Location: Centro Storico
Top Things to do in Centro Storico
Top 10 Architectural Buildings in Centro Storico, Lombardy
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. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29,522 reviews
For sheer belle époque splendor, this extravagant 19th-century glass-topped, barrel-vaulted tunnel serves as a lively, noisy and colorful shopping mall, teeming with life and inviting you to people-watching from the tables that spill from the Galleria's many bars and restaurants.
Reviewed By briancB9323XM - Arlington, United States
Our stay began at a great B & B one block from the most beautiful outdoor shopping plaza in the world. Just a short walk from our B & B we came upon the stunning Vittorio Emanuele II magnificent shopping center of classical architecture lined with boutique restaurants and designer shops, including the 4 story Louis Vuitton glorious masterpiece. I design shopping centers and other urban design uses and none can come close to the perfection of this space. At the axis of the two colonnades is a glass dome that at Christmas time features a perfect tree and lights on the top of the dome, mesmerizing all who simply stood and stared at the lights above. This place is a cant miss on a trip to Milan with spectacular elegance.
2. 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.
3. Arco della Pace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,440 reviews
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.
4. Casa Berri-Meregalli
5. Casa Campanini
6. Ospedale Maggiore Ca' Granda Universita Statale
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 217 reviews
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 Castiglioni
8. Palazzo Litta
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
Reviewed By alessandrofL127YD - Milan, Italy
Baroque architecture Beautiful seventeenth-century building in the center of Milan, the State Railways have finally left (although they remain the owners) to give way to a more appropriate regional headquarters for Cultural Heritage and tourism in Lombardy. The palace has an important portal with two giants, in the style of the Omenoni palace, which support the convex balcony. Corinthian-style columns run from the first floor to the third floor. Above, the attic gable (completion wall element) with two statues supporting the coat of arms of the Litta family, one of the illustrious families of the Milanese aristocracy The inner courtyard is also beautiful
9. Chiesa di San Fedele
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 209 reviews
Reviewed By Justicia-Themis - Hilton Head, United States
Brilliant baroque Jesuit church built in 1569, with Pellegrino Tibaldi as architect. Tibaldi studied under Michelangelo who was busy at that time with the Sistine Chapel. In many aspects San Fedele (Saint Fidelis) is similar to the Gesu in Rome. The outside is a simple facade because the thought in the architecture was that the profane was on the outside and the heavenly on the inside. There are 7 steps to enter the church signifying the 7 days of creation. When you step inside, you are transported to an elaborate vision of "paradise" with lots of gold (baroque style), the purest element on earth, used extensively to represent the perfection of Heaven. On the ceiling we see a painting of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and it seems to open the roof of the Church so we feel transported to Heaven - that we have entered into the realm. The windows and dome above the altar also serves to give this feeling. The Jesuit influence - they are the Society of Jesus - is also seen in the many dedications to Jesus: the beautiful cross depicting a tortured Christ on the main altar; Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist in the baptistry; the painting of crucified Jesus caressed by the women after being taken down from the cross and underneath the painting, the marble depiction of Jesus lying in the tomb; and of course, the painting of St. Ignatius considering the personal cross he must carry to walk in the footsteps of Our Lord. We see the Host, or communion bread, with the Latin IHS and gold beams radiating from it, again signifying Christ risen and surrounded by angels - a depiction similar to that in the Gesu in Rome. One immediate example of the fact that the Church was built to counter criticisms levied on the Catholic Church during the reformation is that there is a single nave with no interior columns (unlike the Duomo, its 52 interior columns, and its gothic architecture). The criticism was that the Catholic Church was not transparent and therefore, needed to take the obstructions away, both figuratively and actively; hence, no columns but a clear view to the altar. In addition, the pulpit was put in the middle of the nave and not in the apse; this was again in response to a well-deserved criticism during the reformation. At that point in time, many Catholic priests were not educated and therefore were not allowed to preach. The Jesuits were well-educated and in fact, countered this criticism by placing the teaching of the Gospel at the center of spiritual community; Jesuits often had priests in the pulpit to preach throughout the day. As for modern attempts to reach out to the congregation and society at large, the Jesuits have also created a museum itinerary to reflect on how faith and its interpretation changes with time, and provides examples of the fruitful interaction between art and spirituality. The cost is minimal for the museum and itinerary. I hope you enjoy this beautiful Church that is a lovely example of the many ways the Jesuits continue to provide spiritual inspiration and an intellectual renaissance!
10. Palazzo Sormani
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
