Milan overview

Milan, Italy’s fashion capital and home to La Scala

Stylish, energetic and economically powerful Milan is probably the most important city in Italy in terms of fashion, industry and commerce. It is home to numerous museums, monuments and churches, including Santa Maria delle Grazie where Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper is on display. Milan boasts the most grandiose of Gothic cathedrals, the Duomo, and its piazza, plus Teatro alla Scala; the largest theatre in Europe and world famous for its opera: the opening of each season at La Scala is Milan’s greatest social event of the year. The shopping district including Via Montenapoleone, Via Mazoni, Via Sant’Andrea and Via della Spiga rival Bond Street and Fifth Avenue in terms of exclusive designer boutiques: although because in Milan the shops are set in elegant 18th century palazzo, a day of retail therapy simply has to be concluded with a cocktail in the historic Bar Cova before dinner in one of many stylish restaurants. Contact our reservations team for further information about Milan and tickets to La Scala.

Milan hotels

Carlton Hotel Baglioni

Located in Milan’s fashion quarter very close to Via della Spiga and Via Senato

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Milan sightseeing

At first glance, Milan may seem a two-day destination at most; somewhere to shop, pop into the Last Supper and scoot past the Duomo. But there is far more to savour in this elegant Lombardian city than meets the eye.

All roads in Milan may lead to the Duomo cathedral, but the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a lofty shopping arcade just off the piazza, seems far more popular with most visitors. A feat of iron and glass, the Galleria was designed by Giuseppe Mengoni and built between 1865 and 1877 in an elaborate mix of neo-classical and neo-baroque. The world's oldest Prada store has been here since 1913 (note the original fittings) and Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Tod’s all opened here in 2004. Be sure to inspect the 19th-century mosaics, especially the one of the bull halfway down the mall. Stamping on the bull is meant to attract good luck.

When retail activity is exhausted take a seat at one of the cafés or bars - the best is Caffè Zucca on the corner with Piazza Duomo, filled with early 20th-century mosaics depicting colourful parrots and flowers. Gucci have also opened a small outdoor café with heater lamps in the cooler months.

Getting to see Leonardo da Vinci's Il Cenacolo – the Last Supper - is very difficult.  Visitors must book weeks or even months in advance and viewing time is limited to 15 minutes.  If you are lucky enough to get to see it be sure to view the work not only from up close but also from the back of the room, where Leonardo's clever use of perspective gives it a three-dimensional effect that makes it appear to be an extension of the room.  If you can’t get to see it then Botticelli's early Virgin and Child and Pollaiolo's equally startling Portrait of a woman might compensate, both are available to view in the Golden Room of the Museo Poldi Pezzoli.  

The Duomo is the main visitor attraction but also remains primarily a place of prayer – as befots the world’s largest Gohic cathedral. You can travel to the rooftop, although  take the lift, unless you're super-fit! If you are here on the Saturday closest to September 14th, visit the Duomo for one its holiest days, when the nail from Christ's cross is brought out of its home in the crucifix on a ceiling vault behind the altar.

Milan cuisine

Dairy products form an important part of the Lombardy and Milanese diet, so you’d do well to sample the milk, cream, butter and cheeses, tasty and spicy cheese variants include taleggio, stracchino and gorgonzola. Many of the traditional dishes consist of milk and cream, butter and mascarpone, cheese and ricotta, and even the names of the towns, such as Crema and Cremona serve as a reminder as to how important diary produce is to the region.

However there is also variety. In Milan rice tends to be more popular than pasta, possibly because rice absorbs more cheese and butter! Pasta is still an important part of the diet and dishes such as ravioli stuffed with pumpkin and buckwheat noodles cooked with potatoes, cabbage and, wait for it, cheese, are popular.

Don't neglect the soups: broth with bread and eggs, or leeks and chard. A typical winter meal is polenta topped with mushrooms or meat. And finally, what about meat dishes? There’s dried beef and thinly sliced raw beef, whilst pork and beef are often roasted, then served with side dishes such as beans, mushrooms, or salad.

Milan offers

Carlton Hotel Baglioni

Located in Milan’s fashion quarter very close to Via della Spiga and Via Senato

3 offers

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