Travel Tips - Milan, Italy

Quite possibly one of Europe’s most beautiful cathedrals, Milan’s Il Duomo is the second largest Catholic cathedral in the world and the Italian city’s astonishing centerpiece.

If its monumental size isn’t enough to awe visitors, its amazingly ornate façade will. Construction on this cathedral, which can hold up to 40,000 visitors, began in 1386 and wasn’t completed until 1805, making it a favorite of architecture buffs who can spend hours hunting for the additions from each period of the building’s 400 year construction history. The cathedral’s interior is comparable to other European cathedrals; however, the stained glass windows are of particular interest. And hands down the best Milan duomo experience is visiting its roof. Stairs and pathways line the roof so that visitors can witness a beautiful bird’s eye view of the city and get a closer look at the ornamentation of the cathedral’s turrets.

Milan’s Palazzo Reale, or royal palace, may not be much to look at, but it’s a site tourists should not miss. Located on the southern side of the duomo, this former seat of Milan’s Town Hall and home to the Torriani, Visconti and Sforza families, survived WWII bombing and currently houses the Duomo Museum, where most of the Duomo’s treasures are exhibited, and Contemporary Art Museum. Although the palace is subjected to what seems to be a never-ending renovation, it is open to the public. The Palazzo Reale Contemporary Art Museum does not have a permanent collection but hosts important international, temporary exhibits. This is a mandatory stop for art lovers, although art is not particularly hard to find anywhere in Milan.

Easily one of the world’s most famous and recognizable shopping malls, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is a large and beautiful glass and iron structure that houses an assortment of luxury shops, restaurants and cafes, including the well-know and quite pricey Savini restaurant. Although covered by an elegant dome, this cross-shaped gallery has four large entrances that create an open air-effect, making window-shopping all the more pleasant. Although the 155 foot high glass ceilings may keep tourists looking up, don’t forget to look down, or you’ll miss the gorgeous floor mosaics. The gallery joins the Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Scala, meaning that at some point everyone passes through it. However, this is not the best place to stop for a coffee or meal, unless of course you don’t mind paying 8 Euros for a scoop of gelato.

Milan is home to one of the most famous operas in the world, and Milan’s opera calls Teatro alla Scala its home. The theatre’s rather drab exterior is no indication of the grandeur of its interior. A visit to the Scala Museum is the only way to peek inside the theatre without buying a ticket to a show, and it is well worth the visit.

Museum visitors are given access to the theatre’s magnificent ballroom and adjoining booth from which they can look into the massive theatre house and sometimes catch rehearsals. The museum also houses a large amount of memorabilia from La Scala’s past, including paintings, costumes, instruments, props and more. And if you plan on being in Milan in early December, be sure to reserve tickets to the opening night of La Scala’s opera season, which is always held on the day of Sant'Ambrogio (December 7th), Milan’s patron saint.