07:30-19:30. Drivers will have to buy a ticket either on-line or from key points in the city.
Walking is definitely a possibility, and although Milan is a large city, many of the main tourist attractions are within an easy and pleasant walk from one another. In recent years, several tourist hot spots, such as the Corso Vittorio Emanuele or the Via Dante have been made pedestrian, so walking shouldn't be a problem. No matter how hot the day, one will see elegantly dressed people of both sexes in timeless fashion without a drop of sweat. There are many places to sit, apart from the ubiquitous cafes, especially in the parks. Get a decent map of the city before setting out though, as the roads do not always maintain a straight line, and the various piazza can be confusing to the newcomer. In the many parks, there are dog only areas, but one should always be careful when walking as the two things one will see on the ground in the streets are cigarette ends and dog faeces.
Bikes are available through the [url=http://www.bikemi.com]BikeMI bike sharing service[/url]. You can register for annual or temporary subscriptions at any BikeMi station. If you register for a temporary subscription (weekly or daily), a user code, along with your password, will be sent to the e-mail address, chosen during your registration. Your codes are active as soon as you receive them. [url=http://www.bikedistrict.org]BikeDistrict[/url] is a website that offers cycling directions to get around safely in the city. Entering the departure and destination addresses, BikeDistrict finds the best itinerary for bikes, avoiding as far as possible cobblestones, tram rails, busy streets and the routes which are potentially dangerous for cyclists. The suggested route is displayed on a map and colored according to the cycling level of every street, together with real-time information about bike sharing stations and with the location of cycling-related services, such as bike repair shops.
Milan offers the visitor a large variety of art museums, mainly of Italian Renaissance and Baroque.
* Pinacoteca di Brera, Via Brera [url=http://www.brera.beniculturali.it/].]Reach by subway MM2 Lanza - Piccolo Teatro Station, MM3 Montenapoleone Station, trams lines 1, 4, 8, 12, 14, 27 or buses 61 and 97. A world class museum with importance comparable with the Madrid's El Prado or the Paris' Louvre. One of Italy's most important art collections and one of the foremost collections of Italian paintings. Shows masterpiece and art Icon like "the Kiss" by Francesco Hayez, the "Lamentation of Christ" by Mantegna, the "Supper at Emmaus" by Caravaggio or the "Marriage of the Virgin" by Raphael. Full ticket: € 10,00 Reduced: € 7,00
* Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Piazza Pio XI, 2, 02 80692 1, ([mailto:info@ambrosiana.it[/url], Fax: 02 80692 210) [url=http://www.ambrosiana.it].]Historical library that also houses the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana art gallery. It is a must see and shows the world famous "Basket of fruits" of Caravaggio, along with the "Musician" by Leonardo da Vinci and the preparatory drawing of the School of Athens by Raphael.
* Poldi Pezzoli Museum, Via Manzoni [url=http://www.museopoldipezzoli.it/[/url].]Reach by subway, MM3 Montenapoleone Station, or with many buses and trams. One of the world's richest private art collections.
* Museo del Novecento, in Duomo square, it is one of the most important art museum dedicated to the XX century. It shows the world icon "the fourth State" by Giovanni Pellizza da Volpedo.
* Bagatti Valsecchi Museum [url=http://www.museobagattivalsecchi.org/[/url]]- A late 19th century aristocratic mansion with Italian Renaissance art collections located in via Gesù 5, between via della Spiga and via Montenapoleone; subway MM3 Montenapoleone Station, MM1 San Babila Station, trams lines 1 and 2, Montenapoleone stop.
*[url=http://www.gam-milano.com]Galleria d'Arte Moderna[/url[/url] Via Palestro 16: Mainly features 19th Century Italian art. It is located in one of the finest palaces of Milan, the Villa Reale or Villa Belgiojoso-Bonaparte, a late XVIII century neoclassical masterpiece from Leopold Pollack. Many frescoes and statues decorate the artsy interior of the palace, now used as a museum.
* Gallerie d'Italia piazza Scala- settled in three gorgeous palaces, Palazzo Anguissola Antona Traversi, Palazzo Brentani and Palazzo della Banca Commerciale d'Italia, well worth a visit on their own, this museum offers a very interesting collection of masterpieces from XIX and XX century. Located in Piazza Scala, this museum is very easy to visit and well enjoyable.
* Societa' per le Belle Arti ed Esposizione Permanente, +39 02 6599803 ([mailto:info@lapermanente-milano.it], Fax: +39 02 6590840) [url=http://www.lapermanente-milano.it].]Changing exhibitions of contemporary art. Walking distance to MM1 and MM2 Cadorna Station.
* The Sforzesco Castle [url=http://www.milanocastello.it[/url]]- Reach by subway, MM1 Cairoli - Castello Station and MM2 Lanza - Piccolo Teatro Station, or with many buses and trams. Houses several of the city's museums and art gallery collections. Home to the museums of applied arts, ancient art, historical musical instruments, prehistory, Egyptian art and fine arts. A must see is the Michelangelo statue of the Pietà Rondanini.
*Civico Museo Archeologico - Roman antiques from Milan and the surrounding area. Interesting collection of roman statues and glasses. This museum spans every single century of the 26 centuries of history of this city.
* Contemporary Arts Pavillion (PAC), Via Palestro 15, near Porta Venezia Gardens, [url=http://www.pac-milano.org/main.htm].]Reachable by subway, line MM1, Palestro Station, or with many buses and trams.
* Museo del Duomo (Museum of the Cathedral) [url=http://www.duomomilano.it[/url].]Subway: MM1 and MM3 Duomo Station. Displays the 700 year old history of construction of the cathedral, with impressive walk-in wooden models, façade designs originating from several centuries, sculptures and more.
* Museo d'Arte Paolo Pini [url=http://www.mapp-arca.it[/url]]- Contemporary art gallery collection.
* Hangar Bicocca [url=http://www.hangarbicocca.it/[/url]]- Contemporary art museum located in a giant hangar in the industrial district just north of Milano Bicocca university. They have a few permanent sculptural installations along with rotating temporary exhibits and events. Subway: MM1 Sesto Marelli station.
Other Museums:
* Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology, Via San Vittore 21, [url=http://www.museoscienza.org/[/url].]Reachable by bus or subway, line MM2 Sant'Ambrogio Station.
* Natural Science Museum, at 55, Corso Venezia, inside Porta Venezia Gardens. Subway: Line MM1, Porta Venezia or Palestro Stations. Has reduced and free entry (depends on person) after 16:30 most days or 14:30 Fridays.
*The [url=http://www.comune.milano.it/palazzoreale/index.html]Palazzo Reale[/url[/url] (Royal Palace): opposite the South side of Duomo, always hosts many exhibitions, usually very interesting. The palace itself it is definitely worth a visit. Subway: MM1 and MM3 Duomo Station.
*[url=http://www.triennale.it/]Triennale di Milano[/url], Via Alemagna: Museum of Design and Architecture, always has 4-6 exhibits on the subject of design, photography or modern art, at least 1-2 of which are always free entry. Reach by bus 61 or subway, line MM2 Cadorna-Triennale Station, or by walking through Parco Sempione from Castello Sforzesco.
* Museo Teatrale alla Scala [http://www.teatroallascala.org] - A museum dedicated to the world's most famous opera house. Subway: MM1 and MM3 Duomo Station.
Milan has the oldest churches in Italy (yes-- older than the ones in Rome because Milan was the capital of the Northern part of the late Roman Empire). Milan has more ancient and monumental churches than any other European city outside of Italy. You can see a very complete collection [url=http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1497363]here[/url].
Some of the most important and beautiful churches one "can't miss" in Milan are:
* The Duomo, in Duomo Square. Milan's main cathedral, a massive late Gothic church (started in 1386) in white marble, with hundreds of spires and thousands of statues on its exterior and a famous façade. Don't miss the chance to climb up onto the roof and enjoy the spectacular views of the city between the Gothic spires. Duomo is reachable by subway, lines MM1 or MM3, Duomo Station, or with many buses and trams. Roof open daily 09:00-17:30 (€7 for the stairs, €12 for the lift). Unless you are physically unfit, it is best recommended to take the stairs (250 steps only) and save €5. On an average, it should not take more than 5-6 minutes to climb the stairs. You may have your belongings searched by the Guardia before entering the Cathedral, so show up lightly packed.
* Saint Mary of the Graces (Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie). Entry to the basilica is free. A Unesco World Heritage site, this basilica is one of the masterpiece of the renaissance architect Donato Bramante. The dome is one of the most delightful creation of Renaissance era. The exterior is delicately carved, and the interior is filled with bright light and whimsical atmosphere, a triumph of harmony. The nave is from gothic period. The rectory is separate from Santa Maria alle Grazie and houses the famous Last Supper ('Cenacolo Vinciano') by Leonardo da Vinci (even though nothing remains of "His" painting, it is now 100% restoration). Although not becoming a "pop icon" like the Mona Lisa has perhaps become, the Last Supper fresco is arguably the lifetime masterpiece of Leonardo da Vinci and his most influential work artistically. It is best to reserve tickets a few months before the visit and costs €8 as of 2014. Cancelled reservations are sold from 08:15 every morning (if there are any, best to show up in person). Tickets can be be reserved by phone (+39 2 8942-1146) or [url=http://www.cenacolovinciano.org/sito/home.html]on-line[/url]. Reachable by trams 20, 24, 29 or 30 or by subway, lines MM1 and MM2 Cadorna Station, or MM1 Conciliazione station.
* Saint Ambrose (Basilica di Sant' Ambrogio), in Piazza San Ambrogio. Free entrance. The most important example of the Lombard Romanesque style of architecture, built between 1080 and 1140. In this basilica structural and technical innovations like the groined cross vault lead to wider vaulted naves being made possible. Now it is the second church in the city right after the duomo. Partly damaged in World War II, it shows many masterpieces, like the Vuolvinious golden altar, a Carolingian goldsmith masterpiece, and the very important IV century mosaics of the chapel of San Vittore in Ciel d'oro. The magnificent marble pulpit dates back to X century, whilst the external Atrium preserves some of the best examples of Lombard Romanesque sculpture available. Reachable by subway: MM2 Sant'Ambrogio.
* Saint Maurice (Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore). Free entrance. A stunning UNESCO listed, fully frescoed Renaissance church. Most of the paintings are the work of Bernardino Luini. It's considered the "Sistine Chapel" of Milan, you can find it beside of the Archeological Museum in Corso Magenta MM2 - MM1 Cadorna station.
* Saint Lawrence (Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore). Preserved inside this church is a lovely 4th century rotunda, famous for its beautiful courtyard, with Roman-age columns and a statue of the emperor Constantine. The basilica has been built on an imperial palace of the Roman era and is one of the most ancient churches in the world, although baroque remodeling makes its age difficult to envisage. The Saint Aquilinus chapel (€4) is definitely worth a visit. The church can be reached by tram, or the Missori metro station.
* Sant'Eustorgio and the Portinari Chapel (Basilica di Sant'Eustorgio e Capelli Portinari). Deconsecrated church now a museum. Entry prices are €6 for the church and €12 for the museum and Portinari Chapel (As of 2014). Originally a IV century paleochristian basilica, it is now one of the most important monument of the city. Here you will find the gorgeous Sforza family monumental tombs and more importantly, the Portinari Chapel, one of the biggest achievement in Lombard Renaissance. It is located in the Navigli district, MM2 Porta Genova.
* San Nazaro (Basilica di San Nazaro in Brollo). Free entrance. Another IV century basilica preserved within a younger church complex. It is very important in history because it was the first western church ever built in a Latin Cross plant instead of a Greek Cross plant. Very interesting the Trivulzio mausoleum at the entrance, dedicated to the Marshall Trivulzio, who betrayed the Sforza family and gave Milan to the King of France (and therefore forced Leonardo da Vinci to move to France). The masterpiece of the Basilica is the Santa Caterina chapel, with gorgeous Renaissance frescoes by Bernardino Lanino. Very interesting is also the archaeological part. Very close you can find another beautiful church, the San Calimero basilica, with an amazing frescoed crypt.
Some other beautiful and important (and free) churches worth visiting in the city centre are:
* San Simpliciano basilica Contains the Shrine of the Martyrs dell'Anaunia, another important relic from the IV century, perhaps the best of all the paleochristian basilicas in Milan. Don't miss the frescoed apse.
* Santa Maria presso San Satiro church A hidden jewel, really a must see. It is a masterpiece by Donato Bramante, who created here the first trompe l'oeil in art history. Really important is also the San Satiro paleochristian chapel (IV century) and the mannerist baptistry by Bramante. It is located in via Torino, some 200 metres from the Duomo. MM1-MM3 Duomo metro station.
*Santa Maria della Passione basilica Huge temple built in mannerist style, this church is the city's second largest. Very important it the spectacular dome.
*Sant'Antonio Abate church A museum of mannerist art, completely filled with gorgeous frescoes from late Renaissance and early Baroque era. A most important heritage near to the Ca' Granda palace.
*Certosa di Garegnano charterhouse A little bit outside of city center you will find this most important church completely frescoed charter house, with loads of frescoes by Simone Peterzano (the teacher of the Caravaggio) and Daniele Crespi. It is perhaps the best church interior in the city along with San Maurizio church. The completely frescoed vault it just so inspiring. A must see, and take with you a good camera! You can reach it with tramway line 14 or with the Suburban railway station "Certosa".
*San Vittore al Corpo basilica Originally a IV century basilica and now a Mannerist monument, it is perhaps the finest baroque church in the city. The dome is just awesome with frescoes by Daniele Crespi, and the interior decorations are filled with frescoes and plaster works from XVI and XVII century. Very close to the Science and Technology "Leonardo da Vinci". It is one of the biggest basilicas in the city.
*Sant'Alessandro Basilica A very baroque church, interestingly scenographic. It reminds one of sicilian Baroque. Very rich decoration. Located near via Torino, some 350 meters away from the Duomo. Near, in piazza Missori, you'll find the remains of what used to be the church of San Giovanni in Conca. The crypt is one of the most ancient in Milan, and it shows huge roman imperial era ruins.
*Sant'Eufemia Basilica From piazza Missori MM3, following corso Italia, you'll find the gorgeous Sant'Eufemia basilica, probably the finest neo-romanesque church in Milan. Beside you'll find the San Paolo Converso church, twin church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore. The amazing facade is from Galeazzo Alessi and the Cerano, while the absolutely gorgeous interiors are frescoed by Giulio Campi. Amazing is the painted vault, resembling the one in San Maurizio.
*San Bernardino alle Ossa One of the most frightful churches in the world! The walls of this little church are completely filled with...bones and skulls! A must visit church in Halloween time, it is said to be haunted. Very spectacular! Beside it you will also find the Santo Stefano basilica, where the painter Caravaggio were baptized.
*San Cristoforo church. Little cosy ancient gothic church, it is settled beside of the Naviglio Grande. It is one of the most picturesque sights of the city. Take a picture with the yellow ancient tramway passing by! The interiors are filled with medieval and early Renaissance frescoes and the intense blue stained glass windows are just so poetic!
*San Francesco da Paola. An elegant baroque church in the central via Manzoni. Great frescoes on the inside. Incredible vault and interesting side chapels.
*San Marco Basilica. It shows the city's second longest nave after the Duomo cathedral. Spectacular and huge interiors, a must see it is definitely the frescoes on the choir and and the apse. You can find here a lot of interesting painting of excellent quality, a free-entrance ancient art gallery.
* Santa Maria dei Miracoli presso San Celso basilica. The facade and the narthex of this basilica are most interesting, realized in mannerist style by the great architect Galeazzo Alessi. The interior in built in a rich baroque style.
*San Fedele church. Very elegant church built in the counter-reformation era. Full of lights and noble materials, it stands near the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.
* Santa Maria del Carmine. An ancient gothic church from XIV century. The neo-gothic facade by architect Maciachini shows the best rose window in the city. Don't miss the spectacular Carmine chapel on the right side of the apse! Absolutely gorgeous!
* San Giuseppe in via Verdi The first baroque church in Milan, from great architect Carlo Maria Richini, the floor decoration is just awesome.
* Santa Maria Incoronata Twin church, contains an ancient fresco by Bergognone. Magical ancient gothic atmosphere.
* Sant'Angelo church very rich interiors decorated with baroque frescoes. It contains paintings from finest baroque milanese painters.thic
* San Pietro in Gessate ancient gothic church, don't miss the Grifi chapel, with renaissance frescoes by Zenale. All the church is pretty full of renaissance precious frescoes and statues.
* San Gottardo in corte Small jewel, this church used to be the Royal Palace chapel and it shows neoclassical interiors and Azzone Visconti's tomb by great sculptor Giovanni di Balduccio (XIV century) and frescoes by the school of Giotto itself.
The bell tower is considered to be the most beautiful in the city, and was planned by Francesco Pecorari.
* San Vincenzo in Prato basilica The only church in Milan to have conserved a plain paleochristian style. Don't miss the whimsey crypt. It dates back to the IX century.
* San Giorgio al Palazzo church Located where once there were the imperial palace of Milan, when the city was roman empire's capital. It shows Luini's lifetime masterpiece: the chapel of the passion.
* Santa Maria Podone church A church from IX century, it contains very important XIV century frescoes, the Renaissance apse frescoes is from Michelino da Besozzo. In front of the church you can find Palazzo Borromeo, from XIV century, one of the oldest in the city.
* San Carlo al Corso church A Neoclassical jewel built in early XIX century. Built as a Rotunda with a marble portico as an entrance, it is one of the biggest dome in Milan. On the inside you'll find a gorgeous coffered dome inspired by the one of the roman Pantheon and very similar to the church of San Francesco da Paola in Naples. The bell tower, 84 meters high, is the tallest in Milan.
Outside of Milan, but well worth the effort to get to are:
* Chiaravalle Abbey A must see! The cloisters and the vault frescoes are just incredibly precious. A beautifully-preserved medieval abbey still run by monks today, 7 km South of Milan, get off at MM3 subway line Rogoredo Station and take a local bus for 3 stops or just simply walk the 1.2km down Via Arialdo (another option is to get off at MM3 subway line Corvetto Station and take local bus number 77 for 8 stops).
* Viboldone Abbey Incredibly beautiful abbey built in gothic style with lots of Giottesque frescoes from XIV century. It is located in San Giuliano Milanese, few km away from Chiaravalle Abbey and accessed by the San Giuliano Metro station, get off and walk directly west 500m along Strada Communale Viboldone.
[url=http://www.ruba.com/place/Castello_Sforzesco-Piazza_Castello_3_20121_Milano_Milan_Lombardie_Italy]The Castello Sforzesco[/url]: Where the Sforza-Visconti ruling families of Milan resided. Later it was the Austrian governor's residence, when Lombardy was part of the Hapsburg empire. It houses several museums. Reachable by subway: MM1 Cairoli - castello Station.
* La Scala Theatre, Via Filodrammatici 2, [http://www.teatroallascala.org/], +39 02 88 79 1. One of the most renowned opera houses in the world. It first opened in 1778 and re-opened in 2004 after extensive renovation. It has seen performances by stars such as Maria Callas and Pavarotti. Reachable by subway: MM1 and MM3 Duomo Station. Tip: There are cheap tickets (10 EUR in 2011) that can be bought for many of the performances. Go latest by noon to the ticket office and ask about them. You will be given a number and noted on a list, and you'll have to go back later to get the tickets.
* Cimitero Monumentale - Milan's old cemetery in Art Nouveau/Liberty style. It is definitely a must see. 250000 square meters of monumental tombs and sculpture makes of it the biggest Art Nouveau museum in the World. It is arguably the most beautiful cemetery in the Planet. It is filled with lavish sculptures, impressive mausoleums and monuments. Well worth a visit! Always visit it with a good camera, remember: the trip's best pictures may be taken here!
* Ca' Granda Old Hospital- now the Public University, once it was a Renaissance hospital built by the Renaissance genius Filarete. It is one of the most interesting renaissance public building in Europe. Don't miss a visit to the gorgeous cloisters.
* La Rotonda della Besana - An 18th Century Neoclassical complex. It is now an exhibition space.
* Palazzo Clerici- one of the finest "palazzo Gentilizio" in Milan, it shows the amazing "mirror gallery" with a vault painted by the great artist Tiepolo.
* Palazzo Litta- very elegant baroque palace filled with frescoes. Interesting sculptured main portal you can corso Magenta near San Maurizio church.
* Palazzo Marino- the finest courtyard in the city. Built in mannerist style, it is perhaps the city's most amazing palace.
* Palazzo Serbelloni- one of the most beautiful neoclassical palaces of Milan, settled in Corso Venezia.
* Palazzo Rocca Saporiti- another huge neoclassical palace along Corso Venezia neoclassical district.
* Palazzo Bolagnos- Known also as Palazzo Visconti da Grazzano or Palazzo Visconti di Modrone, is considered to be the most beautiful Rococo palace in Milan, very beautiful is the elliptical courtyard.
* Palazzo Borromeo one of the most ancient palaces in Milan and dateing back to the XIII century. The Gothic courtyard and main portal are very important. It also contains medieval frescoes.
* Palazzo Fontana Silvestri built between XII and XIV century, it used to show decorations on the facade by Donato Bramante. Very beautiful are the Renaissance main portal and the elegant courtyard.
* Palazzo Dugnani Rococò palazzo containing many frescoes, two of them painted by Tiepolo.
* Palazzo Durini built in XVII century by architect Richini. The portal is a masterpiece.
* Villa Simonetta- A renaissance palace with a very harmonical facade composed by three orders of columnades
* Palazzo Cusani- Roman baroque palace in Milan, dating back to the XVII century
* Palazzo Arcivescovile- One of the most imposing courtyard of Milan. Inside you'll find the marvelous San Carlo's frescoed chapel and a very huge collection of paintings. It has been built by Pellegrino Tibaldi and Giuseppe Piermarini.
* Palazzo Sormani- Probably the most beautiful baroque facade of Milan. The back facade is even better.
* Bicocca degli Arcimboldi- Once a rural Renaissance villa built in XV century, now it shows a very important collection of early Renaissance frescoes.
* Arco della Pace- one of the finest neoclassical triumphal arch in Europe, it has been projected by Luigi Cagnola in the early XIX century to celebrate Napoleon's victory. It is located in Sempione park, at the opposite side of the castle.
* Porta Ticinese- another neoclassical City Gate projected by Luigi Cagnola.
* Porta Romana- the original XVI century Gate of the city walls.
* Arena Civica- neoclassical arena built by great architect Luigi Cagnola in 1807. It is located in Sempione park.
* Casa Campanini- one of the best palazzo built in Milan according the Art Nouveau/Stile Liberty fashon of early XX century. The portal is a masterpiece.
* Casa Galimberti- Very decorated exterior, with painted ceramic panels and ironwork balconies.
* Casa Laugier- an elegant attempt to unify exuberant Stile Liberty with the classicist issue of the Milanese Tradition. Very interesting the carvings and the chromatic effect.
* Casa Guazzoni- the most exhuberant Stile Liberty building in Milan. The ironwork balconies are just extraordinary.
* Villa Necchi Campiglio- one of Piero Portaluppi's masterpieces. A manifesto of the Novecento architectural style. Really a must see XX century monumental house rich of contemporary paintings.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele - The mother of all shopping malls: upscale shops in a splendid 19th century palace of a mall, with a stunning mosaic floor, and wonderful glass roof and cupola. Contains boutiques such as Louis Vuitton and Prada, a silverware store called Bernasconi, and eating places such as the Zucca in Galleria, Biffi or a Gucci cafe (and loads more, notably art galleries, fashion boutiques, bookstores and restaurants). At Christmas time, it becomes an enchanting place, with beautiful lights and glitzy decorations. For real Milanese cheap food, go to Luini for a Panzerotti on nearby Via San Radegonda. Get off at the Duomo station.
* Piazza del Duomo - the grandest square in the city, the Piazza del Duomo is the cultural and social heart of Milan, and contains several of its most famous sights. Of course, the majestic cathedral and classy Galleria are there, but there also is the Royal Palace, a fine 18th century building which is currently an art exhibition centre, and several big, austere, old buildings. The street, with its huge lights, enormous statue of King Victor, huge buildings, and dark floor does at first sight seem quite overwhelming and overly majestic, but with its lovely cafes, top-quality restaurants and shops, constant flow of pigeons, and the presence of people make it an extremely appealing and interesting place. Since lots of the main streets and sights are or are routed from this place, you can't really miss it. It is reached by the Duomo metro station.
* Piazza Mercanti - a truly enchanting and tiny medieval square, hidden by the grand palaces in the central part of Milan. Here, in "Merchants' Square" you get lovely Gothic and Renaissance-porticoed houses, and a well right in the middle. At Christmas time, it fills up with markets selling local produce, including mouth-watering panettone, sweets, bonbons and souvenirs. Reachable easily via Duomo or Cordusio subway stations.
*Cinque Vie historical district Really a must see! It is the most ancient part of Milan, enclosed by via Meravigli, piazza Cordusio, via Orefici, via del Torchio, via Circo, via Cappuccio and via Luini. the Cinque Vie it's a five street crossing: via Sant'Orsola, via Santa Marta, via del Bollo, via Bocchetto and via Santa Maria Fulcorina. This crossing it is at the center of this district that it is the best preserved in the city. It is where the original Roman Imperial era Milan was settled, with the ancient located in piazza San Sepolcro. In this area you'll find lots of roman archeological sites, like the one dedicated to the circus, the theater, the imperial palace and the imperial coin. In this area you'll find lots of ancient churches, like Santa Maria alla Porta (Baroque jewel, facade by Richini), San Sebastiano civic temple, San Giorgio al Palazzo, Santa Maria Podone, San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, the Archeological Museum and its ancient roman wall tower, San Sepolcro and San Sisto.
* Piazza Belgiojoso - a small, yet very impressive square, which hosts the magnificent neoclassical Belgiojoso Palace, built by Milanese noblemen in the late 1700s, and the House of Manzoni, where notable Italian writer and literary figure Alessandro Manzoni lived, and which today hosts a library and the Centro Nazionale di Studi Manzoniani (National Centre of Manzoni-related studies). Reachable via Montenapoleone station.
* Biblioteca Ambrosiana - Historical library with treasures such as Leonardo Atlantic Codex.
* Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense [url=http://www.mediabrera.it/]]- A library established in 1770 by the Austrian governor. It has since acquired other historical collections and the archives of RAI (Italy's state television). It is very active in organising workshops and debates on new media and new technologies.
* Via della Spiga is a lovely and classy little cobblestone street, with some beautiful ancient buildings. The street and its neighborhood are more famous for the center of high-class shopping, where almost every luxury brand can be found. A short walk from the MM1 San Babila metro stop.
* Corso Vittorio Emanuele - near to the Duomo, this is one of the most popular high street shopping arteries in the city. It has a very elegant modern appearance, but too has some well-preserved grand 18th and 19th century buildings, including the wonderful rotunda-like neoclassical church of San Carlo al Corso. The Corso contains some great retail stores, including big shopping centres, fashionable outlets, and youthful, sporty designer boutiques. Can be reached relatively closely either by Duomo metro station or that of San Babila. It is pedestrian.
* Via Montenapoleone is Milan's top high fashion shopping street. It contains many of the biggest names in fashion, and some of the trendiest and famous emporia and designer stores in the world. Today, despite containing mainly fashion boutiques, there are also a some jewellery shops and cafes scattered here and there. Reachable via Montenapoleone or San Babila metro stations.
* Via Dante - one of the grandest and most frequented fashionable high streets in Milan. The Via Dante, named after the poet, is a beautiful and debonair pedestrian avenue which goes from the busy Piazzale Cordusio, all the way to the Largo Cairoli, just in front of the city castle. With loads of street vendors, restaurant and cafe tables, and oftenly, street art, glamorous boutiques and often bustling with people, it's great for anyone who wants to get to the Sforzesco Castle, but who also wants to do some high-class shopping, observe at some glorious Milanese palaces, and possibly sip at a coffee in one of the many open-air bars. It also contains the Piccolo Teatro, a renowned local theatre. Via Dante can be reached by the "Cordusio" metro station, or that of "Cairoli", at either side of the street. At times, especially Christmas and some of the holidays, it can be chokingly filled with locals, shoppers and tourists.
* Via Manzoni is an impressive refined-air street lined with aristocratic apartment blocks and opulent churches. It also hosts the Poldi Pezzoldi museum. Today, it is also one of the city's premier shopping streets, and is noted for containing the Armani Megastore. It is very close to La Scala opera house. Reachable via Montenapoleone metro station. The street can also be reached via tram.
* Corso di Porta Venezia is considered one of the finest and most beautiful streets in the city. Right near the glitzy Montenapoleone area, it is flanked by a series of beautiful villas, museums and palazzi, from all eras. It also contains parts of the Giardini Pubblici, an old and leafy garden and park. On addition to being an aristocratic-aired place, today, several elegant boutiques have opened up here, so it's great for both sight-seeing and designer shopping. Best station to reach it is that of Palestro right in the middle, but San Babila and P.ta Venezia are within decent walking distance.
* Corso Magenta is an elegant and aristocratic street in the north-western part of Milan. It contains sophisticated cafes and shops, and also some fine, mainly Baroque, palaces, notably the Palazzo Litta, one of the best examples of 18th century Milanese architecture, and also a place in which Napoleon I spent some time. Metro stations Conciliazione, Cadorna, Cairoli and Cordusio are the closest to the avenue. The famous Santa Maria delle Grazie church and convent, where Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper can be found, is very close to the Corso.
* Piazza Cadorna is a medium-sized, normal square in central Milan with the funky modern North Station and some fine buildings, but notably a set of peculiar modern sculptures in the middle. Reachable via the Cadorna FN station
* Piazza Duca d'Aosta is a very big, relatively modern and busy square in the north-east of Milan, famous for hosting the city's majestic central station, and the Pirelli skyscraper. The Piazza is generally bustling with people, and is at the heart of Milan's economic and business district. It is where you'll end up if you need to go to the central station, but it is also a good place to go because it boasts some excellent examples of post-Second World War modern architecture, such as the Pirelli building, and some elegant hotels, such as the Hotel Excelsior Gallia. To go here, hop off the Centrale F.S metro station, which is the closest (Caiazzo and Zara are relatively close too).
* Piazza della Repubblica is a modern and very busy square north-west of Milan. It contains some of the most important office blocks and company buildings in the country, and boasts some good examples of 1950s and 60s Italian architecture. The square in itself is an important one for transportation, and contains some grand hotels. It is also close to the Piazza Duca d'Aosta and the city Central station. Hop off at the Repubblica metro station, right in the middle of the square. Close stations include P.ta Venezia, Turati and Centrale F.S., which are, within a mediumly long walking distance.
* Torre Velasca is a tall, huge, castle-like skyscraper built in the 1950s, and one of the first in Italy. Stunning modern architecture. Closest metro stations in order are Missori and Crocetta.
* Piazzale Cordusio is a central and busy square in Milan, right near the Duomo. It boasts some grand and beautiful late-19th century architecture. Once, and to some extent still today, it was an economic hub of the city, with the headquarters of several companies, and big banks and postal offices. To be reached via Cordusio station, or, the slightly further Duomo.
* Corso Buenos Aires is one of the longest shopping streets in Italy and Europe. It is a large avenue, who, at first, is quite old, but the buildings gradually become newer further along. Today, it contains loads, loads and loads of shops, such as Swarovsky, H&M, Milano House of Cashmere, Calzedonia, Outlet, United Colors of Benetton, Adidas, Nike, Calvin Klein, Zara, Luisa Spagnoli, and a good number more. Since the Corso Buenos Aires is so long, you have the P.ta Venezia and Loreto stations at either side, and the Lima one more or less in the middle.
* Porta Ticinese and the surrounding area is a very old-fashioned quarter nearly untouched by WWII bombings. At night Milanese people like to have a walk near Colonne di San Lorenzo (S.Lawrence's columns).
* Piazza San Babila is a busy and modern square just north of the cathedral and near the city's fashion district. Architecturally, Piazza San Babila's buildings are virtually all Art-Deco office blocks from the 1930s, but it has a trendy business and cosmopolitan feel to it, and despite being very modern, boasts a very old sight, San Babila, a tiny, pretty, Romanesque church standing shadowed away by the huge modern skyscrapers. Piazza San Babila also contains numerous banks, post offices, fast-food restaurants and today also a touch of some funky designer stores too. Conveniance wise, it's a great place to go, because it connects the Montenapoleone shopping area, with the more central Duomo zone. It can be reached via the Via Montenapoleone, the Corso Vittorio Emanuele or the Corso di Porta Venezia. To visit it, one may stop at the San Babila metro station, right in the middle of the piazza.
* Piazza del Liberty is a small square, which however, is noted for a stunning Art Nouveau palace today called the Hotel del Corso, but once the Trianon. You reach it just off a tiny opening at the beginning of the Corso Vittorio Emanuele. The closest station is Duomo, but San Babila is a decent distance too.
*Piazza Della Scala - The location of the Statue of Leonardo Da Vinci and La Scala theatre. It is a small, but grand square flanked by fine palaces, such as the city hall and the commercial and the bank. Great place for a photograph and right next to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Ticket office is underground in the Duomo Metropolitana stop.
*I Navigli - Once the hubs of the city's commercial life (the industrial canals), after years of abandonment, these pretty and "quintessentially Milanese" places are currently the location where many night spots are open until late, and today, there is a nice mix of old-world ancient shops and cafes, and funky bars and fashion boutiques. I Navigli (or The Canals) consist of Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese. On the last Sunday of every month there is an antiques market along the Naviglio Grande.
*San Siro Stadium [url=http://www.sansiro.net/]]- The famous stadium of Milan, home to AC Milan and Internazionale, two of the most famous and successful football(soccer) clubs in Italy. Terminal point of tram 16 or a 20 min walk from M1 Lotto metro stop.
*Leonardo's Horse [http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il_Cavallo_di_Leonardo/[/url] - A bronze sculpture realised according to an original project of Leonardo da Vinci. It is on the courtyard of the race-track of San Siro, just behind the Stadium. The race-track is open on race days but the courtyard is open everyday.
Despite not having as much greenery as some cities, Milan offers several parks and gardens, scattered all over the city.
* Sempione park is a big space of green land right behind the Sforzesco castle, and one of the most famous and popular in the city. Designed in like a neoclassical landscape garden, there are loads of features - such as a lake, an arch called the Arco della pace (arch of peace), a Roman-style sports' amphitheatre, a tower (which today hosts the Just Cavalli Hollywood), and several interesting features. It's a lovely leafy place to enjoy a walk at any time of the year. Reachable via Cairoli, Lanza, Cadorna or Moscova metro stations depending on what side of the park one refers to.
* Giardini pubblici (public gardens) is an old 18th century park complex in the Montenapoleone/Porta Venezia district, designed in an English Romantic garden style. Inside, you can find rockeries, water features, fountains, statues and monuments, and other interesting features. You also get a planetarium, a natural history museum, and on the other side of the Palestro street, you can also find an opulent Royal villa which today hosts a contemporary art collection within grand ornate halls. Reachable via P.ta Venezia, Turati or Palestro metro stations. The gardens are in an excellent position since they're quie near to the Duomo and Brera district, and extremely close to the Montenapoleone street and the glamorous shopping area around it.
* Giardini della Guastalla (gardens of the Guastalla) are amongst Milan's oldest (founded in the 16th century), but quite small gardens, and are very close to the University district. The parks, however, were only opened to the public in the early 20th century. You can have a nice walk inside, and you also have a classical Temple-like structure and also a sort of pond with a Baroque railing surrounding it. Reachable via Crocetta, P.ta Romana, Missori or even San Babila metro stations. It's also not that far from the Duomo.
In the last several years, Milan has established a local version of the Aperitivo or Happy Hour. Italians drink very moderately and "happy hour" is not a drinking, but a social event.
Roughly from 7PM to 9PM, many bars offer drinks and cocktails at a fixed price (€5-8 each), accompanied by free all-you-can-eat buffets with snacks, pastas, and many other small appetizers. But be careful not to confuse "aperitivo" with "free dinner". It's a snack to be enjoyed with a drink. Italians will immediately see you as a buffoon- and it's seen as tacky to fill up on finger food for dinner, although it's common to spot them doing so.
A great place to go is the Straf Hotel [url=http://www.straf.it/concept_eng.htm]]near the Duomo. A whole lot of these places can be found in the area near the Colonne di san Lorenzo and Corso di porta Ticinese, or close by in the Navigli area (subway: MM2 Porta Genova Station). You can also take the #3 tram to "Ventiquattro" stop. From Porta Ticinese (the large archway), head west into the canal area of Navigli. There are great restaurants for aperitivo in this area, including:
La Ringhiera: Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 5
Slice: Via Cardinale Ascanio Sforza, 9
Mas: Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 11
Another great area for aperitivo, not far from Duomo, is Corso Buenos Aires.
Around this area you can find cool cocktail bars like:
b:free cocktail bar [http://www.bfreecocktailbar.com[/url]: Via Lecco, 21 (close to Porta Venezia metro stop)
The Eat-Mi guide available on www.eatmi.it is useful for tourists that want to taste typical Italian cuisine.
At the Osteria del Gnocco Fritto, the €4.50 cover charge includes baskets of fried hand-size pastries (similar to sopapillas) accompanied by meats, cheeses, or jams (€8 to €11). Osteria del Gnocco Fritto has two locations: at Via Pestalozzi, 16, 02 8912.2631 and off the Grand Canal at Via Pasquale Paoli, 2, 02 5810.0216.
The Osteria dei Formaggi on the Grand Canal (Alzaia Naviglio Grande, 54, 02 8940 9415) serves all manner of excellent cheese dishes in an intimate dining room heavily decorated with cows.
[url=http://www.peck.it/]*Peck[/url], Via Victor Hugo 4, +39 02 861040. Foodies in the Duomo area should not miss this place. It is the [url=http://www.deandeluca.com] Dean and Deluca[/url] of Milan, a gorgeous food shop that stocks the finest of just about everything. The prices are high, but since everything is counter service, you can graze a wide variety of delicacies for your money. Speaking of counter service, there is a special way to buy things at Peck. First, you order from the counter. They give you a little receipt. Once you have collected all your receipts, you pay at one of two registers. Then, you return to each of the counters you visited, where the staff have wrapped your treats exquisitely. To save 10%, go to the side-store of Peck 11:30-12:00. The restaurant is called Italian Bar which can be found by asking inside original Peck store, or go outside of Peck and walk left, turn right at the first small ally and the entrance is under the red tent.
*Chandelier is an eclectic, artsy restaurant, decorated with ornate Neoclassical and Baroque chandeliers (including cascading crystal ones), Rococo-style mirrors, swanky elaborate sofas, 1950s art, and generally colourful décor, which serves international, European, but mainly Mediterranean foods. Dishes such as spaghetti and gnocchi, risotto, scampi, salmon, steak, beef, and for dessert, different fruits, Tiramisu, mousse, and chocolate cake can be found on the menu. If you want to, you can also be brought to the Chandelier in a specifically designed limousine.
*Opened in 1867, the Savini is a fancy and well-established restaurant inside the magnificent Galleria, serving meals such as Milanese-style risotto, spaghetti and ravioli, meat cutlet, lamb and beef, different forms of fish, warmly-made Tirmisu, and other forms of desserts including chocolate cake and tart with strawberries.
*Boeucc', Piazza Belgioioso 2, Scala, Milan, tel 02/76020224. Milan's oldest restaurant is still traditional homemade cooking that is as fresh and tasty as the day it opened. Great for a special occasion, dessert is served on a special tea cart where they are shown to you before you decide, now try get out of having dessert! Even though the dessert are splendid, they are a bit pricy, so keep that in mind before you pick your dessert.
*Da Abele, Via Temperanza 5, Loreto, Milan. Renowned for its risottos, which change seasonally, Da Abele has a relaxed atmosphere and place that is always packed with locals.
*Il Brellin, Vicolo dei Lavandai, Navigli, Milan, tel 02/89402700. For a classic take on Milanese cooking, try Ill Brellin, where you can choose from homey classics such as rigatoni sautéed with pancetta, to modern interpretations on typical ingredients -- a pumpkin tart as an appetizer. Outdoor seating makes this a perfect choice on a sunny day, although it is closed for dinner on Sundays.
*Found inside the Torre Branca in the big, leafy Sempione park, the Just Cavalli Hollywood was the brainchild of Roberto Cavalli, the fashion designer. It was recently rennovated in 2009-10. For beginners, one can find cheese, tuna tartar, Parma ham, and caviar, and for the main course, you can eat dishes of spaghetti, risotto, small gnocchi with crab, different forms of seafood, veal, steak, and different forms of salads. It also contains some dance floors and three bars.
*La Terraza, Via Palestro 2, Quadrilatero, Milan, tel 02/76002277. For a Meditteranean take on Japanese cuisine, head to La Terraza which serves fusion food amongst a contemporary decor. During the summer months, everyone heads to the terrace, where you can see the treetops of the nearby Giardini Pubblici. There's a "happy hour" every day except Sunday; on Sunday, brunch is served.
*A 2 Michelin-star rated restaurant near the famous La Scala theatre, themed and owned by the well-known Italian fashion house, Il Trussardi Alla Scala has a spacious modern interior, and serves several interesting dishes. It is very close to the Café Trussardi.
*Opened in 1867, it is an old fashioned restaurant/cafe in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, surrounded by a plethora of interesting shops, which serves drinks, and foods such as spaghetti, veal, steak, fish, and desserts such as chocolate Sacher, Tiramisu, ice cream and fruit salads. The waiters serve in the formal white gloves.
*Part of Japanese restaurant chain serving sushi with South American influences in Armani-themed surroundings. Apart from sushi, dishes such as ceviche, spicy tuna, different soups, lobster, seaweed, salmon, or different forms of vegetables and meat (and several others) are on the menu, and you can find desserts such as carrot cakes, tea ice creams, chocolates, exotic fruits, or different, both European and oriental plates. You also get sake and champagne.
*A refined restaurant from 1899 serving meals such as mozzarella, Parma ham, mussels, salad, Milanese-style risotto, spaghetti, soup, beef, chicken, scampi.
If you would like to eat something on the budget perfect places you can fine in I Navigli. One of the places is Antica Osteria Briosca Via Ascanio Sforza,13 Milan. They do Buffet every night 18.00-22.00 for 8 euro inc. 1 drink (bottle of water, glass of wine, beer). Food is realy good and they have choice of vegetarian options.
In bars you can enjoy great caffè espresso, cappuccino and a brioche for as little as €2. At bars in the Duomo and San Babila areas, breakfast can be very expensive if you sit down. If in doubt go to the bar and eat there, you'll pay what the Italians do- and they will admire your audacity too.
Milan, as a big city, is filled with several different forms of fast-foods, from the foreign giants and national chains, to independantly-owned take-aways and sandwich bars. Most fast-food restaurants are found in the Duomo, Buenos Aires and central station areas, as these are the most crowded and busy ones in the city. In the Piazza Duomo and Galleria, one can find international fast-foods such as McDonald's and Burger King (McDonald's Doughnut was just awesome! Dont miss that.), but Italian chains such as Autogrill are found too. Such Italian fast-food chains, such as Spizzico, Ciao and Autogrill can be found all over the city. There are several Ciao outlets in places such as no. 12 Corso Europa or no. 54 Via Montebianco, and for McDonald's, you get a restaurant in the Piazza del Duomo and Galleria, and also some in the Corso Buenos Aires, plus some others in places such as Corso Vercelli or Piazzale Lotto. Other fast-foods which can be found in Milan include Garbagnati (Cordusio metro station) which is a self-service restaurant and bakery, which has several vegeterian courses, or the Luini (Duomo metro station, on Via Santa Radegonda - throughout the same metro exit) which is a restaurant which is famous for making Southern Italian-style pieces of dough with mozzarella and tomatoes inside.
Although Milan cannot claim to be the birthplace of pizza, (that claim belongs to Naples), you can still find good pizzas in Milan. The best areas for pizza are near Marghera street, at the end of Vercelli Avenue, and on the Navigli, on Brera. Expect to pay €8-15 for a pizza and a beer.
If you are in the Northeast area, there are many little pizzerias on viale Fulvio Testi (the northern extension of viale Zara) in the Greco area, of which an excellent choice is Pizzeria De Pino. Ask for John Luca, and don't miss the lasagne. Here you may also get homemade Mirto (as you can at many other places). The prices are very reasonable in these establishments; expect to pay about €4-5 for pizza and €3-4 for beer. These places are where the locals eat, they are very friendly and helpful but few speak anything but Italian. Take the phrase book with you.
Another restaurant on the viale Fulvio Testi that is a real recommendation is Pizzeria De Bassié. They offer really good homemade pizzas and especially their special "Adriano" pizza is a really good option!
In Milan, pizza is often eaten with a knife and fork, but of course eating with one's hands is possible and welcome. Most people do both.
Watch out for frozen pizza in Milan (it usually states it on the menu). Always check the restaurant has a wood burning oven and that they are using it.
Pizza Fashion near the Centrale train station is good choice and they also do takeaway dessert if you're running to catch your train.
*Nice and cozy pizzeria with great, quite thick and large pizza slices. You can choose your toppings and after a few minutes you'll get your slice. Wood burning oven and loads of Mozzarella.
*Nice pizza in a small restaurant with very economic prices.
In summer enjoy gelato, an excellent Italian ice cream. The quality mark "gelato artigianale" indicates gelaterias that produce their own ice creams, without industrial processing.
Bakeries are open every day, you can enjoy great and inexpensive bread-related food, such as pizza and focaccia. You can find a bakery almost everywhere in Milan, even in the Duomo area, and is a good alternative to bars for a fast lunch.
There is much confusion regarding tipping in Italy. Italians do not typically leave tips any more at restaurants. In touristy locations there will often be a line (a recent trend) left blank for a tip to be added. Just draw a line through it and leave a few Euros. Never leave tips at bar counters.
Milan has a great variety of places where you can have fun. A great starting point is Como Avenue (Corso Como), near Garibaldi Station, full of bars and glamorous clubs. In the summertime, this street is packed with young and attractive people.
Another place where you can go is Navigli quarter, near Porta Ticinese Avenue and XXIV Maggio Square, where you can find a lot of small pubs, open air cafes and restaurants by the water canals (navigli). In many pubs and bars you can find a free booklet named Zero2 which is a guide to Milan Nightlife: if you don't know what to do or where to go, do grab one!
Other popular night spots with bars and people are viale Monte Nero (on Wednesday it's packed with people in the piazza in front of a bar called "Momo"), Piazzale Susa (and Citta' Studi area). Nights are overwhelmingly crowded at the Colonne di San Lorenzo (not far from Navigli quarter), and in the cozy Latin-quarter of Brera. Another good spot is the pedestrian part of Corso Sempione near the "Peace Arch" (Arco della Pace).
There are bars and clubs open all week long but usually few people go out at night on Mondays or Tuesdays, the vast majority prefer to have fun on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. However, Wednesday night appears to be one of the coolest to go out in stylish VIP-frequented clubs.
Milan has an alternative club scene, with a few crews making electronic music parties outside clubs. Ultracheap, every time in a different location (lofts, warehouses, farms, pools, city parks) those kind of parties attract people aged 20-28. The biggest one is called RESET! [http://www.wearereset.com]and attracts 1500-2000 people once a month
Although Milan has a variety of bars, clubs, restaurants and venues for gay and lesbian travellers, many only operate one night a week. Choosing from one of the "mainstays" below and asking anyone where to go should lead you in the right direction.
Also, venues are not concentrated in one area of town, but rather spread throughout the city.
Foreign travelers are often confused by the ARCI card regime that is required for entry into many clubs. It's a relic from the times of police raids that has now conferred tax benefits on these private club owners. No need to fear-- just show up and purchase one at any of the clubs. You MUST bring some ID or you cannot purchase one.
* Wednesday and Thursday nights hosts a gay crowd at L'Elephant (Via Lecco, subway: MM1 Porta Venezia Station).
* Thursdays aperitivo at Hotel Straf near Duomo is well worth a look.
* Friday nights at Rolling Stone disco (a huge one, Corso XXII Marzo, in the centre but reachable by taxi, tram or #73 bus).
* Saturday nights at Billy or Amnesia (viale Forlanini near Linate airport, reachable by taxi or #73 bus) or BinarioUno disco (via Plezzo, subway: MM2 Lambrate) or Black Hole (former lesbian club).
* On Sunday nights, hundreds flock to the largest and classiest spot in town, the Borgo del Tempo Perso (via Fabio Massimo, subway: MM3 Porto di Mare) (open year-round although outdoor area open May-Sept only).
Cruising clubs such as the "Flexo" and "Depot" are hugely popular in Italy, perhaps even more so than saunas.
The best saunas in 2008 include Metro (via Schiaparelli near the Central Station, subway: MM2 and MM3 Centrale Station) and Royal Hammam (near BinarioUno club, via Plezzo, subway: MM2 Lambrate Station), mostly packed during the weekend especially at night as they are open 24 hours.
Open air meeting places such as Parco Nord, the gardens behind Cadorna station or Ortomercato are not recommended (criminals and hustlers). The safest way to cruise is to take the late night metro and get into the second-last coach, which is usually occupied by the gays and lesbians.
All these have ensuite facilities, shower, bath, WC, TV in room, 24 hour lobby.
* Ambrogio Hotels Milan - Via Mazzini, 8 - 20123 Milan, Italy [url=http://www.ambrogiohotelsmilano.com/]]Telephone +39 06 4828374 • Fax +39 06 4828374. The Ambrogio hotels is a group of three star accommodations located in the centre of Milan. Large choice of bedrooms with private bath, shower, free wi-fi and breakfast included. Double rooms from 55 Euros.
*
* Ariston Hotel Milan - Largo Carrobbio, 2 - Cap: 20123, Milan, Italy. [url=http://www.hotelaristonmilan.com/[/url].]Telephone +39 02 72000556 • Fax +39 02 72000914. The Ariston is a three star hotel with 52 bedrooms (single, double and triple), private parking, a wine bar, a breakfast hall and a conference room able to host up to 25 people. Among the other services, the Hotel Ariston Milan also offers private bath, satellite TV, free internet access and a bike service, since the Ariston Hotel of Milan is an ecological accommodation. Average rates: singles €160, doubles €230.
*Admiral Hotel, Via Domodossola, 16, 20131, +39 02 3492151, (Fax: +39 02 33106660). 3 km northwest of Duomo, in front of Fiera Milano City exhibition centre. Singles from €130. Doubles from €180.
* Ambasciatori Hotel Milan, Galleria del Corso 3, 20122, 0039 02 76020241, ([mailto:booking@ambasciatorihotel.it[/url], Fax: 0039 02 782700), [url=http://www.hotel-milan-ambasciatori.com/].]300 metres from the Duomo. Singles from €190, doubles from €260.
* Hotel Cristallo Milan - Via Domenico Scarlatti, 22 - 20124 Milan, Italy [url=http://www.hotelcristallomilano.com/[/url]]Telephone +39 02 29517555 • Fax +39 02 29526129. The Cristallo is a 3 star hotel of Milan with a wide selection of double and triple guest rooms and services, including private bath, TV, direct telephone, Wi-Fi internet access, toiletries, air conditioning and breakfast buffet included. Doubles: from 50 Euros.
* Four star hotel situated 100m away from the station, 2km from the duomo. Single room from 89EUR, double room from 116EUR(low season of 2009).
*Brunelleschi Hotel Milan, Via Baracchini, 12, 20123, +39 02 88431, (Fax: +39 02 804924), [url=http://www.hotelbrunelleschi.net[/url].]The Hotel Brunelleschi Milan is a reputable 4 Star in the centre of Milan close to the Duomo and La Scala Theatre. Prices range from €100 upwards.
* Dieci Hotel Milan - Largo Rio de Janeiro, 12 - 20133 Milan, Italy [url=http://hoteldiecimilan.com/[/url].]Telephone +39 02 70608180 • Fax +39 02 26684206. The Dieci is a four star hotel of Milan located close to the Piola Metro stop, in the north-east part of the city. The 29 guest rooms are divided in single, double and triple, with en-suite services, satellite TV, internet connection and mini bar. 150 Euros for a double room, breakfast included.
*Hotel Amadeus, Via Vitruvio, 48, 02 6692141, (Fax: 02 66713291), [url=http://amadeus.hotelsinmilan.it/main_en.html[/url].]Really close to the Centrale station. The average rates are €80 but weekend rates for a single room can drop to as low as €42.
*Hotel Ariston, Largo Carrobbio 2, +39 02 7200055, (Fax: +39 02 72000914), [url=http://www.aristonhotel.com/[/url].]In Milan, at 5 minutes from the Duomo and from Navigli, Hotel Ariston is a great welcoming place. Designed with bio-architectural principles in mind. Average rates: singles €160, doubles €230.
* Hotel Auriga Milan - Via Pirelli 7 - Cap: 20124, Milan, Italy. [url=http://www.auriga-milano.com/[/url].]Telephone +39 02 66985851 • Fax +39 02 66980698. The Auriga is a four star hotel located right in front of the central train station of Milan. This accommodation presents 52 bedrooms divided in single (76 euros), double/twin (89 euros) and triple (119 euros). All with private bath, shower, TV and internet connection.
*Hotel Bernina, Via Napo Torriani 27, 20124, +39 02 66988022, (Fax: +39 02 6702964), [url=http://www.hotelbernina.com/en/index.htm[/url].]Hotel Bernina is situated in the most comfortable and strategic zone of Milan, both for those interested in visiting the city, as for those who are in Milan on business. A stroll from the Central Station, this welcoming hotel in Milan is well connected to all the most interesting sites in the city. Single room from €55, Double from €75.
*Hotel Bonola, Via Torrazza 15, +39 02 381 017 46, (Fax: +39 02 381 017 86), [url=http://www.hotelbonola.com[/url].]Hotel Bonola is close to the freeway exits (the Tangenziale Ovest exit "Viale Certosa" is 1 km away), "Rho-Pero", the new trade show centre and Mazdapalace the historical trade show centre. Singles from €40, Double from €60.
*Hotel Canova, Via Napo Torriani 15, 0266988181, (Fax: 0266713433), [url=http://www.hotelcanova.com/[/url].]Singles €51 doubles €68 cheapest booked via an intermediary, more expensive direct. Parking €20 per night, or use cheaper local garage. Excellent location near Stazione Centrale and low price.
*Hotel Casa Mia, Viale Vittorio Veneto, 30 (corner P.zza Repubblica), +39.02.6575249, (Fax: +39 02 6552228), [url=http://www.casamiahotel.it[/url].]Just 15 minutes walk to the Duomo and 10 minutes to Via Montenapoleone, small and attentive. Average prices: single rooms €65, doubles €90, triples €120.
*Hotel Fenice, Corso Buenos Aires, 2, +39 02 29525541, (Fax: +39 02 29523942), [url=http://www.hotelfenice.it[/url].]The Hotel Fenice is in a perfect location: just a short distance from Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and the fashion stronghold with its famous boutiques. Singles from €65, Double from €100 night.
*Hotel Florence, Piazza Aspromonte, 22, 20100, +39 02 2361125, (Fax: +39 02 26680911) [url=http://www.hotelflorence.it/en/index.htm[/url].]The Hotel Florence is in a central area of Milan, easily reached from the Centrale station, with excellent public transport services (subway, street cars and buses) and full of attractions. Single rooms from €45, Doubles from €75.
*Hotel Galles, Piazza Lima, 2, +39 02 204841, (Fax: +39 02 2048422), [url=http://www.galles.it/en/index.htm[/url].]The Hotel Galles is the ideal solution for a business or pleasure trip in the heart of Milan. Singles from €75, Queen size bed from €92, parking €21 per night.
* Hotel Galileo Milan - Corso Europa 9 - Cap: 20122, [url=http://www.galileohotelmilan.com/[/url].]Telephone +39 02 7743 • Fax +39 02 76020584. A four star hotel with a choice of 89 single, double, triple and VIP rooms, all with private bath. Among the public areas are a bar, restaurant, lounge and reception with free internet connection. Rates include breakfast. 130 euros for single and 140 for a double.
* Hotel Genius Milan - Via Porlezza, 4 - Cap: 20123, Milan, Italy. [url=http://www.hotelgeniusmilan.com/[/url].]Telephone +39 02 72094644 • Fax +39 02 72006950. The Genius Hotel is a three star accommodation which presents 38 bedrooms with private en-suite service. Milan is the Italian fashion and business capital, so the rooms of the Genius also present Wi-Fi Internet connection. The hotel is located between Castello Sforzesco and the Duomo. The rates change according to the season and go from Euros 88 to 99 for a single, and from Euros 120 to 155 for a double.
* Hotel Giulio Cesare Milan - Via Rovello, 10 - 20121 Milan, Italy [url=http://www.giuliocesarehotel.it/[/url]]Telephone +39 02 72003915 • Fax +39 02 72003915. The Giulio Cesare offers 20 bedrooms divided in single, double and triple. All with private en-suite services, shower, satellite TV and free Wi-Fi connection. Great central location between the Sforza Castle and Duomo. Double room rates start from 55 Euros, breakfast included.
*Hotel La Residenza, Via Scialoia 3, +39 02 6461646, (Fax: +39 02 6464268), [url=http://www.residenzahotel.it/[/url].]Single rooms €55, doubles €88, triples €100, quadruples €120.
* Hotel Romana Residence Milan - Corso di Porta Romana 64, 20122, Milan, Italy [url=http://hotelromanaresidence.it/[/url].]Telephone +39 02 583421 • Fax +39 02 58309748. The Romana Residence modern hotel of the historic centre of Milan, located only 250 metres away from the Duomo. All the 66 bedrooms of the Romana Residence Hotel, divided in double, twin, triple, family, junior suite and suite, come with private bath and modern facilities. Some also have a small kitchen, and many face the garden of the hotel. Double and twin rooms: 159 Euros. Breakfast included.
*This hotel is surrounded by many famous monuments and has plenty of activities available. This 4* hotel offers 282 rooms, a restaurant, parking, WiFi and a bar. Rooms start at 103€.
*This hotel is close to Corso Buenos Aires and to the central train station. This 4* hotel is pet-friendly and it offers business services, free buffet breakfast, free wifi.
*Mercure Milan Corso Genova , Via Conca Del Naviglio 20, 02 643 50 03. Singles €60, doubles €70, parking €20 per night.
* The Milan Suite Hotel - Via Varesina 124 - Cap: 20156, Milan, Italy. [url=http://www.milansuitehotel.com/[/url].]Telephone +39 02 33431807. Modern four star hotel located in the north district, well connected to the city centre and Fiera Milano. 40 bedrooms divided in double for single use, suite and junior suite. All the rooms come with en-suite service and the breakfast included. Facilities include two meeting halls, private parking and limousine service. From €80.
*Hotel Catalani e Madrid, Via Catalani 71, +39 02 2846361, (Fax: +39 02 2824930), [url=http://www.hotelcatalaniemadrid.com/[/url].]Single rooms €40, doubles €50, triples €70, quadruples €85.
* Hotel Bagliori - Via Boscovich, 43 20124, Milan, Italy. [http://www.delagare.it[/url]. Telephone +39 02.29526884 . Nearby to Hotel Bagliori in Milan, you can find the metro, buses and trams which easily take you to the Central Station (which can also be reached on foot at a distance of just 650m), the Cathedral and every other part of the city of Milan. Double room from €80.
Hotel Ascot, Via Lentasio, 3, 20122, +39 02 58303300, (Fax: +39 02 58303203), [url=http://www.hotelascotmilano.it/en/index.htm].]In the center of Milan, just a few meters from Corso di Porta Romana and 10 minutes walk from the Duomo and the National University. Single from €83, Double from €124.
*Near Via Montenapoleone, rooftop pool offers views of the Duomo.
*Hotel Lloyd, Corso di Porta Romana, 48 20122, +39 02.58303332, (Fax: +39 02 58303365), [http://www.lloydhotelmilano.it/en/index.htm[/url]. Offers large meeting rooms and a well-being program. Local business, shopping and culture just 10 minutes walk from the hotel. Single rooms from €85, Double from €116.
*Close to La Scala and the Duomo. Each of the 52 rooms has WiFi access and satellite television.