Day 1 in Milan
Loose time by wandering through the Piazza Duomo
Feel the vibe of Milan by visiting right at the beginning of your trip the Piazza Duomo. Of course, this is the most important piazza from Milan and you can get to it by any means of transport you want. Benefiting of the situation, take a ride on a tram, if not, you can easily find parking lots close to the Old Town of Milan for your car. The Piazza is surrounded by three imposing buildings.
Firstly, it is to mention the Duomo. The Cathedral Santa Maria Nascente, as it is called, is the third, as dimension, church of Christianity. This impressive, massive construction is definitely a joy for every traveler’s eyes. Although the main elements of the Duomo were on their places in 1391 already, the full construction process ended just 500 years later. You will be astonished by the huge total number of 3500 statues that decorate the Duomo, two thirds of them being outside the cathedral. The façade is of baroque style till the first row of windows, and then it goes up in neo-Gothic style. Besides its statues, the building comprises 135 towers. In order to realize the whole grandeur of the Duomo, you should not miss a tour to its terraces and rooftop.
Another tourist attraction close to the Piazza Duomo is the Royal Palace of Milan. For many centuries, this ancient building was the headquarters of the administration of the Italian city, but nowadays it is an important cultural center, hosting various exhibitions which include works of Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, and other famous sculptors and painters.
The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II makes the connection between the Duomo and the La Scala. This is a monument dedicated to the King who unified Italy. This also is associated usually with a shopping mall, but which is very elegant. The roof and the ceiling is made out of iron and glass. Due to its multiple functions which the Galleria accomplishes, it is also called the living-room of Milan. Do not forget to admire the mosaics from its ceiling from the octagonal yard which represent Europe, Asia, Africa and America, or the mosaics from the end of the corridors that represent Agriculture, Science, Arts and Industry.
Try to find a ticket for opera at probably the most important opera hall in the world – La Scala from the Piazza della Scala. Although it may not impress you from the outside, it will certainly impress you with its freshly renovated, red-velvet, auditorium. High-ranked officials from all over the world come to enjoy the Italian opera and ballet. That is why we advise you to book your ticket long time before the beginning of the season. If not, La Scala disposes of a museum where you can see the exhibits representative for the grand composers of Italy such as Verdi, Rossini, Puccini, or Toscanini.
In the center of Milan, hop into “Carlo and Camilla in segheria”, which will offer you a memorable experience in Italian cuisine, in a very stylish place. You can opt for a copious dinner, or just enjoy a cocktail and get delighted by the details of the entourage.
