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Milan, a city in northern Italy and the capital of Lombardy, is one of the country's most important industrial centers. But it's equally renowned for its cultural clout, home as it is to one of the largest cathedrals in the world, a celebrated opera house, and Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper.' Milan is also recognized for its luxury shopping, delicious regional cuisine, and a prestigious, celebrity-rich annual fashion show.
Click through and find out more about Milan.
The cathedral's yawning interior makes a powerful impression with its 52 colossal pillars.
Known by its citizens as Duomo di Milano, Milan Cathedral is the city's most recognized historic landmark. Among the world's largest cathedrals, construction on this magnificent religious building began in 1386, but its facade wasn't completed until the early 1800s. The final architectural flourishes were signed off in 1965.
Milan's cathedral is full of surprises, one of which is found underground. At the front of the Duomo, you can descend under Piazza del Duomo into the 5th-century foundations of the Basilica di Santa Tecla and the ruins of Battistero di San Giovanni alle Fonti, which date back to the 4th century.
The rather austere-looking red brick facade of the 15th-century church of Santa Maria delle Grazie is lifted somewhat by its impressive six-sided dome designed in the finest Early Renaissance style. But hidden behind the walls is one of the world's greatest art treasures.
Santa Maria delle Grazie holds 'The Last Supper,' the late 15th-century mural painting by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. Regarded by many as his finest work, da Vinci's masterpiece is found on the refectory wall of the former Dominican monastery, and was created between 1495 and 1497.
The arcade is famed for its wealth of luxury salons and boutiques selling a bewildering array of designers brands. But there are also numerous cafés and restaurants where visitors can pause their retail therapy and enjoy a meal or a snack under the mall's soaring dome.
Built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, impressive Castello Sforzesco was once one of the largest citadels in Europe.
The castle is distinguished by the 70-m (229 ft) Torre de Filarete. However, the gate tower is a modern reconstruction, built in 1905.
Other museums include those dedicated to decorative art, prehistoric and Egyptian antiquities, and musical instruments. Pictured is a 6th-century marble bust of Byzantine empress Theodora, wife of Justinian I, displayed in the archaeological museum.
The Pinacoteca di Brera is one of Italy's finest art museums. It is housed within the Renaissance Palazzo di Brera, the exterior of which is recognized for the bronze copy of Antonio Canova's statue of Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker.
As Milan's main public gallery for paintings, Pinacoteca di Brera is a treasure trove of outstanding Italian artworks. The most famous picture in the gallery is Raphael's 'Marriage of the Virgin' (also known as 'Lo Sposalizio'). Foreign masters are also well represented: look out for 'Last Supper' by Peter Paul Rubens, and the 'Brera Triptych' by Jan de Beer. Pictured is 'Adoration of the Magi' by Andrea Schiavone.
What is a visit to Milan without experiencing a performance of opera at La Scala? Regarded as the most prestigious opera house in the world, La Scala has since 1778 hosted most of Italy's greatest operatic artists, and many of the finest singers from around the globe. The opera season begins in early December and runs through May.
Out of season it's still possible to appreciate La Scala's unique musical heritage by visiting the fascinating Museo Teatrale alla Scala. Housed in the same building, this museum has a fine collection of theatrical costumes, and historical and personal mementos of some of the great names that have appeared at La Scala.
In the center of the city stands another must-see visitor attraction, the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio. One of the most ancient churches in Milan, it was built by St. Ambrose in 379–386, though what you see today dates back largely to the 12th century, built around the original choir.
The basilica's interior deserves a good hour of your time to absorb the riches within. The pulpit with late Romanesque carving, and the richly carved 4th-century sarcophagus underneath it, should be admired at length. The extraordinary gold high altar (pictured) is a masterpiece of Carolingian art made in 835. And be sure to gaze up at the gilded domed ceiling of the oratory of San Vittore in Ciel d'Oro.
Built in the early 1500s, San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore once served as the church for a convent of Benedictine nuns. It's now in use as a archaeological museum, the main exhibit being the church interior, which is decorated with astonishing frescoes of biblical scenes.
It's certainly worth craning your neck to admire the elaborate and highly detailed ceiling. The museum itself features vestiges of the Roman foundations the church was built on.
You can always expect the unexpected in Milan, for example the picturesque wide canal known as the Naviglio Grande that cuts through the city center. The banks of the canal make for a leisurely walk, and there's plenty to see and do along the way.
Naviglio Grande is at its liveliest after dark, when a plethora of waterfront cafés and restaurants open their doors to offer dining al fresco.
This Italian Renaissance structure doesn't look like much from the street. But step inside and you're met by a grand, vaulted sanctuary that's celebrated for its false apse. At first glance, the interior appears quite large. But walk forward a little and the apse starts to disappear. The expansive dimensions are an optical illusion, an early example of trompe-l'œil, attributed to canny 15th-century Italian architect and painter Donato Bramante.
The private collection of the 19th-century Italian nobleman Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli is showcased at this quirky and engaging museum. The display is notable for its wide assortment of northern Italian and Flemish artists, as well as jewelry, silver, bronzes, porcelains, armor, and weapons.
Milan is home to Italy's largest science and technology museum, and is dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci. This is a great place to take the kids, who will quickly become absorbed with the assortment of imaginative interactive exhibits. The museum is housed in the early 16th-century monastery of San Vittore al Corpo.
Always worth a look is the Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio. For many years, the church was an essential stop for pilgrims en route to Rome or to the Holy Land because it was said to contain the tomb of the Three Magi, or Three Kings.
The city's monumental cemetery bristles with an interesting variety of contemporary and classical Italian sculptures, some designed as Greek temples, or elaborate obelisks. Some of Italy's most prominent personalities are laid to rest here, homegrown celebrities that include Formula One champion driver Alberto Ascari, drinkmaker Gaspare Campari, and writer and Nobel laureate Dario Fo.
If you're in the city over February/March or September/October, expect to mingle with the beautiful people, as these are the months when the prestigious Milan Fashion Show takes place. You'll be hard pressed to bag a ticket, but it's always fun people watching, coffee in hand, from a café terrace table.
Sources: (Britannica) (Food Republic)
See also: Incredible images of alluring Italian cities at dusk
For a delightful pre-dinner cocktail, ask for negroni sbagliato. This is one of Milan's legendary tipples and comprises equal parts sparkling wine, Campari, and red vermouth.
Shopping in Milan means browsing one of the most beautiful malls in the world, the grand Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Designed by Giuseppe Mengoni and built between 1865 and 1877, this magnificent arcade stands as a peerless example of 19th-century industrial iron and glass construction.
A remarkable interior highlight is the beautiful stained-glass windows looming over the nave. Crafted mostly in the 15th and 16th centuries, these are among the largest windows of their kind in the world.
You can't help but be dazzled by the priceless contents of Milan's Biblioteca Ambrosiana. This historic library holds some of the most important and influential books and manuscripts in the world, including 12 manuscripts of Leonardo da Vinci, including the 'Codex Atlanticus' (pictured).
The city's signature meal is risotto alla Milanese. This iconic dish is characterized by a distinct, saffron-infused golden hue, and should be prepared with copious amounts of butter for a super soft creamy texture. It's often served with a sprig of mint.
The castle houses the Musei del Castello Sforzesco, a series of museums each worth browsing at leisure. The Museum of the Rondanini Pietà includes Michelangelo's last masterpiece, the 'Rondanini Pietà' (pictured, detail).
Mellow out in magnificent Milan
This northern Italian city is rich in history and culture
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Milan, a city in northern Italy and the capital of Lombardy, is one of the country's most important industrial centers. But it's equally renowned for its cultural clout, home as it is to one of the largest cathedrals in the world, a celebrated opera house, and Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper.' Milan is also recognized for its luxury shopping, delicious regional cuisine, and a prestigious, celebrity-rich annual fashion show.
Click through and find out more about Milan.