Milan, Italy

(2009) Milan is the biggest city in Northern Italy. It is the "engine room" for the country's economy and home of its stock exchange, but it isn't driven by tourism.

Armani, Versace, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Pucci, Gucci and many more took off on Milan's runways. Fashionistas make a pilgrimage here to shop at the designers' flagship stores in Quadrilatero d'Oro (Golden Quad). Boutiques stocking emerging labels and chic concept shops also line the city's streets while discount outlets sell samples, seconds, and last season's cast-offs.

Milan does have many important treasures that survived World War II's extensive damage: Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie which displays Leonardo di Vinci's The Last Supper, La Scala opera house, and its elaborate Gothic cathedral.

Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper is housed in the former Dominican monastery church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Leonardo painted The Last Supper in what was the order's refectory, now called Cenacolo Vinciano, from 1495 to 1497. For his masterpiece, Leonardo da Vinci chose to work slowly and patiently in oil pigments which demand dry plaster versus proceeeding hastily on wet plaster in accordance to conventional fresco techniques. The fresco's deterioration began before the paint was even dry on the moisture-ridden walls. Napoleon's troops used the wall for target practice and Allied bombing during World War II tore off the room's roof leaving the fresco exposed to the elements for 3 years. After years of restoration in cleaning one square centimeter after another, the masterpiece has been restored with astonishing clarity and luminosity as Leonardo had painted it.

On the opposite Southern wall of the refactory is the large Crucifiction painted by Donato Montoriforo.

Be sure to book ahead if possible to see The Last Supper. You can book online at http://www.cenacolovinciano.org/sito/ing_museo.html. Only a small group of 20-25 people are allowed to view the painting at a time in the temperature and security controlled room for a maximum of 15-minutes. Only people that don't show up for their reservation time will you be able to stand in line and hope to get a ticket. Some have been lucky enough to show up and get a ticket. It would be tougher for any spaces to be available during high tourist season. If all tickets are sold-out, you may opt to contact your hotel concierge to see if they can get tickets for you or take one of the city tours such as http://www.viator.com/ that includes entrance to view The Last Supper.

The Milano Duomo in the center of the city is the second largest Catholic cathedral with the largest in Seville, and the fourth largest church in the world. The Duomo was commissioned in 1386 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, when the 4th century cathetral was damaged in a fire. The new cathedral blurs the distinction between Gothic and neo-Gothic for the Gothic west front was begun in 1616 and completed 200 years later. The huge building is made of brick faced with 135 marble spires, a stunning triangular facade and some 3,400 statues flanking the massive but airy fancy exterior. The interior lit by brillant stained-glass window seats 40,000, divided into five aisles by a sea of 52 columns. Behind the altar is the nail from Christ's cross in the crucifix on the ceiling vault. Just inside the entrance is a staircase down to the foundation remains of the baptistery from the earlier 4th century church. The crypt can be entered near the choir to visit the tomb of Cardinal Borromeo. Also in the crypt is the Tesoro del Duomo, or Cathedral Treasury containing medieval and religious art. The roof climb to the marble terraces, amidst white pinnacles and statues, provides a unique and memorable view.

Located on the northern side of Piazza della Duomo and across Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II named after the first king of united Italy. The galleria is a covered architecture formed of 2 glass vaulted arcades at right angles intersecting in an octagon. The street is covered over by an arching glazed cast iron roof popular in the 19th century for larger shopping malls. The galleria boasts luxury goods shops like Gucci, Prada, and Louis Vuitton, bookstores, elegant restaurants and cafes, and links to the ultra-luxurious Town House Galleria Hotel. The Galleria connects Piazza della Duomo with Milan's other famous landmark, Piazza Scala and Teatro Alla Scala (La Scala Opera Theatre).

In the center of Scala square is the monument of the genius Leonardo da Vinci. Across Via Alessandro Manzoni from the square is Teatro All Scala. Built in 1778, today it is one of the most famous opera houses in the world constructed in a new-classical style by the architect Giuseppe Piermarini. Some of the greatest musicians have made their debuts in the famous Scala opera house including Giseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Gioachino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, and Vincenzo Bellini. There is also museum on site that you can visit for an entrance fee dedicated to the musicians and performers of La Scala Opera Theatre.


The streets of Milan are congested and very confusing to navigate if you plan on driving in Milan. Street names can easily change within a few blocks on the same road. Even the locals have difficulties in navigating the maze of streets that radiates in all directions from one piazza to another. If you are unfamiliar with the city, public transportation and taxis are the recommended and preferred method to get around Milan.