Savvy Sightseer - tips and insights for seasoned travelers!
Milan
​Considered the fashion capital of the world - a sculpture of a giant needle and with thread running underground (the knot is visible on the other side of the street) greets visitors to the city, but there is so much more to Milan!
Prada's first store.
Photo by Val Q.
For a panoramic view of the Galleria, click the video below.
Milan is steeped in history. One of its most prominent landmarks is the mighty cathedral or Duomo in the historic city center. Made of marble quarried in nearby Candoglia, the Duomo is the quintessential never-ending project. Completed over several centuries and under the reigns of various ruling families, the Gothic masterpiece is still functioning today. Restrictions are strong – women with exposed shoulders or knees will be turned away at the door, and taking photos inside comes with a price tag.
Commercialism counters Catholicism across the piazza from the Duomo. From La Rinascente, Italy's premiere department store a few steps from the Duomo, is reminiscent of Macy's Manhattan, with lavish displays of expensive high-end wares. But on its 7th floor are treats for every budget - eye treats, that is! The food floor hosts themed edible displays, such as shoes and handbags made entirely of chocolate, as well as other fetching foodstuffs. The outdoor cafe provides a close-up view of the Duomo's intricately carved spires.
Milan's fashionista roots are clear in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, considered the world’s oldest shopping mall. Under its glass and steel vaulted ceiling, Prada (the world's first Prada store!), Louis Vuitton, Gucci all vie for shoppers’ charge cards. The grand tile mosaic floor adds a bit of kitsch to class - urban folklore has it that three full spins with one's heel on the bull’s testicles will ensure a visitor’s return to Milan.
La Galleria stretches from Piazza del Duomo to another famous landmark - Piazza della Scala, home of the world renown La Scala Opera House. The nondescript outside of this venerable performance center does not prepare visitors for the lobby of mirrors and light bathing busts of opera greats Toscanini and Puccini nor the stately grandeur of the velvet encased viewing boxes. An attached museum houses an extensive collection of operatic memorabilia and portraits to delight even the non-opera fan. Outside, one of the greatest Renaissance men of all time stands court with four of his students. Leonardo DaVinci stands pensively frozen in time in the town where he was spent many years under the patronage of the Sforza ruling family. Sforza Castle, Leonardo's home for a time, now houses a variety of museums and showcases some of DaVinci's frescos.
Perhaps the most famous of all DaVinci's work is The Last Supper, on display in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a short distance from Sforza Castle. Reservations for the revered work need to be made well in advance; viewing is limited to 25 tourists for 15 minutes at a time. The experience is well worth the restrictions. (For a different take on The Last Supper, visit the Lake Lugano page.)
Mouse over pictures for more information about each, or click the set to view as a slideshow.
An entirely different sight to see in Milan is the Monumental Cemetery. At the entrance, a sign cautions, "Silenzio." No one needs to tell visitors here to be quiet and respectful; it's a natural reaction to the scene that unfolds after walking through the arched entryway. It may seem odd to add a cemetery to a list of must-sees while on vacation, but this is one not to be missed! Words defy a worthy explanation of what constitutes an outdoor museum of exceptional artistry, so instead take a virtual tour by clicking the video below. If you'd like to see all of my pictures from the Cemetery, visit my Album site.
Continue your trip through Italy with a visit to the Verona, Lake Garda, Lake Como, Lake Lugano or Lake Maggiore pages,
or go back to the Italy home page.
