Milan Attractions

The Duomo, Milan's magnificent cathedral, is one of the largest in the world. Its front façade, decorated with a dazzling array of statuary, dominates the cathedral square.

Architect Giuseppe Mengoni's masterpiece, an impressive glass and iron covered arcade, is one of city's most famous attractions. Dubbed Milan's living room, it is always teeming with people.

The Sforzesco Castle has long been a symbol of power from where local and foreign rulers reigned over the city. Today the castle is home to a number of civic museums.

The Santa Maria delle Grazie is a magnificent church, built in a combination of Gothic and Renaissance styles. The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, can be admired in the adjoining refectory.

Milan has a reputation for its stylish fashion and chic boutiques, most of which can be found in the Quadrilatero della Mode, Milan's famous fashion district centered around the Via Montenapoleone.

Teatro alla Scala, also simply known as La Scala, is one of the world's most prestigious opera houses. It was built in 1778 by Giuseppe Piermarini at the site of the Santa Maria della Scala church.

Milan's central station is a monumental structure built between 1912 and 1931 after a design by Italian architect Ulisse Stacchini. The architect took inspiration from the thermal complexes of the Roman Empire.

The Piazza del Duomo is a large square in the heart of Milan, dominated by the magnificent cathedral. An equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II - the first king of Italy - graces the center of the square.

The slender Pirelli Tower was built between 1955 and 1959 as the headquarters of the Pirelli Company. The iconic skyscraper was the first to eclipse the height of the cathedral.

The Pinacoteca di Brera is an art gallery founded in 1809 by Napoleon. Over the centuries the gallery's collection of mostly Italian paintings grew into one of the country's most important art collections.

Originally the site of a hunting ground, the Sempione Park was laid out between 1890 and 1893 in a landscape style. Several historic structures can be found in the park, including a large triumphal arch.

The Corso Venezia is one of the most famous streets in Milan, thanks to the upscale shops and boutiques and the magnificent palazzi that were built here from the 16th to the early 20th century.

Cimitero Monumentale is a large cemetery, with, as its name implies, plenty of monumental tombs. In fact, there are so many quality sculptures and monuments, that it can best be described as an open-air museum.

Piazza Mercanti is a picturesque pedestrianized square in the heart of Milan. The area, which for five centuries was the city's governmental center, has retained much of its medieval charm.

San Lorenzo Maggiore - also known as San Lorenzo alle Colonne - is one of the oldest churches in Italy. The chapel of Sant'Aguilino in the San Lorenzo church is decorated with early 5th century mosaics.

Piazza della Scala is a square named after the Theatro alla Scala, a theater building that overlooks the pedestrianized square. A central monument honors Leonardo da Vinci.

The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana is an art gallery founded in the early 17th century. The gallery is housed in the Palazzo dell'Ambrosiana, which is also home to the famous Ambrosian library.

The Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio is the most important of several churches that were built during the tenure of bishop Ambrose during the 4th century. The remains of several saints, including Ambrose, are buried here.

Navigli, a picturesque and authentic neighborhood in Milan, was once a thriving inland port at the center of a network of canals. The port is long gone, but a couple of canals have survived.

Construction of this triumphal arch, in honor of Napoleon's victories, started in 1807. After the French were ousted in 1814, the Habsburg rulers re-baptised the arch 'Arco della Pace', Arch of Peace.

This English-style landscaped park was creating in the late 18th century by joining several orchards and gardens of monasteries. The park is adorned with statues of leading Milanese figures from the 19th century.

The Torre Velasca was built at the end of the 1950s as one of Milan's first skyscrapers. The tower's unusual shape recalls the medieval watchtowers that were once omnipresent in Lombardy.

The Ca'Granda was built in the 15th century as a large hospital. It was only completed in the 18th century, resulting in a mixture of architectural styles. Today it houses faculties of Milan's university.

The Rotonda della Besana is a beautiful Baroque structure created in the early 18th century. It consists of a petal shaped arcade that encloses a garden with a central church.