Location: Centro Storico
Top Things to do in Centro Storico
10 Sacred & Religious Sites in Centro Storico 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. Santa Maria delle Grazie
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,314 reviews
One of the world's most famous paintings, Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" (1495-97), is displayed here.
Reviewed By SammyLuli
This beautiful church built 1497, by the same architect designed the St Peter's Basilica in Rome, commissioned what would become one of the greatest artists of humanity, paint a fresco, that would in turn become the most coped image of the last 5 centuries of Western civilization and a defining image of Christianity. Inside the church itself is beautiful detail, gorgeous craftsmanship without being ostentatious, the grounds are lovely as well. I would recommend getting a tour, wealth of information and puts into perspective the 600 year history of what you're looking and allows access to lovely gardened grounds, especially that this almsot all disappeared in WW2.
2. Duomo di Milano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 56,586 reviews
The Duomo, symbol of Milan in the world, is one of the largest cathedrals in Italy and Europe. Patrimony of Milanese people and humanity, over the centuries it has been expressing, with its magnificence, the devotion of humanity toward the Divine, involving future generations in an endless commitment. The Milan Cathedral, besides being an artistic monument, is a privileged place of prayer, deeply linked to the memory and teachings of the Bishops who succeeded on St. Ambrose's chair, and to the history of the millions of worshippers who, every year, gather in this place to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries. The Cathedral is the mother Church of the Diocese, having a symbolic role of exemplarity both in the life of the city worship, and in relation with the Diocese activity.
Reviewed By ibrett23 - Derby, United Kingdom
I come here every year, past 8 years for a long weekend break. Duomo is a fantastic work of art, great views of Milan from the rooftop, the inside and the museum are also worth the visit, €28 euros for a skip the line tour of all three is a bargain too
3. Il Cenacolo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13,500 reviews
Reviewed By Canadianstraveling - Oakville, Canada
We were fortunate to be able to see Leonardo da Vinci’s late 15th Century painting of “The Last Supper” (Cenacolo Vinciano) when we visited Milan as part of a trip to Italy in May 2019. Getting tickets to do so was an adventure the details of which may be useful to others. While doing some background reading on Milan to get us through a long Canadian winter, we learned that: you needed tickets to see the painting; that tickets were very limited (30 persons per time slot); that tickets could be purchased on-line; and that monthly blocks of tickets were released several months in advance on specific dates and a specific times. According to the Cenacolo Vinciano website, tickets for when we were going to be in Milan would be available on-line at 9:30 A.M (Milan time) on March 12. It was to obtain those tickets that I was delegated to awaken just before 3:30 A.M. E.S.T. one snowy day in March (corresponding to the 9:30 A.M. time in Milan on March 12). Despite some technical hurdles (like having to activate your Viva account via an email message sent mid-way through the purchase process), I was successful in obtaining two tickets with an English tour (only available twice a day) for a 9:30 A.M. admission two months later on a date in early May at a cost of 31 Euros. The third email received about this transaction had the subject line “Thank You for Your Order” and included a link to print your receipt which was labeled “Viva Ticket” but is really a voucher to get a ticket on site. On that day and as instructed in the receipt for our on-line purchase, we showed up at the entrance door for the Cenacolo Vinciano (adjacent to the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church which was not that easy to find from the nearest Metro station) 20 minutes prior to our admission time to check-in with reception and to receive the actual tickets (one for admission and one for the English tour). A group of about 30 of us were met just on time by our English-speaking guide who gave us a useful introduction to the building and the painting as we moved from the entrance area to what might have been a dehumidification area. Our time in the former dining hall of the Dominican Monastery of Santa Maria was 15 minutes, during which our guide provided useful information about the painting and as you were in a small group you had more than enough time to gaze at the enormous painting (and another of “The Crucifixion” by Donato da Montorfano at the other end of the dining hall) from various perspectives. We were then quickly ushered out of the former dining area to make way for the next group. Was it worth it? Definitely!
4. Basilica di San Simpliciano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 150 reviews
Reviewed By macedonboy - Glasgow, United Kingdom
The Basilica di San Simpliciano is a Romanesque church, in the Piazza San Simpliciano not far from the main tourist district of Milan. The facade of the building at the front and around the sides have some interesting triple mullioned windows and decorative arches. The inside is kept pretty dark outside of religious hours and chloral music is played, which make visiting the church very atmospheric. The two marian chapels at the transepts are especially inspiring due to the lighting on the chapel dedication and enhanced by the darkness of the interior.
5. Battistero Paleocristiano
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By 445nikr - Varna, Bulgaria
We visited the archeological area as a part of the Duomo ticket. The entrance is from inside the Cathedral and the site is just beneath it. Here you can see the remains of the foundations of the original basilica of St Tecla (on top of which the present Duomo was built), the baptisteries of San Stefano and San Giovanni alle Fonti.
6. Basilica di San Babila
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 255 reviews
Reviewed By travelsafer
In the center of Milan, a couple of minutes away from the Fashion District is this thousand year old Church. Not all the building is original as it has been remodeled and adapted during the centuries. Its bell tower, for instance, is much more recent, but the church itself is very inspiring. It used to be the third most important church of the city and it's still a beloved church among locals.
7. Il Tempio Israelitico di Milano
8. Tempio della Vittoria
9. Civico Tempio di San Sebastiano
10. Cripta di San Giovanni
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 120 reviews
Reviewed By 384miker
Little remains of this church, which dates back to long before 1192 when it was destroyed by the Emperor Barbarossa. Street-widening and town planning finished it off in the 19th and 20th centuries and now only a section of wall survives above ground on a traffic island on Piaza Missori, but the crypt is still accesible and open to visitors (not Mondays) thanks to volunteers from the Touring Club Italiano. (No admission charge but donations welcomed.) Even the briefest visit gives a fascinating glimpse into the history and archaeology of Milan.
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