The 10 Best Historic Sites in Milan, Lombardy

September 25, 2021 Merry Kessler

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

Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie 2, 20123 Milan Italy +39 02 467 6111 http://legraziemilano.it/
Excellent
65%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,314 reviews

Santa Maria delle Grazie

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. Castello Sforzesco

Piazza Castello, 3, 20121 Milan Italy +39 02 8846 3700 [email protected] http://www.milanocastello.it/en
Excellent
56%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 13,235 reviews

Castello Sforzesco

Reviewed By vimals2016 - Pune, India

It’s a very beautiful castle spread across a large area.. it’s centrally located in Milan .. u have a big garden of castle next to it .. it’s a good idea to buy ticket and get a guided tour in case u love history ... simply beautiful.

3. Il Cenacolo

Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, 20123 Milan Italy https://cenacolovinciano.org/en/
Excellent
78%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 13,500 reviews

Il Cenacolo

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. Arco della Pace

Piazza Sempione, Milan Italy http://www.turismo.milano.it/wps/portal/tur/en/arteecultura/architetturaemonumenti/monumenti/Arco_Pace
Excellent
41%
Good
45%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,440 reviews

Arco della Pace

In 1801 Napoleon ordered the demolition of the fortifications for Milan's Castello Sforzesco. This left a large space for the piazza Sempione, now a suitable site for a monumental construction to serve as a triumphal entrance to the city. Begun in 1807 in honour of Napoleon, the arch was not finished until 1838 for the occasion of the coronation of Ferdinando I as King of Lombardy-Venetia. The work of neoclassical architect Luigi Cagnola, inspired by Settimo Severo's arch in Rome, the structure features three colossal Corinthian columns with an arch made of granite from Baveno and adorned with marble from Crevola di Ossola. It is surmounted by the famous 'sestiga della pace' -- the work of Abbondio Sangiorio -- and by four statues of victorious men on horseback.

Reviewed By blairkk25 - New Jersey, United States

I walked twice from Castello Sforzesco through the Parco Sempione to the Arco della Pace. Both times I walked back. The Arco della Pace (Arch of Peace) is impressive and a good photo opportunity. The history of Arco della Pace is connected to Napoleon.

5. Casa di Riposo per Musicisti Giuseppe Verdi

Piazza Buonarroti, 29, 20149 Milan Italy +39 390 246 2474 http://www.casaverdi.org
Excellent
58%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 131 reviews

Casa di Riposo per Musicisti Giuseppe Verdi

6. Ospedale Maggiore Ca' Granda Universita Statale

Via Festa del Perdono 3, 20122 Milan Italy http://www.unimi.it/ateneo/994.htm
Excellent
65%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 217 reviews

Ospedale Maggiore Ca' Granda Universita Statale

Reviewed By mattt517 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom

No charge. Free access to what is now university. Lots of information boards around in both Italian and English. Fascinating history - amazing to think it was founded almost 600 years ago.

7. Palazzo Clerici

Via Clerici 5, 20121 Milan Italy +39 02 7252 4301 http://www.ispionline.it/it/palazzo-clerici
Excellent
60%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 104 reviews

Palazzo Clerici

8. Abbazia di Chiaravalle

Via Sant'Arialdo 102, 20139 Milan Italy +39 02 5740 3404 http://www.monasterochiaravalle.it
Excellent
61%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 746 reviews

Abbazia di Chiaravalle

Reviewed By GiuseppeG7651YS - Naples, Italy

The abbazzia is a magic place. The Church is full of istory, for me the most interesting is the istory of Guglielmina di boema, a fantastic woman That changed the point of view of many person. Is necessary to read same book to understand the huge quantity of spirituality and passion of this place. A place to visit!

9. Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa

Via Carlo Giuseppe Merlo 4, 20122 Milan Italy +39 02 7602 3735 http://www.turismo.milano.it/wps/portal/tur/en/arteecultura/architetturaemonumenti/abbaziechieseebasiliche/chiesa_san_bernardino_ossa
Excellent
53%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 825 reviews

Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa

Reviewed By paupenise - Verona, Italy

The ossuary is outwordly. The small sanctuary with high walls coverded with human bones takes you somewhere else. It is cold and there is a unique light smell in it. I was deffinetly not prepared for that experience. Worth the visit.

10. Palazzo Marino

Piazza della Scala 2, 20121 Milan Italy +39 02 8845 6617 http://www.comune.milano.it/palazzomarino/index.html
Excellent
41%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
16%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 295 reviews

Palazzo Marino

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