Location: Milan
Top Things to do in Milan
10 Museums in Milan That You Shouldn't Miss
One of the world’s fashion capitals, Milan offers endless opportunities for chic shopping. Hit the artsy neighborhood of Brera for leather goods and Via Monte Napoleone for exclusive, expensive boutiques. The enchanting mosaics and glass vaults of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II make shoppers feel like they’re wandering inside a painting. Take break from your spree to gape at the iconic Duomo, then grab tickets to a performance at La Scala. Post-opera, the Navigli district pulses with late-night activity.
Restaurants in Milan
1. Bagatti Valsecchi Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 582 reviews
The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum is a historic house museum that exquisitely expresses an extraordinary adventure of collecting at the end of the 19th century. The protagonists were two brothers: the Barons Fausto and Giuseppe Bagatti Valsecchi.
Reviewed By cordyroy - Naples, United States
Beautiful palazzo filled with Renaissance furnishings. The brothers separate apartments have wonderful pieces. One of the beds is jaw dropping. The temporary exhibition of fantastical bird figures is scattered throughout. Part of the 4 houses plan in Milan for discounted admission.
2. Museo Poldi Pezzoli
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,179 reviews
This fine museum houses an exquisite collection of art, furnishings and historic arms, including Antonio Pollaiuolo's "Portrait of a Lady," which has become an icon for Milan's own style and elegance.
Reviewed By Sauna_Boss - London, United Kingdom
Our second visit to this jewel of Milan. This delightful museum is filled with beautiful works of art and is one of our favourite places in Milan.
3. Grande Museo del Duomo di Milano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,170 reviews
Welcome to the Museum of the Cathedral, a symbol of Milan all over the world. The Museum's 26 exhibition rooms house the works of art originally from both the Duomo and from the historic storerooms of Veneranda Fabbrica, now organised chronologically to illustrate all the construction stages of the Cathedral, from its foundation in 1386 right through to the 20th century.
Reviewed By blairkk25 - New Jersey, United States
I visited the Duomo Museum in December 2019. It is an excellent museum and I think it is definitely worth visiting here. The museum includes many artifacts including Christ with a cross, many statues, frescos, tapestries, stained glass, a wooden model of the Duomo, gargoyles, and an exhibit on the Duomo in the time of Leonardo da Vinci.
4. Pinacoteca Ambrosiana
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,337 reviews
The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana was established in April 1618, when Cardinal Federico Borromeo donated his collection of paintings, drawings and statues to the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, which he had founded in 1607. Inside the Pinacoteca's expositive path, articulated in 24 rooms, we can admire some of the greatest masterpieces of all times, like The Musician by Leonardo, The Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio, The cartoon for the School of Athens by Raphael , the Adoration of the Magi by Titian, the Madonna del Padiglione by Sandro Botticelli and the magnificent Vases of Flowers by Jan Brueghel. In addition to Renaissance artworks, the museum's collections include paintings by important 17th century Lombard artists (like Morazzone, Giulio Cesare Procaccini, Daniele Crespi and Carlo Francesco Nuvolone) as well as 18th century artists like Giandomenico Tiepolo, Fra' Galgario, Francesco Londonio, and also a notable cluster of 19th and early 20th centuries authors like Andrea Appiani, Francesco Hayez and Emilio Longoni. Walking from a room to another you can also discover a series of genuine curiosities, like the gloves that Napoleon wore at Waterloo, the armillary spheres from the Settala Collection, or the case that keeps a lock of Lucrezia Borgia's hair, in front of which many famous poets like Gabriele D'Annunzio and Lord Byron came to take inspiration. The ideal end of the visit is the Biblioteca Ambrosiana's old 17th century reading room, the Federiciana Room, which is the frame for the Codex Atlanticus exhibition.
Reviewed By blairkk25 - New Jersey, United States
I visited the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in December 2019. I had a hard time finding it and ended up walking around for 45 minutes with my map and asking several people (in Italian) for directions. But my persistence paid off. The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana is a beautiful museum but it is poorly lit. The ticket cost 15 euros. They provided a good museum plan in English and other languages which gave good guidance on the key works of art to look at. Some of the works of art in this museum include - paintings by Botticelli, Titian, Caravaggio, Breugel and many others. A cartoon by Raphael. A staircase with a beautiful mosaic panorama. Statues in the courtyard. A library with items of Leonardo da Vinci. After the library is a nice bookstore and gift shop. I had an enjoyable visit. But make sure you get precise walking directions to the museum.
5. Pinacoteca di Brera
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,419 reviews
See some of the world’s most stunning, centuries-old paintings from Italian masters including Caravaggio and Raphael. The gallery’s collection is housed in a 19th century former monastery.
Reviewed By 445nikr - Varna, Bulgaria
Pinacoteca di Brera is the Milan's most famous and one of Italy's major art museums. It is housed in the beautiful building of the Palazzo di Brera along with the Botanical Garden, the Astronomical Observatory and Museum, the Academy of Fine Arts, etc. There is a vast, impressive collection on display, mostly religious art, spanning a large period of time, with masterpieces by famous painters, such as Caravaggio, Tintoretto, Bellini, Raffaello, Canaletto, Picasso, etc. You can take an audio-guide but there are info-plates for every drawing, both in Italian and English. As there are more than 30 rooms, you will need about 3 hours but there are benches to sit here and there. Furthermore, you can have some refreshment at the Caffe Fernanda. For those who love to draw, there are special places to "sit down and draw" with paper and pencils. The pinacoteca is closed on Mondays but it is free of charge every first Sunday of the month. If you are with kids, you can benefit from being charged as a family. Highly recommended! Enjoy it!
6. Museo Civico Archeologico
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 236 reviews
Reviewed By AleDima2014 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
A small museum, close to San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore (a must), with two Roman towers in the garden to remind visitors that Milan used to be a capital city of the Roman Empire. you will find an interesting collection of Greek, Roman, Etruscan and Lombard artefacts, including jewelry and ancient glasses. You can visit it in one hour, 5 euro is the full price for a ticket.
7. La Triennale di Milano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 699 reviews
La Triennale di Milano is an international cultural institution which organises exhibitions and conferences as well as hosting arts, design, architecture, fashion, cinema, communications and social events. It organizes cutting hedge, high profile exhibitions dedicated to contemporary art and social issues, with nationally and internationally renowned architects and designers, and top stylists who have influenced tastes and customs.
Reviewed By JMEdQ - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
The permanent exhibition on Italian design through the years is well worth a visit. It's on the upper floor of the Triennale gallery. All the household names and iconic Italian designs that we all know and remember are displayed in chronological order. Think table lamps, scooters, typewriters, coffee machines, fabrics, posters and printing design, those clacking flip-screen airport departure boards, chairs, the original Fiat Panda, and so much more. Allow a couple of hours to really take this in.
8. Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,869 reviews
Reviewed By giacomina17 - Brisbane, Australia
You can't miss this place as it is huge. Amazing to think it is so old. Milan's second most important church after the Duomo. Good signage throughout means you get to appreciate its history and the art work, especially in the side chapels.
9. Civico Planetario Ulrico Hoepli
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 714 reviews
Learn all about astronomy and the wonders of science (including physics) at this Milan planetarium—the largest in Italy.
10. Villa Necchi Campiglio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,988 reviews
Reviewed By Gordon_and_Sally_11 - Broken Hill, Australia
We visited the Villa in July (we are still in catch up mode for reviews) and arrived just as the guided tour in Italian was commencing. As we couldn't wait for an English language tour, we joined the tour as a detailed English written guide was provided. We were incredibly fortunate that the only two others on the tour were English-speaking Italians, who suggested to the guide that the tour continue in English. How kind was that! Whilst some reviewers have complained that the tour takes too long, it is advertised as a one-hour tour, and we greatly enjoyed hearing the detail about this lovely villa from our guide who clearly loved the building. Well worth a visit in English or Italian, utilising the detailed English guide.
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