To visit the most interesting places in Milan, it is not enough to come to this amazing country once. First of all, because in the city there are many "secret" places hidden for the inexperienced visitor. Moreover, Milan continues to amaze even connoisseurs with new constructions. They paradoxically combine the past and the present of the nation, castles and skyscrapers.
This can be seen in ecological projects connecting high-rise buildings and green "vertical" forests, or can be traced in the contours of a high-rise in the form of a medieval tower. A few tips will help those planning a visit to Milan to learn about hidden corners of passers-by and unusual traditions. Italy is different, ancient and new, shocking and exciting. She surprisingly provokes again and again to return to these cozy and full of surprises streets.
Milan cathedral
The Duomo Cathedral is a classic example of Gothic art. It took more than four hundred centuries to build the masterpiece in the center, from the end of the 14th to the beginning of the 19th century. Despite such a long period, the original version of the project has not changed, because the cathedral is so organic and strikes not only with its classical splendor, but also with its interior decoration.
Outwardly, the cathedral expressively conveys the essence of the Gothic: 135 marble spiers, directed into the blue sky of Italy, form the characteristic profile of the building, which has become the hallmark of the capital. The highest of them (106 m) is crowned with a statue of the patroness of the city, Madonna Assunta (4 m), with open arms and pleading to the gods for the salvation of the city.
By law, the construction of buildings above the statue is prohibited, however, Italians are quite creative people and find options for how, observing the laws, to realize their large-scale ideas. So, for example, a copy of the statue is installed on one of the skyscrapers and formally the law is respected, although in fact it violates the urban design of the silhouette.
Returning to the theme of the cathedral, it is worth saying that, in addition to the Madonna, on the building itself you can see quite curious bas-reliefs, for example, on one of the towers Mussolini is carved together with King Vittorio Emanuele II.
The interior of the Catholic cathedral is impressive, which can accommodate up to 40 thousand parishioners, who can simultaneously accommodate in a white-stone basilica, contemplating the splendor of the interior decoration: fundamental columns, striking sculptures with their realism, a unique elevator designed by the great Leonardo da Vinci - there are no trifles, every element is worthy surprise.
Museum del Novecento
This is a real treasury of art from the period of the XX and XXI centuries. Novencento is a young museum, opened in Palazzo dell'Arengario (2010) and stores in its expositions about 400 masterpieces, which are presented to museum guests in chronological sequence, as visitors move from the first to the highest floor, from where magnificent panoramic windows open up. views of the square and Milan Cathedral. Impressive is the fact that each of the city's landmarks conceals a certain detail, style, method of presenting material to guests in its own manner, and this is unparalleled both in the city and throughout the world.
The same can be said about the Novecento Museum, which collects and systematizes the works of the world famous Italian masters of the 20th century by stages of history. The originals of works by Matisse, Modigliani, Kandinsky, Picasso are kept here. Even one mention of a number of artists of this level makes you visit this place at least out of curiosity. A separate place is given to the futurists, including Derpero, Saviniri Boccioni, and the abstractionists - Morandi, Melotti and de Chirico.
It will be interesting to come back here for those who have visited this atmospheric place earlier, there are periodically presented mobile exhibitions on a specific topic, which change 2-4 times a year. These exhibitions are highly valued by connoisseurs of art and will not leave indifferent all other visitors to the place where world-class talent is concentrated.
Gallery of Victor Emmanuel II
Milan is a shopping paradise. One of the most visited places is perhaps the Vittorio Emmanuele II European Shopping Gallery. It connects the two historic squares of the Cathedral - the Duomo and the legendary Teatro alla Scala. The place is famous not only for its brand boutiques, but for connoisseurs of architecture, thanks to the thoughtful and sophisticated architectural ensemble, the place is famous.
The Shopping Passage is decorated with glass ceilings, with a volumetric dome in the center, which allows natural sunlight to play with glare on frescoes, mosaics and revive the symbols of European powers, which are reflected in the interior design of shopping areas. Not only the domes and walls are admirable, but under the feet of visitors are real puzzles of the past. The fanciful Italian mosaics carry certain meanings, sometimes explicit, sometimes hidden and concealing a legend in their symbolism.
For example, the abbreviation F.E.R.T. on the coat of arms of the Savoy dynasty means in Russian “knock, enter, destroy everything” (F.E.R.T: Frappez, Entrez, Rompez Tout). Or, a fresco that traditionally attracts the attention of guests, which depicts a bull, with a legend not devoid of humor. It is customary to twist on the heel to fulfill the cherished desire. Therefore, the poor animal has an eloquent wear and tear in a sacred place as a symbol of the endless desires of tourists.
Arch of Peace
This is an architectural monument in the neoclassical style. It is officially inaugurated as the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The paradox is that the project was originally conceived (1807) as a tribute to Napoleon's victory, but the construction, which took a long time, radically changed the original idea by the time it was completed in 1838. As a result, the meaning of this historic building in the center was the completely opposite meaning - the Arch of Peace becomes a symbol of the end of the Napoleonic wars.
The arch-shaped structure with columns is especially splendid due to the equestrian statues of the goddess of victory, located at the very top of the monument. You can "read" if you are familiar with history and other symbols, it is like a cascade, on each of the registers of the structure forms a certain idea. On the pediment, there are allegorical images of the river gods denoting the main rivers of Lombardy, in the middle of the building there are panels dedicated to events significant for the history of the country: the fall of Napoleon and the subjects of Austrian rule.
Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci
The National Museum named after Leonardo da Vinci, opened in the building of an old monastery of the late Middle Ages, today has become a repository of the largest collections of technical inventions of the brilliant Italian creator.
Moreover, the museum is special: it allows you not only to be amazed at the inventions of the master, but also to enhance impressions through interactive interaction with technical inventions, conducting experiments and observations with their help. One can only guess how exciting it is to apply the technique invented by da Vinci himself.
The museum stores more than 15 thousand exhibits of the inventor, provides an opportunity to get acquainted with valuable information collected on the pages of more than 40 thousand books and 50 thousand photographs and video materials. It will be interesting for guests of any age to visit.
Since there is even a special section of the collection "science for children", designed for the peculiarities of children's perception of the world.In addition to this feature, all materials are conveniently systematized by area: transport, engineering, materials, art, energy.
The museum has an area of 50 thousand square meters. m. collected musical instruments and jewelry, watches. A separate floor is dedicated to the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci, where more than 7 thousand drawings and mechanisms created after his death are presented, based on his engineering developments. It is difficult even to imagine the scale of the interests of the genius who glorified the country all over the world.
Fountain "Wedding cake"
The city surprises with its ability to give the thirsty a chance to make their dreams come true. One of these chances is to throw a coin into the Wedding Cake Fountain, which is located in front of the Sforzesco Castle. You don't have to guess that this is the very fountain: it exactly repeats the shape of the cake, and by the concentration of lovers, in the abundance of those present next to it, any doubts about the prospect of fulfilling love desires disappear.
According to the stories of the lucky ones who visited the “Wedding Cake” fountain during their trip, their life has changed dramatically, and not only in connection with the meeting of the second half. Someone received a sudden income, someone just became a darling of fate.
However, the proof of the fountain's miraculousness is its own history. It was repeatedly restored in history as a phoenix from the ashes, starting from the middle of the last century and being finally restored in 2000, apparently, it transfers its wonderful energy to all its supplicants.
Vertical forest
The city is interesting not only for its past, and now the architects find something to surprise the guests of the city. One of these "neo-miracles" is the Bosco Verticale project. Translated into Russian, its name means "Vertical Forest".
An amazing symbiosis of civilization and ecosystem is presented as a high-rise building with a specially created ecological system, for the embodiment of which more than 800 low and tall trees were used. Moreover, the idea consists not only in decorating the green landscape that is in short supply for the city center, but also in the desire to form a closed ecosystem that affects the quality of the urban environment.
The green massif was selected according to certain patterns - the duration of flowering, plant growth, seasonality and other characteristics that determine the cyclical nature of nature. But even more striking is the fact that the population of this landscape is planned for the corresponding fauna.
Birds, insects and other representatives of the eco-chain will find comfortable living conditions here. This is the idea of the project as an ecological urban niche that reproduces the natural environment of nature. Construction on it includes the construction of 2 buildings with a height of 80 and 112 meters.
Sforza castle
A medieval castle is an indispensable attribute of European culture, and there is such a castle in Milan. The construction of the Sforza Castle dates back to the 15th century. It was restored on the site of the duke's residence destroyed during the uprising in 1360 and surprisingly resembles the Moscow Kremlin in its appearance. There is an answer to this, since the architectural idea of the Sforza Castle later became the prototype for the construction of the Kremlin.
Leonardo da Vinci worked on the design of the Italian Castle. Unfortunately, the results have been preserved in an insignificant amount, but a separate hall is reserved for his work these days. In addition, Michelangelo's unfinished sculpture became an undoubted masterpiece of the castle's exposition. It also houses collections of ancient musical instruments, elements of everyday life that belonged to the nobility of the 15th century.
It should be noted that today the Sforza Castle unites a museum group, which includes a museum of ancient Egypt, as well as a museum of the prehistoric period, which stores curious artifacts of that time. Therefore, the excursion to the Castle can be significantly expanded, especially since one entrance ticket is provided for visiting all expositions.
La Scala theater
La Scala is a common noun, it is more than an opera house - a place of concentration of the world theatrical elite. It is known that the premieres gather opera connoisseurs from all over the world. The Opera House, named after the church on the site of which it was founded, has become synonymous with the highest operatic art.
The building itself is outwardly very modest, built according to the project of Joseppe Piermarine, has an amazing feature - it is the acoustics of the hall. Considering that only world-class stars perform on the stage, each production is a kind of masterpiece. And gathers a worthy audience, the aristocratic nobility of society.
Strict adherence to the dress code is required to visit. The interior of the opera house is fully consistent with both the level of art and the requirements of the obligatory dress code: everything is imbued with luxury. Gold, velvet, high society entourage - that is, everything that emphasizes the level of greatness of the place itself and what is happening on the stage and is responsible for the recognition assigned to La Scala as the center of world art.
Church of Santa Maria presso San Satiro
Tourist Milan is characterized by places of mass visits and, at the same time, this city has some other dimension - inland. A little bit of an inquisitive gaze and on an inconspicuous shopping street, right next to the central square and the Duomo, you can find a Renaissance treasure. This is the Basilica of Santa Maria presso San Satiro, rebuilt in 1476, which was erected on the site of a temple of the 9th century.
Outwardly, rather ascetic, the building in a non-colassic style completely changes the perception when you get inside this sacred place. At one time, the young architect Bramante was invited here to decorate the shrine, the icon of the Virgin and Child, which was properly placed on the altar. The task was not an easy one, it was necessary to solve an engineering puzzle in conditions of very strict space restrictions. And the brilliant Bramante found such a solution.
It creates an optical illusion of space due to the picturesque design of a small niche, less than a meter deep (95 cm). The effect of the arches creates a sense of volumetric space in the beholders of the Virgin Mary, extending at least 9 meters into the depth of the temple. The Basilica of Santa Maria is a working church, so visiting it will serve as a good reason to get rid of imaginary illusions, listen to Mass and understand that life is multidimensional and does not always fit into traditional measurement systems.
Pirelli tower
A high-rise building on Piazza Duca d'Aosta, which became a revolutionary engineering solution for Italy in the middle of the last century. The structure passed the test of the tragic event of 2002, when a private plane crashed into a high-rise building. The office building with a height of 127 meters survived, and on the site of the tragedy that took the lives of three people, a memorial hall was erected that occupied the entire 26th floor of the building.
From the height of the 32nd floor of the Pirelli Tower, amazing views of the entire city and even the foothills of the Alps open up. However, access to the highest floor, called the Belvederes, is not often open and only on public holidays. Another curious fact is that in order to circumvent the existing ban on high-rise buildings, a copy of the statue of Our Lady was installed on the roof, since construction above the Madonna del Duomo is not allowed in Milan.
Pinakothek Brera
The most famous gallery is the Pinacoteca Brera. It is located on the creative street Brera - Italian Montmartre. The collection of the gallery opened in 1809 is impressive: it contains real masterpieces of European painting of the 15th-17th centuries. Here are the paintings of the greats Raphael, Modigliani, Caravaggio, El Greco, Rembrandt. The building itself is not just a beautiful palazzo with an inner courtyard, it is an ancient monastery that belonged to the order of the humiliates.
Visiting the Pinacoteca of Brera, you can observe the work of restoration masters working behind a glass fence and see the intricacies of the craftsmanship of the artists.The gallery houses the atmospheric Brera Botanical Garden. A visit to the gallery can turn into a fascinating journey into the bohemian life of Italians.
House of Atellani and the vineyard of Leonardo da Vinci
Another living secret is the House of Atellani, next to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where the great Leonardo da Vinci lived and wrote his famous "Last Supper". This place is hidden from the eyes of tourists and becomes available for visiting on certain days, when exhibitions and event celebrations are held. The plazzo attracts with both external beauty and interior decoration. Its interior is fully consistent with the spirit of the Renaissance and associated historical figures.
The house keeps another secret of the genius - here in the garden grew the vineyard of Leonardo, from a vine donated by Signor Ludovico Moro Sforza. This is the former owner of the house, which was later transferred to Atellani and preserved in history under his name. Unfortunately, the legendary Leonardo vineyard was destroyed in 1943.
However, thanks to the care of the researchers, after carefully studying the entire history of the vineyard, the vine of the same variety was planted in 2015 and can be seen today when visiting the Atellani house in the backyard.
Sempione Park
A real green oasis. Openwork decorated small forms, benches, bridges, gazebos adorn the shady alleys of plane tree crowns. These alleys lead to places no less interesting than the park itself. For example, to the oldest aquarium in Europe. Or to the Torre Branca structure, from where you can take an elevator to a height of 109 meters for a panoramic view of the city.
Each of the paths in the park is personalized, dedicated to the memory of creative personalities such as Shakespeare, Ibsen, Schiller, Gaultier. There is also Alexander Pushkin Alley, which can be accessed through the graceful bridge of little mermaids from the Petofi Alley. The real highlight of the park is the Palazzo del Arte. World-class exhibitions are constantly held here.
The appearance of the park at the end of the 19th century is due to the fact that between the Sforza Castle and the Arch of Peace, the idea of which was to decorate the triumphal procession of Napoleon, there was a training ground. This piece of land was turned into a blooming oasis, which only emphasized the beauty of iconic places in the historical center of the city.
Triennial Design Museum
It is the first of the design art museums to open in 2007. Previously, exhibitions of design works were updated every three years, which determined its name. Now it is a dynamically changing space that attracts its visitors to the exposition; the renovation takes place every year. The Triennale is quite consistent with the Italian approach to understanding the museum - it is the active involvement of visitors in the theme of the exposition.
Special events are held for children that also involve them in the world of transformations. After meeting with the multidimensional world, it's a good idea to taste Italian cuisine in the restaurant located on the Triennale site. Classic dishes, interpreted in a modern version, like other masterpieces, get a completely new "sound" in the performance of the masters of the culinary arts. At the same time, there is an opportunity to enjoy magnificent views of the city from the panoramic windows of the restaurant.
Monumental cemetery
Cimitero Monumentale: the city of the dead, where great artists found their home. It was founded in 1866 and looks more like a sculptural gallery. The monuments are so varied and the ideas that personify the hotel personalities who have found peace here are skillfully conveyed.
The Famedio chapel at the main entrance keeps a sarcophagus with the relics of the writer Mazzon, urns near the walls are the ashes of the soldiers who died in the First World War. And then - you can just walk along the paths of the Monumental Cemetery to see how Italians captured the earthly journey of their loved ones and conveyed the idea in creatively executed monuments and tombstones.
Corso Como street
Pedestrian promenade - Corso Como street, the most active center of city life. All the "most" is right here: the best nightclubs, including the famous Rythmoteque Hollywood, cafes, shops of famous brands (such as the CORSO COMO multi-brand store). Crowds of people walking or sitting comfortably in the chairs of street cafes - this is the panorama of Corsso Como.
But this is not just an active recreation area, everything takes place against the backdrop of an amazing symbiosis of ancient history and civilization. The street is bounded on one side by the city gate of 1810, PORTA NUOVA, and on the other, by the New Milan, with its modern high-rises in 2014. This is the special spirit of Italy, which characterizes the inextricable connection between the past and the future, and this past actively participates in the life of the townspeople, creating a special flavor and charm of urban culture.
Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa
Built in 1269, in translation the name means the temple of "St. Bernard on the bones." A rather specific object to visit, since the details of the design are the remains of deceased people and those previously buried near the church. The custom of creating ossuaries is associated with the need to store human skeletons in order to free the area from old burials as the boundaries of the city grow.
The church is an octagonal structure with marble altars. It has preserved Ricci frescoes with a three-dimensional effect, which are visible on the ceiling of the temple. In the chapel of the church, you can also see the sculpture of the Madonna kneeling before the tomb of Jesus Christ. The temple is operational and access is open to everyone daily.
Velasca Tower
The first skyscraper in the city resembles an old fort, but its height (110 m) betrays its modern origin. The tower serves as a modern interpretation of the medieval Lombard tower. In the evenings, the walls are beautifully illuminated by illumination. This is the Velasca Tower: a real symbol of the modern city, and given the Italian tradition of the symbiosis of the past and the present, it can serve as the personification of its spirit. However, this is a questionable reputation, given that the Tower has been mentioned more than once as an ugly symbol of modern Italy.
