One day in Milan, the capital of fashion and the football empire. What to see in Milan in one day? Plus Nakhodka - sweets discounter Trading Gallery named after

Summer sales begin in Milan on the first Saturday of July. Discounts are usually around 30%. The best items are sold out in the first 1-2 days of the sale, then only unpopular sizes remain, usually the smallest ones.

Milan also has shops for plus size women. The most popular brands are Persona, Marina Rinaldi and Elena Miro. Slender women will find it easy to find discounted clothes at the Milan outlet Serravalle. See the official website for the address and current sales. If from Milan you are going to travel further through Italy, then do not miss, where all sizes and brands are available.

However, locals and sophisticated tourists in Milan buy the most interesting things at flea markets. These markets offer not only old home furnishings, but also designer clothes at low prices.

For example, on Saturdays the Fiera di Senigaglia market is located.

Did you know that you can get from Milan airport for just 5 euros by booking an online bus transfer.

3. Cafe Milan

After shopping, you should take a break in one of the cafes in Milan. Don't chase any specific restaurants; in Milan you can have a great meal in street cafes - choose with your heart, not with your guidebook. Just keep in mind that in some cafes they charge a surcharge “for the tablecloth” - if you sit down at a table, they add 2-3 euros to the bill, even if you only ordered coffee. Find out this before you place an order.

By the way, from 6 pm to 9 pm, many cafes have an “aperitivo” system (look for it on the sign at the entrance). The bottom line is that during these hours, if you order a drink, you can get free access to the buffet.

Advice “We went - we know”.
For those who love to eat delicious food, we recommend getting acquainted with Milan in Milan, who will guide you through the most “delicious” places in Milan and give valuable advice on how to drink Italian wines correctly and what snacks to pair with them, tell you the most important things about Italian cuisine, types of cheeses and varieties wine

4. Museums... and what to see in Milan for free

After resting and having a snack, you can go to the museum. Milan is an expensive city, but we will help you save big. Look, what you can see in Milan for free:

– The largest statue, made according to the sketches of Leonardo da Vinci “Horse”, can be found at the San Siro Hippodrome.

“The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci: where to watch and how to buy tickets

Leonardo's most mysterious fresco was almost destroyed during the Second World War: a shell hit the monastery, the building was destroyed almost completely, except for the wall on which the painting was depicted.

How to buy tickets to “The Last Supper”? This is the most popular question that tourists ask before traveling to Milan. I’ll tell you right away what to see free “Last Supper” possible, but unlikely. Moreover, even at the official price it is difficult to buy tickets, because tickets are bought up by travel agencies and then resold to tourists. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to just come and buy a ticket at the box office, but it’s worth a try, especially if you happen to be in Milan during the off-season, in November or October. If you're lucky, students and children under 18 are free!

Tickets are sold online at vivaticket.it. Ticket sales begin three months in advance, tickets sell out within the first hour, but there are cancellations, so you can monitor and “catch” a ticket. Ticket price is 10 euros, youth from 18 to 25 – 7 euros. Plus 2 euros booking fee. The total price of a full ticket to “The Last Supper” is 12 euros.
Children under 18 years of age and students only pay a 2 euro booking fee. After purchasing, you need to print what you receive in the mail. With a printout, go to the museum 20 minutes before your visit and show the printout in the window for reserved tickets - the printout will be exchanged for a ticket.

Where can I watch “The Last Supper”? The fresco by Leonardo da Vinci is located near Sempione Park, in the State Museum of Milan in Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie, to the left of the main entrance to the church - on the map. Closed on Monday.

Do you want to feel the real Milan? Then go... walk the streets. Just enjoy looking into shop windows and cafes and soak up this unusual Milanese atmosphere:

The bohemian district of Brera will appeal to creative people. There are many bars, cafes, restaurants and shops. You can wander around for a long time, looking at the shop windows.

An obligatory part of the program for every self-respecting shopaholic is a thoughtful walk along the streets of Montenapoleone and Della Spiga. All prestigious shops are collected in this part of Milan.

6. Parks of Milan

Tired of walking the streets, we go to relax in one of the picturesque parks in Milan. In the parks you can escape the heat in the summer, relax, enjoy the beautiful scenery and watch the locals.

The best parks in the center of Milan: Sempione Park (near the Sforzesco Castle), where there is an aquarium and a tower with an observation deck; as well as the cozy park Giardini Pubblici, which has a planetarium and museum. By the way, here you can not only relax, but also have a snack, sitting comfortably at a table, taking something tasty with you.

An original way to get around the city - a scooter

Wanting to see Milan in 1 day, many people rent a car to see more of everything. However, in Milan it is better to rent a scooter - it’s faster to get around and easier to find parking. In addition, you will get a lot of new impressions...

...and feel like a real Milanese!

Did you know that in Milan you can book a motorcycle excursion with an Italian, and even get a photo session as a gift?

A native Milanese, Matteo, will show you his hometown - there will be no long excursions into history, but you will definitely enjoy a complete immersion in the real Milan, as the locals know and love it - such places are not shown to tourists on banal excursions. Theo will give recommendations for local restaurants and cafes, and will also show the places where the Milanese themselves prefer to eat.
By the way, the Italian Matteo is an experienced motorcyclist who has made a motorcycle trip around the world, and also has an extraordinary sense of humor, so it won’t be boring. He lived in Russia for two years and speaks Russian well. For those who want to get to know Milan for real, look for Theo.

If a car, motorcycle or scooter does not suit you, then public transport will do. At any tourist information office you can purchase a Milano Card for travel on public transport and to receive discounts in museums and cafes. There are cards for 24 hours, 48 ​​hours and 72 hours. See more details.

Or maybe give up on Como?
Matteo also arranges fantastic ones - by car or motorcycle of your choice. Places that tourists don't even know about. If you have more than one day in Milan (at least three!), then be sure to see one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe:

There are many wonderful places in Italy, but let's return to Milan...

How to see Milan in one day

Milan is a big city, so to get to know the city in one day, plan routes in the central part of the city - this is a triangle between the Milan Cathedral (marked with a red marker) and two parks, Sempione and Giardini, as on this map:

To see Milan in 1 day, it is better to start the route from the Milan Cathedral, then go through the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuel to the La Scala Theater and go towards Sempione Park, go to the Sforza Castle, relax in Sempione Park, then take a walk in the Brera area and through the streets and shops walk to Giardini Park. Along the way, choose a museum that you like (see the description and location of museums on the map) - something small, so as not to stand in line.
If this is not your first time in Milan and you want to see something new, try unusual excursions from local Russian-speaking residents:

Where is the best place to stay in Milan?

Milan in 1 day is possible if you choose the right hotel, otherwise a lot of time will be spent on the road.
If you are looking for an inexpensive hotel (in Milan it is up to 100 euros per night), then you need to book at least a month in advance. By booking the same hotel just a day before the trip, the price will be 30-50% higher. In addition, keep in mind that in Milan there is an additional city tax that is paid upon check-in at the hotel (on top of the room price) - when booking, pay attention to the amount of this tax, because room rates may increase from 2 to 10 euros per person per night.

Our favorite places to stay in Milan:

The best budget hotel is the modern B&B Hotel Milano Sant’Ambrogio – within walking distance of all attractions (additional tax 4 euros per person/night) and close to the metro. Bicycles are available for guests to rent.

Apartments in the center - Aparthotel Duomo - are not budgetary, but the price is quite reasonable (additional tax 2 euros per person/night), considering that this is the very center of Milan, the apartments are modern with a thoughtful design and a view of the Duomo, creative people will certainly appreciate it. It's better to take a shower together :) What am I talking about? Try it! Ideal apartment for a romantic weekend in Milan.

What to see in Milan on your own in 1 day. A short guide to the main attractions of the city without public transport. How to get there and where to stay overnight on a budget.

I collected everything that I will describe here from several trips, so don’t be surprised if gloomy autumn photos follow the sunny summer photos.

How to get to Milan

Having purchased tickets to Milan, be sure to check which of the 3 airports you are arriving at in order to properly organize your transfer.

1. : The main airport receiving mainly international flights. You can leave the airport by bus and train from 8€ by purchasing tickets or for 80€.
2. accepts domestic and private flights. It’s cheaper to travel by city bus for 1.5€ or by shuttle bus for 5€. It costs 40€ to order.
3. : Ryanair, WizzAir, Pobeda and other low-cost airlines fly here, calling this airport Milan. Tickets to Milan for buses are sold from only 5 €, despite the long distance.

Housing in Milan

1. Apartments: First of all, it is better to look for apartments, for example, because of the high prices of hotels. This will allow you to save on food by cooking yourself. Using it you can get a good discount. If everything is booked, then it’s worth looking in satellite cities that are easily accessible by train.
2. Hotels: For those who prefer hotels, it is better to look for the best offer for the same room and avoid overpaying. By using you can get back up to 20% of the room price. If the best offer is found on, then they will transport you there for booking.

Shopping in Milan

People often go to Milan not for the sights, but for shopping. You can make this pleasant task easier by purchasing.

What to see in Milan

We arrived in Milan at the Milano Porta Garibaldi station and from here we will begin our walking route around the city. Below is a list of the most interesting things and tips on how to avoid standing in lines for tickets and where to book excursions in Russian.

1. (transport pass + discounts to museums) - 7 €.
2. — 10€.
3. — 14€.
4. in Russian - 20 €.
5. in Russian - 30 €.

Everything that I have listed can be studied independently by moving along my route indicated on the map below and reading guidebooks. It's up to you to save or not.

Sights of Milan

The closest place to the Milano Porta Garibaldi station was the cemetery and that’s why my walk around the city begins from there.

Monumental Cemetery of Milan

Tourists often avoid this place, but it’s worth a look; you can walk through it for even several hours, there are so many diverse and unusual ancestral tombs here. Famous personalities are buried here, but of them I know only the composer Giuseppe Verdi and the conductor Arturo Toscanini.

The photo of the most beautiful tombstone, “The Last Supper,” has not survived, but I will still say a few words about it. This is the tombstone of the family of Gaspar Campari, who created the famous Campari bitter drink.

A guidebook or a thematic guide can tell you more about all this, but I will just show you a few photos of this colorful place.

Triumphal Arch of Peace

After a walk through the cemetery we head to the Arc de Triomphe de la Peace. Here you can sit and relax, because... It’s too early for us to rest at the cemetery and it’s not very comfortable.

Sempione Park

Behind the arch lies Parco Sempione, where it is very cozy and has many places to relax, and in the center there is a beautiful lake with ducks and bridges.

Sforza Castle

Coming out to the other side of the park, we find ourselves in one of the main attractions of Milan - Sforzesco Castle, the former residence of the Dukes of Milan. It originally belonged to the Visconti family. After the proclamation of the Ambrosian Republic, the palace was destroyed. It was rebuilt by Francesco Sforza. Leonardo da Vinci himself took part in decorating the interior.

This castle is definitely included in any of the after the Duomo Cathedral, which I’ll tell you about a little later.

For those who are overcome by the call of nature, there are free toilets within the castle, but finding them is a little difficult, because... The signs at that time led to the closed part of the castle. And while you are waiting for those who are heading there, there is quite good free WiFi near the fountain at the exit from the Sforza Castle.

Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio

For those who have read the reviews " that there is nothing else to see in Milan» can go straight from the castle to the central Duomo Cathedral and finish exploring Milan, thereby confirming the army of negative reviews about Milan. We headed further to Churches of Sant'Ambrogio or Basilica of St. Ambrosius, and the cathedral was left for the very end, as the most delicious.

Wide avenues and streets of Milan.

Naviglio Grande Canal

Milan once had more canals, but only two remain - the Naviglio Grande and the Pavia. Someone can compare this ancient channel with, to which it will certainly lose, but this will not diminish the colorfulness of the place.

The canal once connected Milan with the sea and it was through it that huge building blocks for the Duomo were delivered, and because of this canal Milan claimed the title of a port city.

Not far from the canal there is another arch called . Here in the shade you can hide from the sun.

Duomo Cathedral

This is the main goal of the entire route. Entrance to the cathedral costs at least 3€. Included in this price Duomo Museum, which is located to the right of the cathedral.

Tickets including a visit to the roof and basement of the Duomo Cathedral are more expensive and to avoid standing in a long line, buy tickets in advance at. You can also visit the cathedral with a Russian-language excursion by booking it.

The Duomo Museum is closed on Wednesdays, but you still have to pay for a ticket to the cathedral + museum for 3 €.

Several photos of the Duomo Cathedral from the inside.

Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II

Right next to the cathedral there are the most expensive shops in Milan and in Italy in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which is also part of the attractions of Milan.

• — 12€.

Piazza della Scala

From the gallery you can exit to the small square Piazza della Scala, where there will be the following objects:

• Monument to Leonardo da Vinci
• La Scala Opera House
• Art gallery Gallerie d'Italia
• Palazzo Marino or City Hall

Mercanti Square

Having had our fill of the Milan Cathedral and everything around it, we moved a little further from Duomo Square and found ourselves in a completely different Milan - medieval. This atmosphere was inspired by a small cozy square - Piazza dei Mercanti. There is a well in the middle, and the square is surrounded by historical buildings.

The walking route will be as follows:

Starting point: Cadorna Station ( Milano Cadorna) and, accordingly, a metro station Cadorna.

And then we’ll go three metro stations to the canals (also from the metro station Cadorna):

How to get to Milan from the airport

Milan has two major airports: Malpensa Airport(about 50 km northwest of the city) and Linate Airport(about 7 km east of the city).

The easiest way to get from Malpensa Airport to Milan is by train. For example, to one of the convenient train stations: Milano Cadorna(express train in 30 minutes, or with stops at Busto Arsizio, Saronno And Milano Bovisa in 40 minutes) or Milano Centrale(with stops at Milano Bovisa, Milano Porta Garibaldi and some others, depending on the train. Travel time depends on the number of stops).

From Linate Airport to Milan you can take a taxi or bus 73 and some others. Buses and taxis depart from the terminal building.

Walking around Milan

At Milan Malpensa airport we were greeted by a steam installation.

We jumped on the Aeroexpress and drove to the Cadorna railway station ( Milano Cadorna), which is located in the city center.

The square on which the modern station building stands was designed by Gaetane Aulenti ( Gaetane Aulenti). She worked on the reconstruction and design of many museums in Paris, Rome, Barcelona, ​​Venice. The architect died in the fall of 2012 in Milan at the age of 85.

Our hotel was a five minute walk from the station. We checked into a building with flags and went to wander around the city.

Let's check the route:

First of all, of course, we ran to look at the Milan Cathedral ( Duomo di Milano), which was built over six centuries. I immediately remembered Barcelona with its .

I described in great detail, literally step by step, how to get to the Duomo and climb to the roof of the cathedral in a separate article.

Opposite the Duomo is a large square ( Piazza del Duomo), it looks especially cool from the top observation deck of the cathedral.

In this post, I used photographs from different trips to Milan, so they may differ in weather conditions, the color of the sky, or some objects may be under restoration. The most curious will notice :)

The monument to Victor Emmanuel II - the first king of a united Italy - stands on the square and looks towards the cathedral. Sculptor - Ercole Rosa ( Ercole Rosa).

Victor Emmanuel II, by the way, is buried in Rome. On his tombstone it is written " Padre della partia”, which translated means “Father of the Fatherland”.

The king's gaze is clearly following the gallery named after him.

Gallery of Victor Emmanuel II ( Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II) was built in the mid-19th century according to the design of Giuseppe Mengoni ( Giuseppe Mengoni).

The story is sad: the architect died shortly before the opening of his gallery, falling from the scaffolding there.

All the most fashionable shops of the Italian fashion capital are concentrated here. And, of course, the ubiquitous McDonalds made its way here too. So those who prefer burgers to designer clothes can also profit from the gallery.

To walk from the Duomo in Milan to La Scala theater, you need to enter the building of the Gallery of Victor Emmanuel II from Duomo Square, walk through it along the central gallery, go out onto the street and cross the small square with the monument.

So, the Gallery connects Duomo Square ( Piazza del Duomo) with a square opposite the La Scala theater ( Piazza della Scala).

At the opposite end of the shopping arcade you can see the monument to Leonardo da Vinci. It was created by the Italian sculptor Pietro Magni ( Pietro Magni) at the end of the 19th century.

The artist stands on a high pedestal, surrounded by his students: Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio, Marco d'Oggiono, Cesare da Sesto and Gian Giacomo Caprotti, or Salaino.

Leonardo looks at the famous opera house of Milan - La Scala ( Teatro alla Scala).

The building was built on the site of the church of Santa Maria della Scala (of which Beatrice Regina della Scala was the patron), hence the name of the theater. And the Italian word for "stairs" ( "scala") has nothing to do with it.

About Beatrice, I only remember that she was born in and gave her husband 17 children.

Let's check the route:

Now let's take a left and walk to another important landmark of Milan - the Sforzesco Castle ( Castello Sforzesco).

It began to be built in the 14th century, and then was rebuilt and restored many times.

Today you can visit museums here or just walk around and look at the moat, walls and towers.

Note the jagged walls that resemble. It was rebuilt by Italian architects, led by a Milanese named Pietro Antonio Solari.

Immediately behind the castle begins the amazing Sempione Park ( Parco Sempione).

In our family, this place is an absolute favorite among all the parks on the planet that we have seen.

Fish swim in local ponds, and swans and turtles walk along the alleys.

Let's check the route:

Milan's Arc de Triomphe also stands here. It began to be built back in 1807, under Napoleon, who was then the king of Italy.

Napoleon planned to solemnly enter Milan through the arch, but it turned out differently. It was completed and renamed the Arch of Peace ( Arco della Pace), when the king had already been overthrown from the Italian throne twenty years ago.

During one of our Milan visits, a movie was filmed here.

If you still have time, don't forget to go to the canals of Milan and take a boat ride along them.

To do this, we move to another part of the city - the Navigli district ( Navigli). From metro station Cadorna(which we took as a starting point) to the canal area and station Porta Genova F.S. just three metro stops down the green line.

Milan has two channels.

Grand Canal ( Naviglio Grande) were dug back in the 12th century. It was along it that white marble was once delivered for construction.

Church of San Cristoforo ( San Cristoforo sul Naviglio) stands right on its shore. Hence its name: in Italian “naviglio” - “channel”.

By the way, Saint Christopher is the patron saint of travelers and boatmen, and every third Sunday in June the city celebrates his day.

We pass the church, immediately behind it is the small bridge of St. Christopher.

Second city channel - Pavia ( Naviglio Pavese). It is smaller and was built later - in the mid-15th century.

Not far from the canals stands the new Ticinese gate ( Porta Ticinese), previously this is where the border of Milan passed.

You can also ride a bike around Milan. There are many parking lots in the city where tourists and locals rent a pair of wheels.

Another symbol of Milan is the Velasca Tower ( Torre Velasca), built in the mid-20th century. It often finds itself on lists of the most unpresentable buildings in the world.

The easiest way to get here is from the Duomo.

Nearby stands a monument to General Giuseppe Missori ( Giuseppe Missori), who, by the way, was born in Moscow. Sculptor Ricardo Ripamonti ( Riccardo Ripamonti) melted down many bronze cannons for his creation.

Italians generally like to make monuments this way. The cannons of Castel Sant'Angelo were once used for the equestrian sculpture of Victor Emmanuel II, which stands in .

Since we're talking about monuments, here's another one - to Count Camillo Benso di Cavour ( Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour), the first Prime Minister of Italy. It was created by the Italian Odoardo Tabacchi ( Odoardo Tabacchi). And another sculptor is Antonio Tantardini ( Antonio Tantardini) - planted a female figure at the foot of the monument. It is History that writes Cavour's name on the monument.

The monument stands on the square Piazza Cavour.

You can walk here from the Sforzesco Castle, and on the way look into the courtyard of Brera ( Pinacoteca di Brera) - the central art gallery of Milan - and get lost in its corridors.

Or stroll along Via Alessandro Manzoni to the Porta Nuova arch ( Porta Nuova) - part of the city wall built in the 12th century. And then jump on Milan’s traditional orange tram and leave.

Milan is the second largest city in Italy with a population of about 1.5 million people (Greater Milan has 5 million inhabitants). It is a major industrial center and the fashion capital of the world. International trade and industrial exhibitions and sporting events take place here.

It is no coincidence that Milan attracts tourists from all over the world: cathedrals, castles, palaces coexist with blooming parks and squares. The city has a rich cultural life: museums, theaters, concert events.

For me, Milan is, above all, a city that does not sleep. We were there in the midst of the July heat. In the evening, nightlife begins to bustle here. Numerous cafes and restaurants with summer terraces are filled with visitors - elegantly dressed young people. Music is playing and laughter is heard everywhere. All this creates a mood of celebration and magic.

How to get there

There are 3 airports in Milan. The main one is Malpensa Airport. From there you can reach the city center by express train. The airport in Bergamo is also considered one of the airports in Milan. The distance from it to the center of Milan is about 50 km. It is here that the planes of the Russian low-cost airline Pobeda fly in.
The third airport, Linate, is located in the center of Milan and is used mainly for local flights.
There are three railway stations in the city.

Milano Centrale Station

One of the largest train stations in Europe. The 19th century building still looks large and imposing. From here you can get to the city's airports. There is an express train to Malpensa Airport (51 flights per day). The fare is 10 euros for adults, 5 euros for children. Malpensa, Linato and Bergamo airports can also be reached from the station by bus.
Central Station is one of the few places in the city center where you can buy groceries after 8 pm.

Milano Porta Garibaldi Station

Another major train station in Milan. It is believed to be primarily used for commuter services. Our train from Paris to Milan arrived at this station. Read more about how to buy a train ticket from Paris to Milan or vice versa in the article.
The station building itself is not very large, but there is free wifi. When you leave the station and look towards the railway tracks, you will see the famous Bosco Verticale houses, which are discussed below. And if you walk literally 2-3 minutes towards the center along Corso Coma, you will find yourself in a park named after the journalist Anna Politkovskaya, about which there is a memorial plaque.

Milano Rogoredo Train Station

Located 6 kilometers from the city, on the way to Bergamo. Trains from Moscow and Minsk also arrive here.
You can get to the city center by metro in just 20 minutes (yellow line). The station is open 24 hours a day.
Rogoredo Station on the map:

Where to stay

Public transport in Milan

There are 4 metro lines in Milan, each has its own color, and the cars are decorated in this color, including the seat upholstery. The purple line is fully automated and operates without drivers.
Ground transport is represented by trams and trolleybuses.
Tickets are valid for both metro and ground transport. The cost of one trip lasting up to 90 minutes is 1.5 euros, children under 10 years old are free. An all-day ticket costs 4.5 euros, an evening ticket after 20.00 costs 3 euros. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines or ticket offices. When entering the metro they are composted at turnstiles, and when entering a tram or trolleybus - in special composters. Tickets are not valid without composting. Oversized luggage must also be charged at the adult rate.
Link to Milan public transport website

Sights of Milan

Milan Cathedral or Duomo

This is the calling card of the city. The white marble Gothic cathedral, which took 6 centuries to build, is located in the historical center of the city (Duomo metro station). There is a museum inside the cathedral. You can climb onto its roof and explore the surroundings.

Gallery of Victor Emmanuel II

Located on Cathedral Square near the Duomo. The buildings of the shopping arcade are connected by a glass dome, which was built at the end of the 19th century. In addition to trading, this place is used for various concerts and other events.

La Scala Theater

The building of the famous opera does not make much of an impression. Only after taking a closer look and passing by several times did we realize that it was in front of us. They say that those lucky ones who get inside can enjoy magnificent decoration and the best acoustics in the world.
Buy tickets to La Scala Opera
The theater building also houses the La Scala Museum. In the park in front of the theater there is a monument to Leonardo da Vinci.

Sforza Castle

The Sforzesco Castle or Castello Sforzesca is also located in the historical part of the city. It was built in the 15th century and has very impressive dimensions. Now there are several exhibitions inside - collections of Renaissance paintings, sculptures, musical instruments, etc.

"The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci in Milan

Leonardo da Vinci's famous fresco "The Last Supper" is located in the Church of Santa Maria Delle Grazia in Milan. It is rightfully considered one of the greatest works of world art and attracts many visitors. You can buy tickets without queuing.

Skyscrapers Bosco vertical

They were built according to the “Vertical Forest” concept and are designed to replace a forest area of ​​50 thousand square meters. meters. More than 800 trees, 5,000 shrubs, and 10,000 perennial grass plantings are used in the construction of the buildings. A vertical forest is an entire ecosystem designed to solve the problem of oxygen shortage in a large metropolis. The trees are planted in such a way that the forest changes color throughout the year. Located near Garibaldi station.

Museums of Milan

Milan's museums are undoubtedly worth a visit. This is, first of all, the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci, Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Pinacoteca Brera, Gallery of Modern Art. But, unfortunately, we were not able to visit them due to lack of time. There will be a reason to return to this amazing and beautiful city.

Xiao,lettori!
Continuing the Italian theme, I am publishing my impressions of a walk around Milan.
What associations do you have with the word “Milan”? Personally, I have fashion, glamor shopping, chic. The red Ferrari that I spotted in the parking lot near the university (!) is further proof of this. I wonder who came on this beauty - a student or a teacher?
Why go to Milan if not? Let's find out!

I don’t know about you, but I’m trying to prepare for trips. I look at photos, look for descriptions of attractions, read reports and generally get inspired in every way. It's a shame to miss something interesting... Moreover, you never know whether you will return to this city again or not.
Even at the stage of planning the trip, I noted the must-see attractions for myself: the Duomo, La Scala Theater and Sempione Park. Several shops on the pedestrian street Via Dante are optional, but recommended to visit. Then I did not yet know that in Milan you can see the fresco “The Last Supper” by Leonardo Da Vinci. Yes, yes, this is not a painting, but a fresco painted on the wall of the dining room of the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
To be in Milan and not touch the beauty? Well, I do not. I remember very well my delight from reading the book “The Da Vinci Code,” in which the author famously draws readers into a whirlpool of mysterious events and mystical coincidences. The entire trip was canceled due to the Last Supper, since buying a ticket to view the fresco is not so easy. The fact of purchase itself does not present any difficulties. But the availability of tickets is a different matter. I published instructions for purchasing tickets in, so I won’t go into detail.

Walking route in Milan

As usual, for clarity, I am attaching a map of my adventures.

The map is quite small, so some interesting points on the route are not visible on it. First of all, I went to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie to look at the fresco, then walked to the Duomo. If you only have a few hours left to walk around Milan, it is better to use the metro.
Not far from the Duomo there is the most curious Church of St. Bernardino (green arrow), which I looked into, and the Gallery of Victor Emanuel II. Just behind the gallery is the modest La Scala theater (purple arrow). Next, according to the plan, I was supposed to move to Sempione Park, simultaneously checking out the boutiques on the pedestrian street Dante.

Ancient fresco “The Last Supper” by Leonardo Da Vinci and an amazing relic storage system

First of all, I went to the church, or rather to the monastery, where the mysterious fresco is kept. According to the conditions of online purchase, an electronic ticket must be exchanged for a regular one.
Santa Maria delle Grazie is hard to miss. The main thing is not to forget to look at your feet)).

The light yellow building on the left is the ticket office and at the same time the entrance to the holy of holies.
A nice fact is that at the counter you can pick up a special booklet in your native language and read the information.

If you have free time, check out the church itself. She's pretty cute.

The entrance to the hall with the fresco simultaneously looks like a conveyor belt and a secret government laboratory. Small groups of people (15-20 people) go inside every 15 minutes and never return. Oh God!
Unfortunately, taking photographs in the former refectory of the monastery is strictly prohibited, so the maximum that was possible to capture was the courtyard.

First, visitors enter a room with glass walls, the door closes behind them and they just need to stand for a while. Then, on the other side, other doors open and the procedure is repeated.
I was lucky to be in the same group with a married couple from Russia who came to see Leonardo’s masterpiece with a Russian-speaking guide. Whether I wanted it or not, I heard a lot of interesting things...

Leonardo da Vinci wrote “The Last Supper” not on wet plaster, as was customary, but on dry plaster. There was a kitchen next to the dining room in the monastery, which meant there was high humidity. The fresco began to collapse a few years after the completion of the work.
Several attempts were made to restore the masterpiece, and in 1943, during the bombing of Milan, a shell hit the monastery building. The fresco miraculously remained intact. It was covered with sandbags for safety.
The most ambitious restoration began in 1978 and ended in 1999. The project was led by Senora Pinin Barchilon, a talented restorer. First, the fresco was carefully cleaned of all early restoration layers. According to the recollections of the project manager, sometimes it was possible to clear an area the size of a postage stamp in a day. Some materials mention that at the time of the last restoration, only 30% of the real Leonardo remained, no more. Some fragments of the fresco were “rewritten again.” They are of more muted tones, so as not to mislead the audience.

The entire airlock system was constructed after this extensive restoration. The fresco was isolated from the outside world. The windows of the former monastery dining room are walled up. A special microclimate is maintained in the room, excess moisture and dust are removed. The lucky ones who managed to buy a ticket also undergo a discreet “cleaning”.

There are several museum employees in the room, who keep a watchful eye on the audience and become very nervous if someone takes out a phone. You have exactly 15 minutes to enjoy Leonardo's work.

I admit honestly, the fresco touched me. Da Vinci depicted the perspective. It seems that the room continues.

Photo of the monastery refectory from the Internet.

I settled down not far from the Russian couple so that I could hear the guide’s story out of the corner of my ear.
The plot is quite recognizable. Before us is a biblical story, the last supper of Jesus, when he informs his disciples of his impending betrayal. The scene of the Last Supper has been depicted on canvas before, but Leonardo's fresco is unique. Art critics admit that it was da Vinci who was able to most emotionally convey the reaction of the apostles to the words of Jesus. The fresco is full of various secret signs. Every slightest wave of the hand, movement of the head means something. Re-read Dan Brown and you will understand everything)).

Particularly heated debates flare up around the figure of John, who sits at the right hand of Jesus. The facial features and figure are very feminine. Hypotheses have been put forward that in fact this is not John at all, but Mary Magdalene.
On the fresco there is a hand with a dagger, which allegedly does not belong to anyone. The position of Jesus' hands - palms up - also has its own meaning.

It seems to me that it is time to invent the science of Davincheology and defend dissertations on the topic of “the riddle of the Last Supper.”

I left the room with a special microclimate slightly “nailed”, wandered aimlessly around the museum store and only when I came out into the sunlight I woke up, as if I had shaken off some kind of worry.

I don’t know how long the fresco will remain intact, but it’s definitely worth it to see it in person.

Inspecting the fresco will not take much time, so you can continue your walk around Milan on your own or worry about it in advance and book an inexpensive one.

The Milan Duomo is flaming Gothic.

The Milan Cathedral is something special. Of course, I've seen it in pictures before. However, photographs are photographs, but your eyes will still see the world differently.

The Duomo is huge. Imagine for a second that it can accommodate 40,000 people. I walked around it, looking at various architectural details. White marble and a fancy openwork façade of the building create a special atmosphere of solemnity.

If you wish and for some money, you can go up to the observation deck of the cathedral - the terrace. The view from there is impressive, and all the Gothic details of the exterior are clearly visible. Unfortunately, even in October there was a huge queue for the elevator. I didn’t waste time, because I only had one day planned for Milan.

If I had known that I could buy a ticket online in advance, I would of course have taken advantage of this opportunity. A ticket costs from 700 rubles, but what a time saver -

Inside, the cathedral no longer seems so light and airy. I would even say that he is a little gloomy.

But what power. Look at the marble columns and the people next to them.

The Duomo has special devices where you can listen to information about the cathedral for just 2 euros.

What seriously confused me were the tombs with the mummies of the rulers of Milan. It’s hard to see from this angle, but behind the bars there is a mummified human body.

Entrance to the cathedral is free, permission to photograph costs 2 euros, but I found out about this too late and took photographs for free).

Old black and white photo of the cathedral.

Almost nothing has changed). To the left of the cathedral is the gallery of Victor Emanuel II. We'll look there a little later.

Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa

Not far from the Duomo there is a church, inconspicuous from the outside, but very interesting inside. Landmark - Piazza Santo Stefano. It's literally a five-minute walk from the flaming Gothic.
Since my smartphone with offline maps was completely dead, I had to navigate the area and look for the church on the map.

Let's go inside. There doesn't seem to be anything unusual. There is a familiar Catholic atmosphere around. Very bright and cozy. The dome seems to be floating, it is so airy.

The main “decoration” of the chapel is human bones and skulls.

The story goes like this….. there was a hospital next to the church. After some time, the hospital cemetery was overcrowded and in order to make room for new burials, a special room was built to house the remains.
There are similar ossuaries in almost every Italian cemetery. Only most often they are not visible to us, since they are located underground.

I won’t say that I was particularly impressed or scared, but I still don’t recommend going into the chapel with children.

I think it's time to show something more cheerful from the life of Milan, so we head back to Piazza del Duomo.

Gallery Victor Emanuel II and La Scala Theater

Gallery of Victor Emanuel II is the oldest and most beautiful shopping arcade in the world. This is the "gostiny courtyard" of Milan with many boutiques, cafes and restaurants.
This is what the gallery looks like from a bird's eye view.

I didn’t waste time on the boutiques, but I did walk around the arcade.

A most beautiful building. It seemed to me that most of the visitors to the ancient gallery were simply taking photographs of the surrounding surroundings, instead of making purchases. By the way, relatively recently an observation deck was opened on the roof of the gallery. When I was in Milan, I didn’t even know about this opportunity. I don't know if it's worth it, but you can take a closer look.

How can you not take pictures of everything, if in Milan even the trams are fashionable?

If you walk through the Victor Emanuel Gallery, you will find yourself right in front of the famous La Scala opera house.
From the outside it looks quite ordinary. Chic interiors are hidden inside!

First, I decided to take a look behind the scenes of the theater at all costs. Moreover, such a possibility exists. The ticket price is shown in the photo below, but it may have become more expensive now.

But, as luck would have it, I found myself near the theater right at lunchtime. There was a huge queue in front of the box office, and I really didn’t want to waste time... I decided that I would return to the theater a little later, but in the end I never got around to it. In addition, it is much more interesting to listen to an opera at La Scala, rather than just look behind the scenes.

GetYouGuide has a tour of La Scala Theater and Museum. Conducted in English and Italian. It differs from a regular ticket in that you will have a guide with you. Surprisingly, tickets for this excursion sell out very quickly.

It was here, near La Scala, that I realized that I was a little tired of constant impressions. The lovely sights of Verona - Juliet's romantic balcony, cobbled streets and ancient bridge enchanted me; the day was busy and very bright. The question remained open - did I not have enough emotions for Milan or the city itself is different, more businesslike? Milan is primarily the financial and economic capital of the country.

Pedestrian street Dante, Sforzesco castle and Sempione park.

The only unpleasant moment... Some kind of football match was being held in Milan. I am far from a fan and the emotions of the crowd are not clear to me. Aggression simply spread along the street, people pressed themselves against the walls or hid in boutiques, waiters of open cafes stood up as a human wall in order to protect their visitors. When the sounds of exploding firecrackers were heard, it became really scary.
After a walk in the park, I returned back to the Duomo. In the square in front of the cathedral, there were more carabinieri than tourists. To be honest, I hurried to leave.

See for yourself. The crowd caught me off guard in one of the stores.

Anyway. Everyone has fun as best they can...

We approached Largo Cairoli, where in the center of a small square there is a monument to Garibaldi.

Almost immediately behind it is the terracotta castle of Sforzesco. This is the residence of the Milanese Dukes of the Sforza dynasty.

My walk around Milan did not end there, but it was more like chaotic rushing from store to store in search of gifts for loved ones).
Perhaps I’ll also tell you how best to get around Milan.

Metro in Milan

I didn’t understand the intricacies of Milan’s tram routes, but I did use the metro.
The metro station at the railway station (Milano Centrale) is called Centrale FS and is located right in the station building.

Milan has a very simple metro system. There are three basic branches: red, yellow and green. Centrale FS is located at the intersection of the yellow and green metro lines. If you intend to go straight to the Duomo, then you just need to take the yellow line a few stops. The Duomo is located at the intersection of the red and yellow metro lines.

There is always a map at the station to help you find your way. You will absolutely accurately determine your location by the characteristic wear))).

Tickets can be purchased at the box office and from these machines. The fare is 1.5 euros for one trip (90 minutes).

I bought a ticket from a machine. Only first, as usual, I looked at the principle of operation. Each ticket must be composted.

After you have passed all the cordons and composters and found yourself directly on the platform, you need to figure out which way to go. The name of the final station is written on the train. For example, you need to get from the railway station to the Duomo. This means we need a yellow metro line and a train with the final station S.Donato. A train marked Comasina will take you in the opposite direction.
If you find yourself at a station at the intersection of two metro lines, then just be guided by the color. Above the escalator to the red metro line there will be a large red sign with the inscription M1. Captain obvious)))).

So... I'm almost done with the Italian theme. Milan left mixed feelings. It seemed to me that I didn’t understand him, didn’t feel him enough. Perhaps it’s worth coming to Milan for more than one day.