|
|
Diventa nostro Follower su Twitter!
|
Adintend |
| Lago di Como | Lago di Garda | Valtellina |
|
| Link Sponsorizzati |
| www.eventinews24.com :News sull'Italia città,Regioni,Spettacoli,eventi,proloco e se vuoi mandare i tuoi comunicati che ti inseriremo gratis scrivi a iaphet@hotmail.com |
| If you have some pictures you can send to me yours with the permission to use and the name of source to insert near the picture.Send to info@stradivariusconcerti.com |
|
|
|
| MilanoRisto | Milano Discoteche |
| Pubblicità |
|
| Muoversi a Milano | Milano News | Milano Expo 2015 |
|
Crea il tuo Itinerario
preferito Risparmiando! VOLO+HOTEL+AUTO Make your Itineraries Low Cost go to Itinerari Turistici |
| Book the Hotel in Milan |
| Thanks to
http://www.facebook.com/Costasur
Guia de viajes - http://www.costasur.com/ |
| _____Milán,
o Milano, es una de las ciudades más ricas y prósperas de Italia, es la
capital de la moda italiana y europea, una ciudad impresionante en la que
podemos disfrutar de la cultura, recorriendo monumentos, de la gastronomía,
de sus paisajes o, por supuesto, de la moda. Milán es famosa en el mundo entero por sus firmas de moda, en esta ciudad conviven las principales marcas a nivel mundial, no en vano, la moda junto con los negocios son el motor económico de esta ciudad. |
|
|
__________Mailand Italien Mailand, auf italienisch Milano, ist eine der wohlhabendsten und wirtschaftsstärksten Städte in Italien, die italienische und europäische Hauptstadt der Mode, eine beeindruckende Grossstadt, in der wir uns an Kultur, Sehenswürdigkeiten, Restaurants, der umgebenden Landschaft und natürlich der Welt der Mode erfreuen können. Die Stadt hat über 1,5 Millionen Einwohner und eine mehr als zwei Jahrtausende alte Geschichte, denn sie wurde bereits 600 vor Christus als keltische Siedlung gegründet. Mailand ist in der ganzen Welt für seine Modefirmen bekannt, in der Stadt konkurrieren und koexistieren die wichtigsten Marken weltweit, nicht umsonst ist die Modebranche zusammen mit dem Handel der wirtschaftliche Hauptzweig der Stadt. |
|
Die internationale Hauptstadt der Mode bietet aber auch andere Attraktionen
und Sehenswürdigkeiten. Mailand ist neben Mode auch eine bedeutendes
Finzanzzentrum und einer Stadt voller Kultur, mit dem Dom, Duomo, als
wichtigstem Wahrzeichen. Die Stadt besticht durch ihre schöne Architektur,
ihre Kunst, ihre Nähe zu Monza, wo die Formel 1 Rennen ausgetragen werden,
ihr Kulturangebot mit der Scala, einem der grössten Opernhäuser der Welt…
viele gute Gründe führen nach Mailand, eine Stadt, in der Sie leicht
Unterkunft ihrer Wahl im Hotel, einer Ferienwohnung oder einer kleinen
Pension finden, denn das Angebot an Unterkünften ist vielfältig. Mailand ist eine kosmopolitische, moderne Stadt, in der die Mode im Alltag dominiert, mit Marken wie Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana oder Giagni Versace sowie weiteren Labels, die man hier in exklusiven Läden bestaunen und erwerben kann – gehen Sie shoppen in Mailand, der Welthauptstadt der Mode.
Die Läden, die Restaurants, die Sehenswürdigkeiten, die Mode... sie sind die
grössten Attraktionen von Mailand – worauf noch warten, um Urlaub in Mailand
zu verbringen ? Buchen Sie hier Hotels, Ferienwohnungen, Pensionen oder ein
Ferienhaus und erleben Sie die pulsierende Weltstadt Mailand! |
|
___________Milao Lombardia. o berço da Moda em Itália. Milão Milao, ou Milano, é uma cidade mais ricas e prósperas da Itália, é a capial da moda italiana e europeia, uma cidade impressionante em que podemos disfrutar da cultura, percorrendo monumentos, da gastronomia, das sa paisagens ou, é claro, da moda. Esta cidade conta com uma populaçao que supera o milhao de habitantes, e com uma história de mais de séculos desde que em 600 antes de Cristo os celtas a fundaram. Milao é famosa no mundo inteiro pelas suas empresas de moda, nesta cidade convivem as principais marcas a nível mundial, nao é em vao, a moda juntamente com os negócios sao o motor económico desta cidade. A capital da moda internacional conta também com outros locais edóneos para disfrutar e visitar, Milao é moda, mas também sao finanças como centro financeiro que é, é cultura, com a Catedral o Duomo como estardarte principal, mas além disso é uma cidade que se destaca pela sua beleza, pela sua arte, por ficar perto de Monza, onde se realiza uma das provas mais espectaculares do Mundial de Fórmula I, é uma cidade de espectáculos, com o Teatro La Scala, o maior do mundo para a ópera... por isto e muitas mais coisas, Milao é uma cidade idónea para disfrutar e passar as suas férias num hotel, ou num apartamento em Milao, uma cidade onde nao terá problema algum em encontrar numerosos alojamentos disponiveis. Milao é ua cidade cosmopolita, é uma cidade oderna, onde a moda está na ordem do dia, marcas como Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana ou Giagni Versace entre a principais marcas de moda que se podem ver e que contam com importantes lojas nesta cidade, ir ás compras em Milao é ir ás compras no centro mundial da moda. As suas lojas, a sua gastronomia, os seus monumentos, a sua moda...são as principais atracções de Milão, o que é que está à espera para vir e disfrutar das suas férias em Milao? Reserve o seu alojamento nas nossas casas, hoteis, apartamentos ou nas diferentes hospedarias que temos à sua disposiçao para as suas férias em Milao!!!! Milao é arte, com monumentos e teatros variados que visitar, como La Scala; é uma cidade de desporto com a Fórmula I e o Futebol e Sao Siro; é moda, com lojas das principais marcas internacionais de roupa e calçado onde pode ir ás compras; é acima de tudo uma cidade ideal para passar uns dias. Reserve o seu alojamento connosco e difrute das suas férias em Milao!!! |
| La capital
de la moda internacional cuenta también con otros lugares idóneos para
disfrutar y visitar, Milán es Moda, pero también son finanzas como centro
financiero que es. Es cultura, donde puedes visitar la Catedral o Duomo como
estandarte principal. Una ciudad que destaca por su belleza, por su arte,
por estar cerca de Monza, donde se celebra una de las pruebas más
espectaculares del Mundial de Fórmula 1, es una ciudad de espectáculos, con
el Teatro de la Escala, es más grande del mundo para la ópera… por esto y
muchas cosas más, Milán es una ciudad idónea para disfrutar y pasar sus
vacaciones en un hotel, o en un apartamento de Milán, una ciudad donde no
tendrá problema alguno en encontrar numerosos alojamientos disponibles.
Milán es una ciudad
cosmopolita, es una ciudad moderna, donde la moda está a la orden del día,
como marcas como Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana o Giagni Versace entre las
principales marcas de moda que se pueden ver y que cuentan con importantes
tiendas en esta ciudad, ir de compras por Milán es ir de compras en el
centro mundial de la moda. |
|
NATALE NEI MUSEI dal 2 dicembre 2007 al 6 gennaio 2008 Un viaggio tra i musei milanesi per riscoprire un patrimonio prezioso di arte, musica, scienza e cultura, al Castello Sforzesco, Acquario, Planetario, Museo di Storia Naturale, Galleria d’Arte Moderna - Villa Reale “[�] Non è un viaggio da compiere con i piedi, che sulla terra ci portano per ogni dove, da una regione all’altra; nè devi approntare un carro o un qualche naviglio, ma devi lasciar perdere tutte queste cose e non guardare. Come chiudendo gli occhi, invece, dovrai cambiare la tua vista con un’altra, risvegliare la vista che tutti possiedono, ma pochi usano”. Plotino - Enneadi (I 6.8) Domenica 16 dicembre 2007 ore 16.00 e ore 18.00 Galleria d’Arte Moderna - Villa Reale Via Palestro, 16 “Frei, aber einsam” - Libero, ma solo Pavel Berman - violino Vsevolod Dvorkin - pianoforte Il duo d’eccezione, Pavel Berman, primo premio e medaglia d’oro al concorso Internazionale di Indianapolis e Vsevolod Dvorkin, brillantemente diplomato presso il Conservatorio Ciaikovsky di Mosca, ci offre veri capolavori della musica da camera romantica: le sonate di Johannes Brahms per violino e pianoforte. Ingresso gratuito con invito indispensabile per accedere al concerto,da ritirarsi presso l’Urban Center � Galleria Vittorio Emanuele �giovedì 13 e venerdì 14 dicembre dalle ore 9,00 alle ore 18,00 fino ad esaurimento dei posti disponibili. Per informazioni 02.88456555 Martedì 18 dicembre 2007 ore 19.00 e ore 21.00 Civico Planetario Ulrico Hoepli Corso Venezia, 57 Merry Christmas in Jazz Rossana Casale Quintet Rossana Casale - voce Roberto Regis - sassofoni Luigi Bonafede - piano Aldo Mella - contrabbasso Mattia Barbieri - batteria Fabio Peri - Planetario Dalle canzoni di Irvin Berlin come “I’ve got a love to keep me warm” al bellissimo “The Christmas Blues” di Cahn/Holt, la famosa “The Christmas Song”, “I’ll be home for Christmas”, “My favourite things”, nata dal musical di Richard Rodgers “Tutti insieme appassionatamente” e poi resa capolavoro da John Coltrane, Rossana Casale canterà la gioia e la malinconia del Natale. A fare da “contrappunto” la narrazione dell’astrofisico Fabio Peri, per farci sentire, sotto la volta stellata del Planetario, la “nostalgia dei cieli”. Ingresso gratuito con invito indispensabile per accedere al concerto, da ritirarsi presso l’Urban Center � Galleria Vittorio Emanuele � lunedì 17 e martedì 18 dicembre dalle ore 9,00 alle ore 18,00 fino ad esaurimento dei posti disponibili. Per informazioni 02.88456555 INIZIATIVE PER BAMBINI E FAMIGLIE Arca di Noël - 10ª edizione Museo di Storia Naturale Corso Venezia, 55 Iniziativa natalizia per bambini e famiglie a cura dell’Associazione Didattica Museale Prenotazione obbligatoria per tutti gli appuntamenti telefonando allo 02 88463337 Mercoledì 5 dicembre � ore 21.00 PIANOFORMANCE Un recital pianistico che mette in scena l’impari lotta tra un pianista e un computer per il dominio di un pianoforte. Un vero e proprio duello tra l’elemento umano e quello tecnologico, che si sviluppa in imprevedibili performance dell’autore. Per tutti A cura di Massimo Giuntoli, pianista, compositore, designer urbano Domenica 9 dicembre � alle ore 10.00 e alle ore 15.00 Biolab (Giardini Pubblici, via Manin 2/a) PICCOLI AIUTANTI DI BABBO NATALE Al Biolab c’è una grande novità: un allestimento di terrari e acquari per poter osservare animali vivi. Sarà l’occasione per osservare le loro abitudini curiose, ed impegnarsi in divertenti giochi e laboratori a tema. Per bambini dai 5 ai 12 anni Domenica 16 dicembre � alle ore 10.00 e alle ore 15.00 Aula Magna del Museo e Sale Ostensive UN NATALE AL MIELE In occasione dell’uscita al cinema del film di animazione Dreamworks “Bee-Movie”, prepariamoci a un viaggio appassionante nella società delle api, per scoprire tra giochi e laboratori la vita segreta della regina, la danza armoniosa delle api operaie, l’origine del miele e tante altre sorprese. Per famiglie Sabato 22 dicembre � alle ore 10.00 e alle ore 15.00 Paleolab (Giardini Pubblici) DDD: DINOSAURI DI DICEMBRE Natale è alle porte e la sua atmosfera “magica” si avverte anche al Paleolab. Giovani paleontologi si preparano al meglio a questa ricorrenza, scambiandosi alla fine gli auguri di Buon Dino-Christmas! Per bambini dai 5 ai 12 anni Domenica 23 dicembre � alle ore 10.00 e alle ore 15.00 Aula Magna del Museo e Sale Ostensive LA NOSTRA ARCA Le ricostruzioni ambientali del Museo si prestano ad avvincenti giochi per scoprire le abitudini più curiose degli animali del mondo. Tutti gli animali riservano incredibili sorprese! E non si esclude che ospiti inattesi ma graditissimi possano farci visita� Per bambini dai 5 ai 12 anni Domenica 6 gennaio � alle ore 10.00 e alle ore 15.00 Aula Magna del Museo e Sale Ostensive I DONI DELLA BEFANA Che cosa ci porterà la signora sulla scopa� Dolcetti o carbone? Di certo una giornata di grande divertimento per tutti: la Befana del Museo non permetterà a nessuno di andarsene a mani vuote. Per famiglie ALTRI APPUNTAMENTI NEI MUSEI A cura della Galleria d’Arte Moderna � Villa Reale Villa Reale � Sala da Ballo � Via Palestro, 16 13 dicembre 2007 � ore 18.00 CONCERTO DI NATALE in collaborazione con “Amici Galleria d’Arte Moderna” Ingresso libero fino ad esaurimento dei posti disponibili.Info: 02 76340809 ALTRI APPUNTAMENTI A cura delle Raccolte d’Arte Applicata ed Incisioni Castello Sforzesco � Museo degli Strumenti Musicali � Sala della Balla � Piazza Castello 15 dicembre 2007 � ore 16.30 CONCERTO DI NATALE AL CASTELLO SFORZESCO Coro da Camera dell’Accademia Internazionale della Musica di Milano Ingresso libero fino ad esaurimento dei posti disponibili, con biglietto di accesso al Museo (€ 3,00) � Info: 02 88463825 A cura delle Raccolte Storiche Museo di Storia Contemporanea - Sala Conferenze � Via Sant’Andrea, 6 18-19-20 dicembre 2007 e 3-4-5 gennaio 2008 � ore 17.30 TEMPO DI NATALE Ciclo di proiezioni cinematografiche a tema storico-natalizio Ingresso libero fino ad esaurimento dei posti � Info: 02 88464182/184 A cura delle Raccolte Archeologiche Museo Egizio � Piazza Castello 15 dicembre 2007 � ore 15.00 ASPETTANDO NATALE CON GLI EGIZI in collaborazione con Aster Attività per bambini e famiglie: � 6.00 (un bambino e un genitore) Info e prenotazioni: 02 20404175 A cura dell’Acquario Civico � Stazione Idrobiologica Viale Gadio, 2 Sala Vitman 12 dicembre 2007 - ore 21.00 LE VOCI DEL NATALE Concerto Gospel dell’Associazione degli Amici dell’Acquario di Milano (AMAMI) in collaborazione con “Medici Senza Frontiere” Ingresso gratuito con prenotazione sul sito:www.amami.it 15 dicembre 2007 � ore 15.00 NATALE CON BABBO NATALE A cura di Verdeacqua Attività per bambini dai 5 ai 9 anni Ingresso a pagamento con prenotazione obbligatoria Info e prenotazioni: 02 88465754 DIREZIONE CENTRALE CULTURA Settore Musei e Biblioteche Via T. Marino, 7 - 20121 Milano Coordinamento Ufficio Relazioni Esterne Natale nei Musei Produzione a cura di C.S.C. Media S.r.l. - Luca Perreca www.comune.milano.it/museiemostre Associazione Amici della Musica Milano via Barona ang. via Boffalora 20142 Milano tel e fax 02/89122383 www.amicidellamusicamilano.it |
|
Questo articolo è rilasciato sotto i termini della
GNU Free Documentation License Esso utilizza materiale tratto da http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Montenapoleone Cronologia/Autori: http://it.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Via_Monte_Napoleone&action=history Via Monte NapoleoneDa Wikipedia, l'enciclopedia libera.
(Reindirizzamento da
Via Montenapoleone)
Via Monte Napoleone è una via del centro di Milano, considerata una delle zone più lussuose, e uno dei maggiori centri dello shopping dell'alta moda a livello mondiale. Spesso il suo nome viene anche scritto come un'unica parola: via Montenapoleone. È costellata da negozi e showroom dei più importanti nomi della moda, come Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Dior, ecc. Assieme alle sue traverse e parallele Via della Spiga, Via Sant'Andrea e Via Pietro Verri, costituisce il cosiddetto Quadrilatero della moda. Viene spesso associata, non casualmente, alla borghesia milanese; in questo modo viene rappresentata, per esempio, nel film omonimo di Carlo Vanzina, in cui viene rappresentato in chiave comica il fenomeno degli yuppies. È un punto di riferimento dei Personal shopper in quanto ricca di lussuosi negozi e showroom. A differenza di via della Spiga, che è in gran parte zona pedonale, via Monte Napoleone è aperta al traffico automobilistico ed è dotata di un marciapiede su ciascun lato della strada per la sua intera lunghezza. La strada è asfaltata e a senso unico sull'intero tratto, ma la direzione consentita cambia ad un certo punto è possibile solo andare verso le sue estremità dal suo centro, ma non è pertanto possibile entrare in auto in via Montenapoleone dalle sue estremità. Dall'incrocio con via Verri e via Sant'Andrea è sia possibile andare verso corso Matteotti (in direzione di piazza San Babila) sia verso corso Manzoni. Inoltre data la configurazione di via Verri e di via Sant'Andrea l'accesso automobilistico è possibile solo da via Verri. In direzione NW la strada termina con un incrocio, con semaforo, in via Manzoni. Oltre l'incrocio si trova la via Santa Croce, una via che ha assunto la fisionomia di una piazzetta, oggi interamente pedonalizzata, di cui una grande parte è occupata da un monumento fontana, il cui gusto è spesso stato soggetto di critiche. In questa stessa piazzetta si trovano le scale che portano alla stazione della metropolitana della Linea 3, denominata Montenapoleone (il cui nome è usualmente scritto tutto attaccato). La via prende il nome dall'Istituzione finanziaria che sotto il "governo" di Napoleone (formalmente era un regno autonomo, con viceré Eugenio de Beauharnais) gestiva il debito pubblico. Dopo la caduta di Napoleone la gestione di tale debito pubblico, suddiviso tra le entità statali che ne erano derivate, fu uno dei problemi maggiori della Restaurazione. |
|
Questo articolo è rilasciato sotto i termini della
GNU Free Documentation License Esso utilizza materiale tratto da http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinacoteca_di_Brera Cronologia/Autori: http://it.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pinacoteca_di_Brera&action=history Pinacoteca di BreraDa Wikipedia, l'enciclopedia libera.
Andrea Mantegna: Cristo
morto
Cortile della pinacoteca di Brera
La Pinacoteca di Brera si trova in Via Brera 28 a Milano in Italia; galleria d'arte antica ed arte moderna. Il museo espone opere di: Giovanni Bellini, Umberto Boccioni, Sandro Botticelli, Agnolo Bronzino, Caravaggio, Carlo Carrà, Piero della Francesca, Leonardo da Vinci, Andrea Mantegna, Francesco Menzocchi, Amedeo Modigliani, Marco Palmezzano, Raffaello, Pieter Paul Rubens, Tintoretto, ecc.
[modifica] La sede
Caravaggio: cena in Emmaus
Giovanni Bellini: Pietà La Pinacoteca ha sede nel grande palazzo
barocco di Brera, che ospita anche altre istituzioni: la
Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense, l'osservatorio
di Brera, l'Orto
Botanico, l'Istituto
Lombardo di Scienze e Lettere e l'Accademia
di Belle Arti. Sorge su un antico convento dell'ordine degli
Umiliati, una delle più potenti associazioni religiose del milanese. Nel
1773 l'ordine
dei Gesuiti fu abolito ed il palazzo passò al Governo.
[modifica] La storia
Raffaello: particolare
dello Sposalizio della Vergine
Piero della Francesca:
Madonna e santi
Andrea Mantegna: Madonna
con Bambino
Gentile da Fabriano: il
polittico di Valle Romita
Vincenzo Foppa: polittico
di
Bergamo
L'Accademia di Belle Arti venne fondata nel
1776. Due anni dopo fu eletto l'abate Carlo Bianconi come
segretario dell'Accademia. Nel 1801 venne eletto un nuovo segretario, Giuseppe Bossi, che si impegnò ad arricchire la Pinacoteca con nuove copie di gessi ed a partire dal 1806 organizzò mostre d'arte aperte al pubblico.
Nel periodo napoleonico numerose chiede e monasteri
vennero chiusi ed i loro beni vennero requisiti e tre questi numerose
opere d'arte.
Andrea Appiani venne nominato
Commissario per le Belle Arti nel
1805 ed a
Brera cominciarono ad affluire da ogni parte dipinti di pregio ed
affreschi
staccati. Come per altri musei anche per la Pinacoteca cominciò
a farsi avanti un problema: la mancanza di spazio per esporre le opere
d'arte. Così fu deciso, nel
1808 di
sacrificare l'antica chiesa di Santa Maria, suddivisa in due piani
all'altezza delle navate per realizzare i grandi "Saloni Napoleonici". Alla caduta del regime napoleonico nel
1814, il
Congresso di Vienna sancì la restituzione dei beni ai proprietari
originari. Nel 1926 venne creata l'Associazione degli Amici di Brera e grazie a questa associazione vennero acquistati svariati capolavori tra cui la "Cena in Emmaus". Il sopraggiungere della guerra del 1914-1918 costrinse a far emigrare per ragioni di prudenza la collezione a Roma e al loro rientro, la Pinacoteca fu abbellita e ampliata, sotto la Direzione di Ettore Modigliani. Durante la
Seconda Guerra Mondiale le opere della Pinacoteca vennero messe al
sicuro, infatti il palazzo subì seri danni, e tra il
1946 ed il
1950 le opere
furono risistemate interamente. Gli anni '70 ed '80 furono caratterizzati dalla
carenza di spazio, scarsa agibilità delle sale, problemi di sicurezza e
furti. Oggi Brera offre una visione completa della storia pittorica della Lombardia, nuovamente riorganizzata in un nuovo percorso e riallestimento, che è possibile visitare.
[modifica] Le opere maggiori
[modifica] Anonimo lombardo (Maestro della Pala Sforzesca)
[modifica] Giovanni Bellini
[modifica] Gentile Bellini e Giovanni Bellini
[modifica] Bramante
[modifica] Bramantino
[modifica] Caravaggio
[modifica] Correggio
[modifica] Pietro da Cortona
[modifica] Daniele Crespi
[modifica] Giovanni Battista Crespi
[modifica] Carlo Crivelli
[modifica] Gentile da Fabriano
[modifica] Gaudenzio Ferrari
[modifica] Vincenzo Foppa
[modifica] Francesco Hayez
[modifica] Giovan Paolo Lomazzo
[modifica] Bernardino Luini
[modifica] Andrea Mantegna
[modifica] Marco Palmezzano
[modifica] Simone Peterzano
[modifica] Piero della Francesca
[modifica] Giulio Cesare Procaccini
[modifica] Guido Reni
[modifica] Raffaello
[modifica] Rembrandt
[modifica] Pieter Paul Rubens
[modifica] Luca Signorelli
[modifica] Andrea Solario
[modifica] Tintoretto
[modifica] Tiziano
[modifica] Veronese
[modifica] Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
[modifica] Iniziative
[modifica] Altri progettiCommons contiene file multimediali su Pinacoteca di Brera
[modifica] Collegamenti esterni
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| Grazie a www.travelpuppy.com |
| Milan
Travel Guide Milan Travel Guide and Milan Travel Information - TravelPuppy.com Milan (Milano), situated on the flat plains of the Po Valley, and is the capital of Lombardy and Italy’s richest and second largest city. Wealthy and cosmopolitan, the Milanesi enjoy a reputation as successful businesspeople, equally at home overseas and in Italy. Embracing tradition, sophistication and ambition all in equal measures, they are just as likely to follow opera at La Scala as their shares on the city’s stock market or their chosen football team, AC or Inter Milan, at the San Siro Stadium. Milan is better known for being new and fashionable, and has never willingly thrown out the old. Three times in its history, the city had to rebuild after conquest by foreign invaders. Founded in the seventh century BC by Celts, the city, then known as Mediolanum (‘mid-plain’), was first sacked by the Goths in the 600s (AD), then by Barbarossa in 1157 and finally by the Allies in World War II, when over a quarter of the city was flattened. Milan had to make an art of recovery, successively reinventing herself under French, Spanish and then Austrian rulers from 1499 until the reunification of Italy in 1870. It is a miracle that so many historic treasures still exist, including Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, which survived a direct hit in World War II. The Milanesi’s appreciation of tradition includes a singular respect for religion, to the extent that they even pay a special tax towards the Cathedral maintenance. It is therefore fitting that the city’s enduring symbol is the gilded statue of the Virgin, on top of the Cathedral (Il Duomo). The layout of the city is best understood as a historic nucleus around the Cathedral and from which a star-shaped axis of arteries spreads through modern suburbs to the ring road. The modern civic centre lies to the northwest, around Mussolini’s central station, and is dominated by the Pirelli skyscraper, which dates from 1956 and is one of the first skyscrapers in Italy. The trade and fashion fairs take place in the Fiera district, west of the nucleus around the Porta Genova station. Milan’s economic success was founded at the end of the 19th century, when the metal factories and the rubber industries moved in, replacing agriculture and mercantile trading mainly in silk, as the city’s main sources of income. Milan’s position at the heart of a network of canals, which provided the irrigation for the Lombard plains and the important trade links between the north and south, became less important as industry took over and the waterways were filled in to make way for roads. A few canals remain in the Navigli district near the Bocconi University, a fashionable area in which to drink and listen to jazz and other live music, especially during the warm summers of Milan’s typically continental climate. Since the 1970s, Milan has remained the capital of Italy’s automobile industry and its financial markets, but the limelight is dominated by the fashion houses, who, in turn, have drawn media and advertising agencies to the city. Milan remains the marketplace for Italian fashion. Fashion aficionados, supermodels and international paparazzi descend upon the city twice a year for its spring and autumn fairs, while the world looks on. Valentino, Versace and Armani may design and manufacture their clothes elsewhere but Milan, which has carefully guarded its reputation for flair, drama and creativity, is Italy’s natural stage. ___________Milan Culture Guide Milan Culture Guide - TravelPuppy.com Milan’s cultural scene boasts some diverse and interesting offerings for classical purists, and for those interested in the avant-garde. A visit to La Scala will never be forgotten and should be top of the list for foreign visitors. Italian speakers should not ignore the stage too, as the Teatro Piccolo offers excellent performances all year round and has become one of Milan's best-known cultural institutions next to La Scala. Listings are best obtained from the pullout in the Corriere della Sera on Wednesdays. The free monthly information programme, Milano Mese, in Italian, has listings and is available from the tourist information office and most hotels. The English language HelloMilan and Milan Where, When, How are available free from bars, hotels, and the Duomo tourist office. Tickets for most events are available for purchase at Ricordi Box Office, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (telephone number: 02 869 0683), La Prevendita, Virgin Megastore, Piazza Duomo 8 (telephone number: 02 7200 3370), and Last Minute Tour, Fiorucci, Galleria Passarella 1. Tickets are also available online at Ticketweb Music Opera lovers worldwide know the Teatro alla Scala, La Scala for short. The theatre is currently undergoing a full interior modernisation. All performances have been transferred to the new Teatro degli Archimboldi. Hopefully, La Scala will reopen on 7 December 2004, the beginning of the 2004 opera season. The Teatro degli Archimboldi is a new theatre built by the City of Milan in collaboration with Pirelli. Its large capacity means there are about 500 more seats currently available. The new theatre box office opens two hours before performances start at 2000 hrs. The Museo Teatrale alla Scala has moved to Palazzo Busca, Collegio San Carlo, Corso Magenta 71. The main ticket office remains under the Piazza Duomo, admittance from the stairs of the Duomo Metro and opening times are 1200 hrs-1800 hrs daily. Teatro degli Arcimboldi Viale dell’Innovazione Telephone number: 02 7200 3744. Transport Shuttle bus from Piazza Duomo on performance evenings, every five minutes from 1845 hrs -1700 hrs. This service is free for season ticket holders, all others should buy a normal metro ticket. Metro (M1) to Precotto, then shuttle to Biococca), every 8 to 10 minutes. Bus 44 from Metro (M2) Cascina Gobba to Biococca (via Brecotto). Tram 7 from Lagosta to Mattei (via M3 Zara). Trains from Porta Garibaldi, Lambrate, Rogoredo and sometimes from Stazione Centrale to the Greco-Pirelli station, using a normal ATM ticket. There is a special train on performance nights from Greco-Pirelli railway station to Milano Centrale and Porta Garibaldi Station and this is free for season ticket holders, all others should purchase a normal ATM ticket for the city network. This train departs 20 minutes and 40 minutes after performances. Opening hours: Usually two hours before the performance. Admission: depends on the performance and seats available. Milan’s respected symphony orchestra, the Orchestra Verdi (telephone number: 02 8338 9201), was founded in 1993 and conducted by Riccardo Chailly and frequently performs concerts in the Auditorium di Milano, Corso San Gottardo. Performances take place on Thursday and Friday at 2030 hrs and on Sunday afternoon at 1600 hrs . Tickets cost €18-50. Another venue for classical concerts is the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi, Via Conservatorio 12. Tickets for the Cantelli Orchestra (telephone number: 02 655 391 ), which plays at the Conservatory, and cost from €18. Theatre Milan has become a driving force behind Italian drama since the foundation of the Teatro Piccolo by Giorgio Strehler and Paolo Grassi during 1947. The company puts on a broad repertory of international, classical and experimental drama in three different theatres. Audiences can choose between programmes for the Teatro Grassi, Via Rovello, the experimental theatre Teatro Studio, Via Rivoli, and the new Teatro Strehler, Largo Greppi. The box office is at Via Rovello 2 (telephone number: 02 7233 3222). Dance The home of classical ballet in Milan is also at La Scala (see Music above), which is also the venue for its renowned ballet school, the Scuola di Ballo del Teatro alla Scala, Via Verdi 1 (telephone number: 02 877 995). CRT (Centro di Ricerca per il Teatro) at Teatro dell’Arte, Viale Alemagna 6 is Milan’s main advocate for contemporary dance, organising performances and festivals like Short Formats Festival during May which investigates all the latest trends in European dance. Film Italians share a great passion for the cinema and Milan’s city centre has over twenty cinemas. Luchino Visconti’s masterpiece Rocco and His Brothers (1960), starring Alain Delon, was filmed extensively in and around Milan and along the Naviglio Grande. The Corso Vittorio Emanuele area is a good spot for cinemas with the latest releases, such as Ambasciatori (telephone number: 02 7600 3306). For art movies, Cineteca Museo, Palazzo Dugnani, Via Manin 2/A (telephone number: 02 655 4977), is a good option and English-language films are shown on Monday at Anteo, Via Milazzo 9. On Tuesday at Arcobaleno, Viale Tunisia 11 (telephone numberl: 02 2940 6054, and on Thursday at Cinema Centrale, Via Torino 30 (telephone number: 02 874 826). Milan has not been a particularly popular film location. This is partly due to the great old buildings being part of a modern cityscape rather than being in isolation as it is in Rome, and partly to Italian post-war neo-realism with its emphasis on the south of the country. Vittorio De Sica's socially conscious fairy tale, Miracolo a Milano (Miracle in Milan, 1950) includes fantasy elements like the boy Toto being found in a cabbage patch, with angels and a dove which grants wishes, against a story of poor squaters fighting eviction by a rich landowner. Lichino Visconti's Rocco e i Suoi Fratelli (Rocco and His Brothers, 1960) describes the problems of a very poor Sicilian farming family who move into Milan; although primarily set in the northern industrial suburb of Bovisa, there are scenes in the centre of the city including a dramatic one near the outside top of the Duomo. There was a brief revival of interest in Milan in the 1980s, although most films merely had small sections where the characters were leaving Milan for somewhere else, as in the 1989 film Marrakech Express. Michele Sordillo's Acquario (late 1990s) is a triptych of stories concerning love, care for the aged and problems arising from having someone stay in one's apartment. Renato Castellani's 1982 superb docu-drama The Life of Verdi (the Italian edition is simply called Verdi) has many accurate reconstructions of 19th century Milan and Venice. The 580 minute programmes were made by European television companies and have since been released on video. Cultural Events Milan always has a series of events and minor festivals going on somewhere in and around the city. For information, the Commune of Milan (Municipality of Milan) regularly updates its website. There are usually a number of jazz, theatre and dance spectacles to be found around the city during the summer months, particularly during July. Visitors to Milan should not ignore the religious festivals, as these traditional festivals are often Milan’s best-loved and most charming features. Visitors will discover that the Milanesi are particularly fond of Christmas, kick-starting the celebrations on 7th December with the festival of O Bej, O Bej (since 1288) and finishing with the Procession of the Corteo dei Re Magi on Epiphany, 6 January. The main cultural centre, the Palazzo Triennale, located on the western flank of the Parco Sempione (telephone number: 02 724 3410 ), hosts a major international exposition of the arts every three years, the last was held in 2004 (22nd March-13th June). Literary Notes Modern Milan is a major centre within the publishing industry and not surprisingly retains a keen interest in literature. Visitors to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II may happily while away a few hours as they explore the bookshops Zanichielli and Ricordi. Academics are sure to head to the Biblioteca Ambrosiana located next to the art gallery, to study the writings of Leonardo da Vinci and other historic texts in its significant collection. Alessandro Manzoni is the best-known Milanese author. His novel, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed, 1827), is a tale of two lovers set against times of war and pestilence in Lombardy, during the 1620s. Gabriele D’Annunzio’s early autobiographical novel Il Piacere (The Child of Pleasure, 1898) is a classic of the decadence movement and his poetry is also excellent. Part of Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms takes place in Milan. Many Italian authors have since ended up in Milan, including the 1959 Nobel literary prize winner Salvatore Quasimodo, a Sicilian poet who is buried in Milan’s Monumental Cemetery. The most important Italian literary event of the year, the Bagutti Prize, originated in Milan’s Bagutti Ristorante (see Restaurants section), Via Bagutti, where the founders of the Literary Review (Fiera Letteraria) used to eat and where they founded the prize in 1925. ______________ Milan Festival - Events Milan Festivals and Events Guide - TravelPuppy.com Inauguration of the Opera Season 7 Dec, Teatro alla Scala. Inauguration of the Piccolo Teatro Season 7 Dec, Teatro Piccolo, Via Rovello 2 O Bej, O Bej Milan’s Christmas celebrations begin with the traditional open-air fête celebrating Milan’s patron saint, St Ambrose, 7 Dec, outside the Basilica of San Ambrogio, for five days. Milan Marathon Sunday in early Dec (website: www.milanomarathon.it ) Natale in Fiera (Christmas Fair) Stalls, folklore shows, acrobatic displays, jazz, cabaret and concerts, mid-December-31st December, Fiera. Corteo dei Re Magi (Procession of the Three Wise Men, Epiphany) Costumed procession, 6 January, from the Cathedral to the Basilica of Sant’Eustorgio MODIT-Milanovendomodo (Fashion in Milan) During early March, Fiera and city (website: www.modaindustria.it Carnevale Ambrosiana (Ambrosian Carnival) Milan’s longest carnival, ending the first Saturday of Lent instead of Shrove Tuesday as elsewhere, late February/early March, Piazza Duomo Milan-San Remo Cycling competition, mid-March, from Milan to San Remo on the western coast of Italy. Oggi Aperto (Open Today) Monuments and historic buildings normally closed to the public are opened for the day during the third weekend of March, throughout the city. Fiera dei Fiori (Flowers Fair) Flower market, April, along the canals in the Navigli district. Bagutta-Pittori all’Aria Aperta (Bagutta Open-air Painting Exhibition) Outdoor exhibition of artists’ work, third week during April, Via Bagutta. Milano Cortili Aperti (Milan Open Courtyards) Private residences organise special openings for the public, Sunday in mid-May, historic centre (website: ww.italiamultimedia.com/cortiliaperti) Festa del Naviglio (Naviglio Festival) Large summer fête including torchlight processions, folk music, dancing and crafts, 1st June, Naviglio . Sagra di San Christoforo (Festival of Saint Christopher) Evening celebrations upon barges in the canals, 15th June, Naviglio. Milano d’Estate (Milan Summer) Entertainment, June-August, Parco Sempione . Formula 1 Grand Prix Second Sunday of September, Monza (website: www.monzanet.it ) Festa del Chiodo (Fête of the Nail) Celebrating a nail that came from the cross on which Christ was crucified, first week September, Cathedral . Le Vie del Cinema (Ways of the Cinema) From the Venice Film Festival, September, local cinemas Festa di Chiaravalle (Chiaravalle Fair) Fair held in the shade of the ciribiciaccola (bell tower) of the Chiaravalle Cistercian Abbey, exhibitions and entertainment, 6th October, Chiaravalle Abbey. MODIT-Milanovendemodo (Fashion in Milan) Week, early October, Fiera and city (website: www.modaindustria.it ) Mostra di Pittura l’Arte al Cielo Aperto (Open-air Art Exhibition) October, in and around Via Bagutta. Fiera dei Libri Antiquati (Antique Books Fair) October, Palazzo del Ragione, Via Mercanti ______________ Milan Getting Around Getting Around Milan - TravelPuppy.com Public Transport For those foot-weary travellers tired of dodging scooters, Milan has a comprehensive transport network which is run by Azienda Trasporti Milanesi or ATM (telephone number: 02 7252 4360 ). Swapping between the metro, bus, tram and trolley bus is easy, thanks to the integrated ticketing system. Services operate daily 0600 hrs - 2400 hrs, with night buses running to approx 0130 hrs. Tickets cost €1 and last 75 minutes, allowing the traveller to use unlimited buses and trams within this time or make one ride on the metro. The metro has three lines, the red MM1, green MM2 and yellow MM3. The lines converge at Duomo, Centrale FS, Loreto and Cadorna. Tickets must be validated by punching them in the SITAM machines on-board buses or at the metro stations. Single tickets at €1 or carnets of 10 tickets costing €9.20 are available for purchase from newsagents, tobacconists (a capital T for tabacchi distinguishes these outlets), most coffee bars and at automatic vending machines at major metro and at bus stops. Passes, valid for one or two days, are available for purchase from ATM railway offices at Cadorna, Centrale FS, Duomo, Loreto and Romolo. The one-day abbonamento giornaliero pass costs €3, while the two-day abbonamento bigiornaliero pass costs €5.50. These are good value for individuals on short visits but also for families on Sundays when one ticket is valid for both the parents and children. Taxis Taxis are mainly white in colour (some are yellow or painted in livery of sponsors) and can be hailed on the streets, although they rarely stop. It is better to hire them at the taxi ranks outside train stations. Visitors can telephone from a landline (telephone number: 02 4040 8585) and an automated voice will inform them of the nearest rank. Telephone bookings are run by co-operatives. The main firms are Radiotaxi (telephone number: 02 6767 or 5353) and Autoradio (telephone number: 02 8585). The minimum fare is currently €3. However, with a base charge of €2 and a charge of around €0.80 per kilometre, plus supplements for luggage, night-time travel or travelling on Sunday, taxi costs add up quickly. Tipping is not expected, unless the driver has been exceptionally helpful, but one usually rounds the fare up to the nearest Euro. Limousines Luxury cars, chauffeured by English-speaking drivers, can be provided by Autonoleggio Pini (telephone numberl: 02 2940 0555) or the Eurochange Business Centre (telephone number: 02 5858 1199), based at Malpensa airport and prices start from €270 for eight hours, including 10 per cent taxes and allowance for the driver’s lunch. Driving in the City Where at all possible, driving in the centre of Milan should be avoided. Streets in the centre of Milan are congested virtually all day and night and any street can become a hotspot. Parking is also very difficult and some Italian parking techniques are often unusual. Paying for hotel or private garages in the city centre can be expensive. Roadside parking in the historic centre is limited to a maximum of two hours within the blue lines marked by sosta a pagamento (pay to stop) signs. Motorists must buy special cards (Sosta Milano) for €3 for two hours in the centre and €2 outside the historical zone, from ATM offices at metro stations or bars and tobacconists, then scratch out the relevant date, hour of arrival and whether they plan to stay one or two hours. Drivers must also purchase Sosta Milano in the area of the trade fairs, when these are in progress. For visitors making a day trip to Milan, the best option is to head to one of the park and ride schemes run by ATM, which connect with Milan’s metro system. Electronic signs on the main roads into the city indicate directions to the nearest car park and the number of spaces remaining. The car parks are open 0700 hrs - 2000 hrs and parking costs €2.60 for eight hours, cheap in comparison to private car parks. Those determined to drive further in could try the private car park of Autosilo Borgospesso, Via Borgospesso 18, which is located close to the Cathedral and open 24 hours. Many Italians drive as if they were Formula One racing drivers and, although there are relatively few accidents, one must always be very careful. Rush hour can run from 0700 hrs - 1100 hrs and 1500 hrs - 2100 hrs or far later (many football fans drive around Milan blowing their horns for hours after home macthes have been won). The public transport system is excellent and much faster than travelling by car. Car Hire Drivers must be 23 years or over (depending on which Hire company used) and must have been in the possession of an EU licence or full International Driving Permit for at least one year. Insurance is included in the price of hire. One must leave a credit card as security. At least three major companies have car hire offices in the Milan city centre: Avis, Via Corelli 150 (telephone number: 02 5530 5276) Hertz, Piazza Duca D’Aosta (tel: 02 6698 5151) and Maggiore, Via Canonica 64 (telephone number: 02 311 029). Avis car hire is also available at Stazione Centrale, Galleria delle Carrozze (telephone number: 02 669 0280) and at Piazza Diaz, near the Duomo (telephone number: 02 863 494). The national booking line for Avis car rentals is 199 100 133. Despite the popularity of motoring holidays in Italy, car hire is expensive, costing from approx €250 per week. It is best to include collision damage waver (CDW) and personal accident insurance (PAI) usually at additional cost. Bicycle Hire Milanesi are enthusiastic cyclists and often spend Sundays cycling along the canals or cycle paths into the countryside outside the city centre. Cycling in the centre may seem a good option in a city that is flat and has many dedicated cycle paths, however with traffic fumes, hair-raising driving and tram tracks are just some of the problems which cyclists can face. Hiring bicycles is not common, as most Milanesi buy their own, but AWS Bicomotor, Via Ponte Seveso 33 (telephone number: 02 6707 2145), is one place that does (rates from €21 per day). They are open Tuesday-Saturday 0900 hrs-1300 hrs and 1500 hrs -1700 hrs. _____________ Milan International Airport Milan International Airport - TravelPuppy.com Milan international airports are links below: Milan Bergamo International Airport (BGA) Orio al Serio is located 48km (28 miles) northwest of Milan and 5km (3 miles) from Bergamo. Milan Linate International Airport (LIN) located 7km (4 miles) east of the centre of Milan and provides easy access to and from the city. Milan Malpensa International Airport (MXP) located 48km (30 miles) northwest of Milan and is the city’s largest airport, handling transcontinental and other international flights. ___________Milan Nightlife Milan Nightlife - TravelPuppy.com The nightlife is vibrant as one would expect in a young cosmopolitan Milan. The evening starts with the passegiata, a cultural institution itself in Italy and where everyone dresses in the smartest clothes, ‘walks out’ – strolling up and down central streets in order ‘to see and be seen’. Centres of the passegiate vary in Milan but the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the pedestrian zones of the city along the Via Dante are good areas to go and observe. The modern European feature of Milan is the profusion of restaurants and bars, which catch clients for the whole evening and where it is possible to dine leisurely or just sit over an aperitivo or a bottle of wine. The trend is to move on during the night, visiting two or three locales, thereby demonstrating social savvy and bella figura. The Navigli district around the canals in the southwest of Milan is one of the best locations for bars and cafés, extending up to Porta Ticinese. North of the Cathedral, the area around the Brera offers many pleasant boutique cafés, clubs and restaurants. Many bars and restaurants stay open until late (0100 hrs), after which the energetic move on to the nightclubs and discoteca, which stay open till 0400 hrs (most are closed on Mondays). The legal drinking age is 16 years. Expect to pay €6 for a bottle of wine in a bar and at least €7.50 for entry to clubs. Entertainment listings for Milan are available online at www.corriere.it and www.hellomilano.it. The newspapers Corriere della Sera published on Wednesday and La Repubblica, published on Thursday, also supply listings, as does the tourist offices, Spettacoli Milano and Mese Milano. Bars Coffee drinking throughout the day is a quick-fix for the business community and only the serious shoppers settle down for coffee and wonderful pastries. Between 1800hrs and 2100hrs, cafés and bars come into their own as the afterwork crowds seek out the perfect aperitivo, as well as the best place to see and be seen. Some bars offer free finger food with aperitives. Classic cocktails often involve Prosecco (dry or sweet sparkling wine) or Campari. Drinks range in price between €4-9. Dieci (10) Corso Como, Corso Como 10, with its slightly oriental slant to decorations is one of the ottest bars in Milan, as is the Victoria Café located in the financial district, Via Clerici 1. Il Gattopardo Café, Via Piero della Francesca 17 in a deconsecrated church in the upwardly mobile northwest of the city centre is still the haunt of the idle rich, booking in advance is essential. The Garden Bar of the Sheraton Diana Majestic, Viale Piave 2 is the place to visit during warm weather, especially during Milan fashion weeks. In the Navigali district, La Biciclette, Conca del Navigalo 10, with its monthly changing display of artwork, attracts an extremely varied group and the the buffet is a classic. ATM in a refurbished former tram station, Bastioni di Porta Volta, north of the Duomo, is often considered the city’s best bar, frequented by an artistic crowd and certainly somewhere to check out the forefront of Milanese fashions. Casinos There are no licensed casinos in Milan. Clubs The Black, Via Canonica (telephone number: 02 3360 3907) with its retro science fiction feel has taken over from Killer Plastic, Viale Umbria 120 (telephone number: 02 733 996) as the place to go for Italian house and techno music, although the latter remains very popular. Hollywood Rythmoteque, Corso Como 15 (telephone number: 02 659 8996) remains popular with the glamorous crowd, especially on Sundays. Café L'Atlantique, Viale Umbria 42 (telephone number: 02 5519 3925) begins with aperitivi and later becomes an very popular club into the early hours with hip-hop and house music is featured on Thursday and Friday evenings and more commercial music on Saturday and Sunday. The Shocking Club, Bastioni di Porta Nuova 12 (telephone number: 02 8656 4650) reopened early in 2002 with a new minimalist decor. The club lives up to its name, especially on Wednesday evenings with its outrageous theme nights. Large clubs (up to 2000) include Propaganda, Via Castelbarco 11 (telephone number: 02 5831 0682) and Alcatraz, Via Valtellina 21 (telephone number: 02 6901 6352) a refurbished industrial building which includes two dancefloors, two performance spaces, three bars and a pub. As this is Milan, one should always dress to impress for any club or disco. More clubs are introducing a pay-as-you-leave system where you are given a ticket (tessera) at the door which is punched when you use the cloakroom or buy drinks or food and the fine for losing one's tessera is usually exorbitant. The Milanese usually go clubbing midweek, weekends are when large numbers from the outlying suburbs come into Milan to party. Live music Rolling Stone, Corso XXII Marzo 32 (telephone numberl: 02 733 172) is very much Milan’s temple of rock during the week with dancing on Fridays and Saturday evenings. Scimmie, Via Ascanio Sforza 49 (telephone number: 02 8940 2874) still manages to maintain its reputation as the place for jazz in the heart of the Navagali district, although there are many blues and world music concerts these days. In the same area, Blues House, Via S Uguzzone 96 (telephone number: 02 2700 3621) is equally popular both with locals and visitors. Tangram, Via Pezzotti 52, is excellent for rock and blues, and Tunnel, Via Sammartini 30, is a good venue for indie music. All the major bands and solo artists include Milan on their tours, usually playing either at the FilaForum stadium, Via di Vittorio 6 or PalaVobis Music Village, Via Sant’Elia 33 (telephone number: 02 542 754), close to Lampugnano. ____________Milan Shopping Milan Shopping Guide - TravelPuppy.com Milan is a temple of high fashion and the home of Armani and Versace, and naturally sure to delight the high priests and priestesses of style world. The so-called Quadrilateral (Quadrilatero della Moda) of fashion, formed by Via Montenapoleone (‘Montenapo’), Via Sant’Andrea, Via Monzani and Via della Spiga north of the Cathedral, is at the top of the list. Names including Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Exté, Ferragamo, Gucci, Missoni, Prada, Trussardi, Valentino, Versace and Vuitton read like a veritable ABC of Italian chic. Those lacking the supreme self-confidence to enter such hallowed ground as Gianni Versace’s four floors of couture (on Via Montenapoleone 2) should stick to window-shopping paradise on Via della Spiga, where traffic is banned. L’Armadio de Laura, Via Voghera 25, has some good offbeat thrift and end-of-season returns. For the top names in design and furniture the streets to the north (close to the Quadrilateral in Corso Matteoti, Via Durini and Via Manzoni) are best, although quite expensive. Alternatively go to the district around the Brera – once the haunt of artists who have now been priced out by the exclusive boutiques and art galleries. The pedestrian Via Fiori Chiari is a particularly good spot for browsing galleries, with a number of excellent cafés along the way. The area is also popular with antique dealers, especially on the third Saturday of each month (not in August), when stalls are set up along the road. Antique fairs are also popular at the weekends around the Naviglio Grande, along the banks of the canal. South of the Cathedral and going towards the university area and the Porta Ticinese, prices fall as high fashion makes way for casual and sporting fashion. Distinctly less sophisticated but still very trendy, the area between the Porta Ticinese and the Universita Statale is popular with students. Via Torino, leading southwest from Piazza del Duomo, is a great place to pick up fashion items for children. Outside the historic centre, fashion outlets are able to move into even bigger premises and include, Corso Buenos Aires (north), Corso Vercelli (west) and Corso XXII Marzo (east) are runners up for fashion shopping. Clothes, luggage, hats, shoes, accessories and sports fashions are generally high quality and good value in Milan, although not very cheap. Stockhouse, Via Montegani 7 (telephone number: 02 8951 3951) is a good discount store; others are listed on the Corriere della Sera’s website, where the shopping pages (Il mondo degli outlet) detail outlets and bargains (spacci e occasioni). For the ultimate shopping experience, English-speaking consultants are available from Travel Media Consulting, at €60 for two hours and €30 for each additional hour (telephone number: 02 5831 2696), to guide and help carry purchases. For those who prefer the bustle of street markets, Viale Papiniano (metro San Agostino) is open all day Saturday, while Via Zivetti (metro Centrale FS) and is open on Wednesday mornings. The flea market, Fiera di Senigallia, takes place along the Darsena basin on Saturdays between 0830 hrs and 1700 hrs. The flower market sets up on Sunday mornings in Piazetta Reale (March-June and September-December). The winter sales start during the second week of January and the summer sales start in the second week of July. Most shops open 0930 hrs -1300 hrs and 1530 hrs -1930 hrs, although the bigger stores stay open all day. Most shops close on Sunday and reopen on Monday afternoons, except food stores, which reopen on Monday morning but close again for the afternoon. However, many shops open daily during the Christmas season and major bookshops are open until 2300 hrs. Many shops close for most of August. Sales tax varies between 12 and 14 per cent, depending on the value of goods purchased. Non-EU citizens should retain receipts for goods over €154.90 from a single store to reclaim their VAT (IVA), although this is a drawn-out process and visitors may prefer to purchase gifts at the Duty Free shops, where the equivalent of VAT is automatically deducted from the cost. __________ Milan Sightseeing Milan Sightseeing Guide - TravelPuppy.com Overview Visitors are not drawn to Milan for its culture, which is a pity since in the centre od the city there are many museums and a particularly good selection of world-class art exhibitions and individual pieces. Everyone has heard of Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, recently restored and in the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. However, the less famous Brera Gallery is an international treasure house (on a par with the Uffizi Gallery in Florence or London’s National Gallery) and Michelangelo’s last work, the extraordinary Pieta Rondanini, in the civic galleries of the Sforza Castle, is a surprise find for many of the city’s visitors. Sightseeing is made easier in Milan by the proximity of attractions to the city’s Duomo (Cathedral). Visitors should not be afraid to explore on foot, ignoring the efficient transport services whenever time permits. The centre has an attractive number of pedestrianised quarters where a cocktail of architectural styles often stand shoulder to shoulder with the very modern, to a very stylish effect. The pace of Milan can be unrelenting. Visitors embracing the invigorating tonic of city life will need to balance their time just as the Milanesi do. Urban romantics will enjoy wandering the southern stretch of the historic centre, taking in the canal banks of the Naviglio Grande, where the old wash houses can still be seen, exploring the University district and the historic collection of basilicas Sant’Eustorgio and Sant’Ambrogio. The city parks, Parco Sempione and the Giardini Pubblici, are to the north and pleasant enough for a break on a sunny day. Tourist Information Azienda Promozione Turistica del Milanese (APT) Via Marconi 1 Telephone number: 02 7252 4301. Fax number: 02 7252 4350. E-mail: apt.info@libero.it or apt.milano@trentino.it Website: www.milanoinfotourist.com Opening hours: Monday-Friday 0845 hrs-1900 hrs, Saturday 0900 hrs-1300 hrs and 1400 hrs-1800 hrs, Sunday 0900 hrs-1300 hrs and 1400 hrs-1700 hrs (winter); Monday-Friday 0830 hrs-2000 hrs, Saturday 0900 hrs-1300 hrs and 1400 hrs-1900 hrs, Sunday 0900 hrs-1300 hrs and 1400 hrs-1700 hrs(summer). There is another tourist information office in Stazione Centrale, Piazza Duca d’Aosta, on the first floor (telephone number: 02 7252 4360), open Monday-Saturday 0800 hrs -1900 hrs, Sunday 0900 hrs -1230 hrs and 1330 hrs-1800 hrs. Passes The Welcome Card includes a one-day public transport pass, a short history of the city, a map of the city (and includes public transport routes), discount vouchers for selected shops and a CD compilation of classical music. Unfortunately, no discounts or free entrance to tourist sights are currently offered. The card can be purchased at a cost of €8.00 from the tourist information office. Key Attractions Duomo (Cathedral) In the heart of the city, Milan’s Duomo is the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, begun in 1386 and added to each century thereafter. The best time to come and visit is in bright sunshine, when the windows create a kaleidoscope of colour through the cavernous interior. St Charles Borromeo, its most important benefactor and lies buried at its heart. A champion of the Counter Reformation, he commissioned the wooden choir and many of the statues plus the nivola, the peculiar basket that is used in one of Milan’s stranger ceremonies. Twice a year (May and September), Milan’s most important relic, a nail from the cross of Christ, which has been displayed over the high altar since 1461, is brought down by the bishop who is then hoisted up there in the nivola. Visitors should explore the underground octagonal chamber where Borromeo is buried (Lo Scurolo di San Borromeo) and the adjacent Treasury. World War II bombs thankfully just missed the Cathedral’s roof, which nests amid a majestic web of flying buttresses, spires and pinnacles. Above the forest of 135 spires and more than 3,400 statues, the small gilded copper statue of the Virgin, the ‘Madonnina’, erected in 1774, stands over the central lantern, 108.5m (119ft) above the city; the statue is lit at night. Visitors should take the lifts outside the apse to avoid climbing the 158 stairs. On a clear day, the view north extends as far as the Alps. Il Museo del Duomo next door is well worth a visit. Tickets cost €6 (concessions are available). The front of the Duomo is currently covered with 7,000 square metres of plastic-faced scaffolding. This is the only way to reach the 12 spires of the upper facade. It may be two years or more before this comes down, depending on the amount of restoration work needed at the top of the front facade. Piazza del Duomo Telephone number: 02 7202 2656. Fax number: 02 7202 2419. E-mail: fabbrica@duomomilano.it Website: www.internetlandia.com/duomo Transport: Metro Duomo; bus 2, 3, 8, 15, 18 or 19. Opening hours: Daily 0700 hrs -1900 hrs. Admission: Free (cathedral); €1 (treasury); €5 (terrace by lifts); €3.50 (terrace by stairs); €3 (autoguide hire - €5 if returned after 1730 hrs). Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Entered from the Piazza at the front of the Cathedral, the glass-domed cruciform Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery is a vast Belle Epoque shopping arcade. It was built to link the Piazza del Duomo to the Piazza della Scala and soon became Milan’s conservatory. Winter and summer, Milanesi can be seen here, escaping the rain, browsing the exclusive shops and sipping Campari and soda in the bars. Piazza del Duomo Transport: Metro Duomo; bus 2, 3, 8, 15, 18 or 19. Opening hours: Daily 24 hours (shops, bars and restaurants close at various times). Admission: Free. Museo Teatrale alla Scala (Theatre Museum at La Scala) Opera lovers should visit this museum, crammed with rich mementoes of the celebrated opera house, La Scala. Two halls are devoted to Milan’s darling Verdi, whose ‘Slaves Chorus’ from Nabucco remains the unofficial Italian anthem. Memorabilia include the spinet on which he learned to play, scores in his own hand and the jewel-encrusted baton presented to him after the triumphal reception of Aida. Rossini, Puccini and Toscanini are honoured alongside him. Palazzo Busca, Collegio San Carlo, Corso Magneta 71 Telephone number: 02 4691249. Website: www.lascala.milano.it Transport: Metro Conciliazione or Cadorna. Tram: 19, 24, 29, 30. Bus 94. Opening hours: Daily 0900 hrs -1800 hrs. Admission: €5. Santa Maria delle Grazie The Last Supper (Il Cenacolo) is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Lodovico Sforza commissioned Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece (1495-97) for the refectory adjoining the Dominican church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The painting depicts the moment of Christ’s revelation of the betrayal. The 12 apostles are grouped into threes with Christ at the centre, Judas (described by Vasari as a ‘study in perfidy’) to the right, his hand frozen on the bag of silver on the table. The positions of the figures are thought to relate to the signs of the Zodiac. Over the years some paint flaked off because Leonardo applied it directly to dry plaster (fresco secco) instead of bonding the pigments with wet plaster (buon fresco). Controversy rages over the recent removal of layers of corrective overpainting during the 18th and 19th centuries. Despite deterioration, the painting is lucky to have survived as a bomb destroyed the refectory roof in 1943, and the experience of seeing it for the very first time is quite unforgettable. Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie 2, Corso Magenta Telephone number: 02 498 7588; reservations 02 8942 1146. Transport: Metro Cadorna; tram 20, 24, 29 or 30. Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday 0815 hrs-1845 hrs, Sunday 0900 hrs-2000 hrs; visits are limited to 15 minutes, in groups of twenty; booking is mandatory and reservations are only accepted 60 days prior to visit (credit cards are not accepted). Opening times can vary. Admission: €8 (plus €1 reservation fee); €11.25 with guided tour, in English 0930 hrs and 1530 hrs. Museo d’Arte Antica del Castello Sforzesco (Museum of Historic Art of the Sforza Castle) Three municipal museums compete for attention within the redbrick 15th-century Sforza Castle on the edge of the Parco Sempione, but the most venerable is the Museum of Historic Art. Visitors come to see Michelangelo’s last work, the unfinished Pietà Rondanina, depicting the Virgin cradling the body of Christ, which was bought by the museum in 1952. The sculpture’s rough surface and abstract sinuosity is strikingly modern. Upstairs, above the extensive sculpture galleries, there is a large collection of paintings, including notable works by Mantegna, Antonello da Messina and Leonardo da Vinci. Besides the combined Museum of Historic Art and the Pinacoteca del Castello which houses Italian paintings from the 13th to 18th century, the other two museums, the Museum of Applied Arts (exhibiting wrought-iron work, ceramics, ivory and musical instruments), and the Archaeological Museum, are housed in the fortress (Rocchetta). Piazza Castello Telephone number: 02 6208 3940. Transport: Metro Cairoli or Cadorna; bus 43, 57 or 70; tram 1, 4, 12, 14, 20 or 27. Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 0930 hrs-1730 hrs. Admission: Free. Museo Poldi-Pezzoli (Poldi-Pezzoli Museum) The Poldi-Pezzoli Museum’s varied and often exquisite collection of art, furnishings and historic arms was put together by the 19th-century aristocrat, Gian Giocomo Poldi Pezzoli (1802-79). Milan’s favourite painting (after The Last Supper), Antonio Pollaiolo’s Portrait of a Lady, hangs here. The profile portrait of an elegant and well-attired lady has since become an icon for Milan’s own style and elegance. The museum also hosts paintings by Andrea Mantegna and Sandro Botticelli. Via Manzoni 12 Telephone number: 02 794 889 or 796 334. Fax number: 02 454 7384. E-mail: info@museopoldipezzoli.org Website: www.museopoldipezzoli.it Transport: Metro Duomo or Montenapoleone. Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 1000 hrs-1800 hrs. Admission: €6 (concessions available). Museo Bagatti Valsecchi (Bagatti Valsecchi Museum) The Palazzo Bagatti Valsecchi, built by two brothers in 1883 as their ideal Renaissance household, but was only opened as a museum in 1994. Avid collectors of antiques from the 15th and early 16th centuries, they furnished all the rooms with their vast collections. The result is a fascinating insight into the mentality of 19th-century Milan, which had just recovered its independence, nostalgically going back to the days of the Sforza. Highlights of the collection include the fine painting of Santa Giustina by Bellini and the exquisite majolica and Venetian crystal glassware. Via Santo Spirito 10/Via Gesù 5 Telephone number: 02 7600 6132. Fax number: 02 760 14859. E-mail: info@museobagattivalsecchi.org Website: www.museobagattivalsecchi.org Transport: Metro Montenapoleone or San Babila; bus 54, 61 or 73 to San Babila; bus 94 to Piazza Cavour; tram 1 to Via Manzoni. Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 1300 hrs-1745 hrs. By appointment only in July and August. Admission: €6 (€3 on Wednesday); concessions available. Pinacoteca di Brera (Brera Picture Gallery) Napoleon, whose statue by Canova stands in the courtyard, opened the Brera Picture Gallery in 1809, a collection that was enriched with objects confiscated on his various Italian campaigns. Formerly a Jesuit Academy of Science, the Brera’s name comes from the meadows in which it once stood. The collection is best known for its Venetian and Lombard masters. Particularly fine are the lyrical Pietà by Giovanni Bellini, depicting the death of Christ, and Mantegna’s virtuoso treatment of the same subject, the body foreshortened and viewed from the soles upward. Tintoretto’s gruesome depiction of the spirit of St Mark hovering over his cadaver, appearing to the Venetian merchants in the gloom of the Alexandrian catacombs, is hard to miss. Raphael’s Wedding of the Madonna and two rare works by the enigmatic Piero della Francesca should also not be overlooked. The Baroque masterpieces include Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus, dramatically staging the New Testament scene in a pool of light. Via Brera 28 Telephone number: 02 8942 1146. Fax number: 02 720 01140. E-mail: brera.artimi@arti.beneculturali.it Website: www.brera.beniculturali.it Transport: Metro Cairoli or Lanza or Montenapoleone; tram 1, 4, 8, 12, 14 or 27; bus 61 or 97. Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 0830 hrs-1915 hrs; Saturday until 2300 hrs (June-September). Admission: €5 (concessions available). Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnica Leonardo da Vinci (Leonardo da Vinci National Science and Technology Museum) In the city of the Last Supper, interest in the creative genius of Leonardo da Vinci is understandable. Most visitors come to this museum, devoted to the history of science, to see the Leonardo Gallery, with its host of models (both static and functioning) that illustrate da Vinci’s intuitive genius. His designs for war machines, flying machines, architecture and production awaken admiration for a man whose ideas, even when not 100 per cent successful (such as the rotating screw, claimed as a precursor to the helicopter), display incredible foresight. Via San Vittore 21 Telephone number: 02 485 551. E-mail: museo@museoscienza.org Website: www.museoscienza.org Transport: Metro San Ambrogio; bus 50, 54, 58 or 94. Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday 0930 hrs-1700 hrs, Saturday and Sunday 0930 hrs-1830 hrs. Admission: €7 (concessions available). Civica Galleria d’Arte Moderna (Modern Art Gallery) The Modern Art Gallery is a treat for lovers of 19th and 20th century art. Housed in Napoleon’s former summer palace on the edge of the Giardini Pubblici, the extensive collection covers neo-classicism to the modern day. The Impressionists are well represented in the Grassi collection, with works by Bonnard, Cézanne, Corot, Renoir, Sisley and Vuillard. The gallery also holds numerous works by Umberto Boccioni (1882-1916), one of the founders of Futurism (approximately 1910). Palazzo Reale, Via Palestro 16 Telephone number: 02 7600 2819. Transport: Metro Palestro; tram 1 or 2; bus 94. Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 0900 hrs -1730 hrs. Admission: Free. Further Distractions Basilica de Sant’Ambrogio Built by Saint Ambrose who was the Patron Saint of Milan, and dedicated to the third-century Martyrs Gervasius and Protasius, the original basilica dates back to the fourth century. The three saints’ remains can be viewed in a glass case under the main altar. Bishop Ambrose’s most famous convert was St Augustine. The Sant’Ambrogio basilica (9th-12th centuries) is one of Milan’s finest churches, a monumental building in the mature Lombard Romanesque style, retaining its early Christian basilica plan based on the architecture of ancient Rome. The Chapel of St Victor (Sacello di San Vittore in Ciel d’Oro), at the end of the south aisle, is a vaulted funerary chapel built in the church cemetery in the fourth century. It was lined (in the next century) with superb mosaics, of which that of St Ambrose may be from living memory. The Museo della Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio, which includes paintings, fabrics from the fourth century, illuminated manuscripts, stained glass and mosaics, has now been divided between the Museo Diocesano and the San Vittore in Ciel d’Oro part of the Basilica. Piazza Sant’Ambrogio Telephone number: 02 8645 0895. Transport: Metro Sant’Ambrogio. Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday-Friday 1000 hrs-1200 hrs and 1500 hrs-1700 hrs; Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday 1500 hrs-1700 hrs only. Admission: Free. Il Cimitèro Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery) East of Stazione Garibaldi, the Monumental Cemetery, which opened in 1866, may appeal to romantic souls, happy to leave the bustle and grime of Milan’s quick and ponder Milan’s dead instead. Much of the funerary architecture is excellent Art Nouveau, celebrating the passing of Milan’s rich and famous, including Toscanini, novelist Alessandro Manzoni and poet Salvatore Quasimodo. The Palanti Chapel is more poignant, commemorating the 800 Milanesi killed in Nazi concentration camps. A guidebook available at the entrance indicates the most notable monuments. Piazzale Cimitèro Monumentale 1 Telephone number: 02 659 9938. Transport: Metro Garibaldi; tram 3, 4, 11, 12, 14, 29, 30 or 33; bus 41, 51, 70, 94. Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 0830 hrs-1715 hrs. Admission: Free. _____________Milan Tours - Excursions Milan Tours Guide - TravelPuppy.com Walking tours The APT Information Office, Piazza Marconi 1 (telephone number: 02 7252 4300), runs a walking tour every Monday, which starts at 1000 hrs from the APT office. At the price of €15, the three-hour tour takes in the city centre and includes entrance to the Scala. Private guided tours also can be booked from the Centro Guide Turistiche di Milano, Via Marconi 1 (telephone number: 02 8645 0433; fax number: 02 863 210). Bus Tours The only way visitors can see Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper without having advance reservations is to take the three-hour APT bus tour (telephone number: 02 7252 4300). Advance reservations for the bus tour are not possible and visitors should simply turn up at the tourist information office on Via Marconi 1, off Piazza del Duomo, beforehand and buy tickets (€40) prior to departure, which is daily at 0930 hrs. The tour lasts three hours and includes the Cathedral, Sforza Castle and entrances to The Last Supper, the Brera National Gallery and the Scala Museum. Tram Tours Reproductions of sepia photographs showing Milan’s trams are common in Milan’s restaurants and bars. One of the more charming ways to get to know the city centre is by taking the restored 1920s no 20 tram (‘Ciao Milano’), managed by the private company STAB (telephone number: 02 3391 0794). The tram departs from Piazza Castello on a circuit that takes just under two hours. It is an ideal form of transport for getting to the Cathedral, The Last Supper, the Piazza della Scala and the Brera. Tickets cost €20 for a two-hour tour including stops but do not include entrance to any attraction. Commentary in English, French, German, Spanish or Japanese is provided via headphones. In summer (and winter weekends), there are three trams on Saurday, Sunday and holidays (at 1100 hrs, 1300 hrs and 1500 hrs), while winter sees only two trips (1100 hrs and 1300 hrs). The tours are not available the second and third weeks of August. Excursions for half day Certosa di Pavia The Carthusian Monastery of Pavia (e-mail: certosapavia@libero.it ) is a living museum, an architectural treasure box containing prized artworks and is run by the monks who produce excellent Chartreuse liqueurs. It is Located 140km (87 miles) south of Milan, 40km (25 miles) from the city of Pavia, in an idyllic setting, the monastery is reachable by bus or train. Hourly buses leave the Piazza Castello and the monastery is a 15-minute walk from the bus stop. Regular trains (headed for Genoa) depart from Milano Centrale. The Certosa di Pavia is a 15-minute walk (skirting the Certosa walls) from the station. Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti ordered the monastery’s construction in 1396, the same year as Milan’s Cathedral, as a monument to the Visconti dynasty. The Cistercian monks conduct tours, in return for voluntary donations to the order, showing the cloisters, cells and beautiful frescoes by Pietro Perugino and Bergognone. The ornate marble façade by Amadeo is a masterpiece, famous throughout Italy. The monastery is open Tuesday to Sunday 0900 hrs -1130 hrs and 1430 hrs-1800 hrs. For a Whole Day Bergamo Only 43km (27 miles) from Milan, the walled hilltop town of Bergamo is an wonderful place with a wealth of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Visitors should avoid the lower town (Bergamo Bassa) and instead head for the Piazza Vecchia in the heart of the upper town (Bergamo Alta), with the Palazzo della Ragione, restaurants, shops and the Torre della Civica (ascended by lift). In the nearby Piazetta del Duomo, the Cathedral is overshadowed by the Romanesque church of Santa Maria Maggiore, which includes a 19th-century memorial to the native composer, Gaetano Donizetti (whose museum is also worth a visit). The best views are from the Castello on the summit of San Vigilio. The Accademia Carrara, at the bottom of the plateau on the eastern side, is one of Italy’s finest art galleries, beautifully laid out and featuring important art from the middle ages to the 20th century. Open Wednesday to Monday 0930 hrs-1230 hrs and 1430 hrs-1730 hrs, admission to the gallery is €2.58. Most of the province’s cultural events take place in Bergamo, including the Donizetti Festival in September and the series of Baroque concerts presented in its churches during October. Other events include the Feast of Sant’Antonio Abate, which includes the blessing of carts and farming tools (17th January), Bergamo’s summer festival, Estate vivi la tua città (June-September), and an antique market on the third Sunday of every month. The holiday of the city’s patron saint is held on 26th August includes a huge fresh produce and livestock market. Trains run from Milan (Porto Garibaldi or Lambrate), with the last train leaving Bergamo at about 2230 hrs, allowing enough time to enjoy an excellent meal in the upper town. It is best to go straight uptown, either by bus 1 or 3 from outside the station (one can go all the way, or get off at the funicular stop on Via Vittorio Emanuele II, which is free with a bus ticket). APT Bergamo, Viale Vittorio Emanuele 20, Bergamo (telephone number(035) 210 204; fax number(035) 230 184; e-mail: aptbg@apt.bergamo.it;) provides further information. Bellagio The picturesque mountain and lake setting of Bellagio is an great tonic for the city weary. Located 50km (31 miles) north of Milan, visitors must have a car, unless taking a train to Como and then catching one of the boats from Piazza Cavour quay. The town enjoys fantastic views and a temperate microclimate – hence the luxury villas nestling around its narrow streets. The Villa Serbelloni, owned by the Rockefeller Foundation, has wonderful terraced gardens, while the neo-classical Villa Melzi, where Franz Liszt and Stendhal once stayed, has beautiful landscaped gardens. The villas are open March to October and guided tours are available in English daily at 1100 hrs and 1600 hrs. Tourist information is available (telephone number: (031) 950 204; website: www.bellagiolakecomo.com). |
|
Thanks to
http://www.world66.com/ *********************The content is published under a creative commons licence : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0 / ). |
|
Milan Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Milan-Filarete Tower and fountain Milan-Filarete Tower and fountain Dany55 Milan is the biggest city of North Italy. The powerhouse of the country and one of the most stylish cities of the planet. But it is also a city with many important museums and wonderful monuments. See the Castello Sforzesco the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (which displays Leonardo’s Last Supper) the Brera Museum (Madonna and Child and Pieta by Bellini) and many other museums monuments and churches. Moreover, Milan is a lively city, with several pubs, discos and nightclubs. Being a fashion capital too, you might run into a top model or designer. The best chances are in the area around Brera (the artist zone) or the Navigli area. And if you have money to spend, just make a visit in via Montenapoleone and via della Spiga where you’ll find boutiques by Gucci, Ferragamo, Valentino, Armani, Ferre, Fendi and others. Look for other famous designer labels and items such as shoes, camelhair blankets and leather goods. Near Milan are two must-sees (both can be visited in a day trip): the Carthusian Monastery of Pavia and the 12th-century Chiaravalle Abbey (founded by St. Bernard of Cistercian). Two hours outside of Milan in Pessione is the museum of the history of wine making which has a fine collection of wine-making equipment Imperial glass receptacles and Etruscan and Apuleian ceramics. and the man who made that Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: www.world66.com __________Sights Edit This A view of the Catsello Sforzesco A view of the Catsello Sforzesco Giorgio Baresi You thought Milan was only a commercial and industrial city for businessmen? Surprise! Here you can find so many interesting and wonderful masterpieces that it is hard to imagine! Just begin at the city centre, where the huge Duomo appears in all its magnificence. This is the Cathedral and the symbol of Milan, with its golden statue "La Madonnina", which is inside the heart of every inhabitant. Then, you have the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a covered and elegant gallery with restaurants and bookstores. If you enter it from Piazza del Duomo, you'll exit in Piazza della Scala where the world known Teatro alla Scala appears. This is the centre of lyric opera and it is not difficult to meet here important artists like Riccardo Muti, who is the conductor of the local orchestra. You can make a tour in the nearby, from Via Manzoni to Via della Spiga and via Montenapoleone, the heart of the Fashion. When you arrive in the heart of Brera, the place of the artists, full of locals and pubs, visit the Pinacoteca. Along Via Manzoni there is also the Poldi Pezzoli, another very important museum of Milan. Towards Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, one of the most fascinating places of the whole city, you can admire the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio in Romanesque style, dedicated to the Saint patron of Milan. In the nearby there is the Catholic University, former monastery of the Abbey. From here you can begin a walking tour along Via San Vittore. On the left of the street, you'll find the Museo della Scienza e della Tecnica - Leonardo Da Vinci, an important museum which collects fundamental signs of the technological progress of humanity and which is dedicated to the genius of Leonardo. Not far from here, there is the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie where you will find the art of Bramante. In the refectory, the famous Cenacolo (Last Supper) painted by Leonardo appears in all its magnificence. The restoration of this fresco has just finished after many years of hard work due to the fact that Leonardo experimented a new technique when he painted his masterpiece and this has created severe problems of conservation. The Last Supper is part of the Unesco World Heritage. As you can see, the list of the sights not to miss in Milan seems endless. It is really difficult to list all of them, but certainly you cannot miss the Castello Sforzesco whose central tower (Torre del Filarete) dominates one of the most common and beautiful landscapes in Milan. The castle is situated in the Parco Sempione, opposite to the Arco della Pace dedicated to Napoleon. The construction of this castle was decided under the rule of the Visconti, but it is thanks to the Sforza family if the castle reached the grandiosity you can still admire today. So, maybe the best way to get to know Milan is simply to make a walking tour and just look at all the beautiful buildings and sights you can find everywhere. Or simply take a public bus and look outside the window. Milan is there for you! Contributors March 24, 2005 change by giorgio March 23, 2005 change by hollandtraveler March 23, 2005 change by reen [Add Sight] Duomo (Cathedral) Edit This Duomo Cathedral Duomo Cathedral photo by: Adil Ibrahim Amin - adil_amin90@hotmail.com The Milan Duomo is the world's largest Gothic cathedral and the city's symbol. Begun in 1386 and taking nearly five centuries to complete, the church is from the outside an incredible building, notable as much for its decoration as its size. The gloomy interior holds, among other objects, the golden statue "La Madonnina" which is the main attraction inside and as well in the heart of every inhabitant. Even a popular song has been dedicated to it! The Duomo is full of Gothic spires in white Candoglia marble whereas the interior is enormous and a bit intimidating. First service is more.. type: Churches and Cathedrals World66 rating: [rate it] address: Piazza del Duomo openinghours: 10-4 zipcode: 62521 openings: 5-5 Church of San Satiro Edit This South of the cathedral piazza, you will see the famous church of San Satiro, a study in ingenuity, commissioned from Milan's foremost Renaissance architect, Bramante, in 1476. Originally the oratory of the adjacent 9th century church of San Satiro, Bramante tranformed it into a long-naved basilica by converting the long oblong oratory into the transept and adding a trompe l'oeil apse to the back wall. The original structure of San Satiro was derived from Armenian architecture. It was an imitation of the 7th century Armenian cathedral of Bagaran, known as St. John or Sourp more.. type: Churches and Cathedrals World66 rating: [rate it] address: Piazza del Duomo Santa Maria delle Grazie Edit This In the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie you can admire the art of Bramante. In the refectory, the famous Cenacolo (Last Supper) painted by Leonardo appears in all its magnificence. The restoration of this fresco has just finished after many years of hard work due to the fact that Leonardo experimented a new technique when he painted his masterpiece and this has created severe problems of conservation. The Last Supper is part of the Unesco World Heritage. type: Churches and Cathedrals World66 rating: [rate it] address: Tel. +39 02 89 42 11 46 openinghours: tue - fri from 9.00 - 21.00, sat from 9.00 - midnight, sun from 9.00 - 20.00 Branca Tower Edit This This tower, built in 1933, is 108.6 metres high. Designed by Gio Ponti. The observation deck can be reached by elevator (maximum of 5 persons). Entrance: EUR 3.00. You can find this beautiful tower in the Parco Sempione. Wed 10:30am-12.30pm and 4-6:30pm; Sat 10:30am-1pm, 3-6:30pm and 8:30pm-midnight; Sun 10.30am-2pm and 2:30-7pm. type: Parks, Gardens and Zoos World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 02/3314120 openingHours: Wed 10:30am-12.30pm and 4-6:30pmSat 10:30am-1pm, 3-6:30pm and 8:30pm-midnight; Sun 10.30am-2pm and 2:30-7pm. address: Viale Camoens Castello Sforzesco Edit This A must see is the Castello Sforzesco whose central tower (Torre del Filarete) dominates one of the most common and beautiful landscapes in Milan. The castle is situated in the Parco Sempione, opposite to the Arco della Pace dedicated to Napoleon. The construction of this castle was decided under the rule of the Visconti family, but it is thanks to the Sforza family that the castle reached the grandiosity you can still admire today. type: Castles World66 rating: [rate it] address: Via Pontaccio Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio Edit This Towards Piazza Sant' Ambrogio, one of the most fascinating places of the whole city. Here you can admire the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio in Romanesque style, dedicated to the Saint patron of Milan. In the nearby there is the Catholic University, former monastery of the Abbey. type: Churches and Cathedrals World66 rating: [rate it] __________Tourist information: Main office: Via Marconi 1, off Piazza Duomo (on the right looking at the Duomo) Openings: Mon - Fri 8.30am - 8pm, Sat 9am - 1pm & 2 - 7pm, Sun 9am - 1pm Branch office: Stazione Centrale Phone codes: The international code for italy is +39 The national area code for Milan is 02 (zero must be digited) Post offices: Via Cordusio 4, off Piazza Cordusio Emergency: National: 911 Police: 113 Carabinieri: 112 Fire brigade: 115 Ambulance: 118 Hospital: 24/7 casualty department at the Fatebenefratelli hospital, tel. 0263631 Contributors June 16, 2005 change by claudio72 _________Getting There Edit This BY TRAIN: Most international and long distance trains pull in at the monumental Stazione Centrale, northeast of the centre on Piazza Duca d'Aosta, on underground lines 2 and 3. These lines (MM) will led you downtown in ten minutes. Other stations relevant for regional links are Garibaldi, Lambrate, Rogoredo (National Railways) and Cadorna (Ferrovie Nord Milano, local railway). All these are connected with subway network. An underground train link called "Passante Ferroviario" offers a suburban service to surroundings. Trenitalia (National Railways): www.trenitalia.com Ferrovie Nord Milano (trains to Como, Erba, Novara, Varese, Laveno, Malpensa Airport): www.ferrovienord.it BY BUS: International and long distance buses arrive and depart mainly from new bus station, located in front of Porta Garibaldi train station (metro line 2 station GARIBALDI or SBahn station GARIBALDI PASSANTE). Attention: former "station" located in Piazza Castello, in front of the Castello Sforzesco, doesn't exist anymore since some years, but often on guides is still quoted. BY AIR: Milan has three airports: Linate, Malpensa and Orio al Serio. Linate is the closer one, 7 km from city centre, and is the city airport. It's connected by urban bus 73 with downtown (ends near to metro station S.BABILA line 1. Ticket: 1€) and with the Stazione Centrale every 20 minutes (in the evening every 30 min) by private companies. Link: www.sea-aeroportimilano.it The main intercontinental airport, Malpensa, is 50 km away towards Lago Maggiore. It's connected by some bus companies (about 5€) with the main train station or by express train to Cadorna Station (10€). Link: www.sea-aeroportimilano.it Orio al Serio airport is located nearby Bergamo and it is mainly used by low-fares airlines. It is connected by bus mainly from Central train station (metro line 2 and 3) or Lambrate train station (metro line 2) for about 7€. Link: www.sacbo.it USEFUL LINK The website http://www.infopoint.it/trl_index.htm (unfortunately in italian only...) includes all REGIONAL links (both train companies, regional buses, boats, etc.). Long distance trains and buses aren't included. Contributors June 16, 2005 change by claudio72 July 04, 2005 change by berione [Add Global transport mode] Express Railway Link to Malpensa Airport Edit This The fastest and surest way (40 minutes) of getting to Milan City from the Malpensa Airport is the "Malpensa Express" Railway link between the Airport and the Milano Cadorna Train Station located in Piazzale Cadorna. From there you can take a taxi, a bus, the underground subway (Red Line 1 or Green Line 2), a tram and so on. One ticket is €11 or if you buy it on the train then it's €13.50. Children are less and return tickets are available. type: By Rail World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.ferrovienord.it Malpensa Airport Edit This This is the biggest airport of Milan. There are three Milan Airports so be sure you know which one you are landing at. Then there are two Terminals so make sure you know which Terminal you are landing at. Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. There is a free 24 hour shuttle bus that leaves every 20 minutes between the two Terminals. If you have an early morning plane leaving Malpensa then be sure you get there two hours ahead of take-off time. Stay in a hotel 3 minutes nearby, the night before, and use their shuttle bus to the airport. Eliminate transportation more.. type: By Air World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.sea-aeroportimilano.it Orio al Serio Airport (Bergamo) Edit This There is a third Airport which is considered a Milan Airport. It has three different names (or even more combinations of names): Milan Airport - Orio al Serio, Bergamo Airport, Orio al Serio Airport and so on. In any case its code is BGY just like the airport code of Malpensa Airport is MXP or Los Angeles International Airport is LAX. The Orio al Serio Airport is located in the town of Orio al Serio which is right next to the town of Bergamo. It's very small so there is just one terminal. It's around 50 kilometres from Milan so it takes around 50 minutes to more.. type: By Rail World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.orioaeroporto.it Trains Edit This Trenitalia is the name of the National Railway. The trains are one of the best ways to travel in Italy and a large number of people use this method of transport to get around for business, to get to school or University or for pleasure. There is a fast train called Eurostar with first and second class. Then there is T-Biz which is Business Class. After that there are the Intercity Plus trains with first and second class and a restaurant or bar car. Following this is the Intercity train which is a basic service used mainly between two local cities. If more.. type: By Rail World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.trenitalia.it ________Museums Edit This Here are a few suggested museums in Milan. Contributors March 24, 2005 new by giorgio (1 point) [Add Museum] Museo del Duomo Edit This Situated in the Palazzo Reale next to the cathedral you will find here several masterpieces of art and craftworks, that still belong to the huge cathedral treasure. The exhibited objects (mass requisites, drawings, sculptures etc.) are like a window to religious life during the times, from the late Gothic age till today. For more information call the museum (Tel. 0039-02-860358 or fax 0039-02-72022419) or have a look at their WEBPAGE *Section:Getting Around Public transports The municipal transports company in Milan is called ATM and you can find more.. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: Piazza Duomo 14 - Palazzo Reale, I - 20122 Milano openinghours: every day from 9.30 - 12.30 and from 15.00 - 18.00 Museo Poldi Pezzoli Edit This Founded in 1881 this museum is located in the heart of Milan in the former palazzo of Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli, whose art collection formed the basis of the recent museum (Tel. 0039-02-794889, 796334 or fax 8690788). Here you will find antiquities and paintings, furniture and sculpture. Some of the most famous art objects are pieces by Piero della Francesca, Botticelli, Pollaiolo, Mantegna, Boltraffio, Fra Galgario, Ceruti, Guardi, Canaletto and Tiepolo. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: Via Manzoni 12, I - 20121 Milano openinghours: wed - sun from 10.00 to 18.00 Pinacoteca di Brera Edit This This extraordinary museum hosts more than 400 real masterpieces and documents of Lombardian and Italian paintings - from the 14th century till today. Watch for example the "Cristo Morto" by Mantegna, the "Pietà" by Giovanni Bellini, the "Sposalizio della Vergine" by Raffaello, the "Pala Montefeltro" by Piero della Francesca, the "Cristo alla Colonna" by Bramante , the "Ritrovamento del corpo di S. Marco" by Tintoretto or the most famous "Cena in Emaus" by Caravaggio. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: Via Brera 28, I - 20121 Milano openinghours: wed - sun from 8.30 to 19.30 Museo Nazionale della Scienza e dellaTecnologia Edit This Named after Leonardo da Vinci this technical museum exhibits about 40.000 sqm more than 15.000 objects of all technical interests: ships, aircrafts, cars, radios, early mechanic machines such as a calculating machine designed by Blaise Pascal or early sound and musical machines. For more information call Tel. 0039-02-485551 or fax 0039-02-48010016 type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: Via San Vittore 21, I - 20123 Milano openinghours: wed - fri from 9.30 to 17.00. Sat & sun from 9.30 to 18.30 url: www.museoscienza.org _______Nightlife and Entertainment Edit This When it comes to nightlife Milan, it is really thrilling. No matter if you prefer a cosy pub, a trendy Clubs & Dancing, a theatres play or watching a good movie. Famous and popular is also the "Musica in Metro" programma, a series of summer concerts performed by local music students dressed in their black-tie best in subway stations. World famous "La Scala" is of course always worth a visit, but good tickets are usually sold out long before a tourist even arrives in Milan. The opera traditionally opens its season on december 7th and performances continue through early june. The summer season during june and september (the Scala is closed for the month of mid-july through august) offers recitals, operas and concerts as well as some ballet. Regarding cinemas there is a large choice of theatres. Some houses such as the "Angelicum" or the "Anteo" specialize in showing films in their original language. Between late june and late august, the "Cinema nel parco" festival offers outdoor showings of recent films. The main Bars & Pubs areas are the "Navigli" and "Porta Ticinese" district, alive with clubs, beer halls and sandwich bars. Another attracting quarter is the Brera district, a bit more safe and clean with art galleries, small clubs and restaurants. Display all or display just: Bars & Pubs Casinos Clubs & Dancing Clubs and dancing Theatres Show best rated on top | Show in alphabetical order [Add Entertainment place] kookabar Edit This The kookabar is a australian owned and run bar near porta romana,it is a trusted haven for ex patriots with a garden style cocktail bar and a under ground sports bar,billiards,darts, sky tv coverage of all major sporting events,tel. 0254122507, http://www.kookabar.net type: Bars & Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] email: info@kookabar.net address: piazzale libia 3 milano tel: 0254122507 ClosingTime: 2.00am closingtime: 2.00am url: www.kookabar.net zipcode: 20135 Milano - Locali e spettacoli Edit This Lots of informations about entertainment and nightlife in Milano type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.nottidaleon.it Alcatraz Edit This One of the largest discoes of Milan. On Fridays, you can listen to the greatest hits of the 70s, 80s and 90s. On Saturdays, the dominating music is Rock. type: Casinos World66 rating: [rate it] address: Via Valtellina 25 url: www.alcatrazmilano.com Hollywood Edit This One of the discoes chosen by the top models during their presence in Milan for the Fashion events. type: Casinos World66 rating: [rate it] address: Corso Como 15 Magazzini Generali Edit This Another very famous dancing not to miss in your musical tour of Milan. See as well their WEBPAGE type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Via Pietrasanta 14 El Brellin Edit This One of the many nice bars in the Navigli district. type: Casinos World66 rating: [rate it] email: closed Sun address: Vicolo Lavandai at Alzaia Naviglio Grande tel: 02/5810-1351 Teatro alla Scala Edit This La Scala is one of the most famous lyrical theatres in the world. The local orchestra is directed by Riccardo Muti. The Scala season begins each year on 7th December, Sant'Ambrogio's day, patronal holiday of Milan. type: Theatres World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.lascala.milano.it Propaganda Edit This Each Saturday night the local Radio 105 Classics is present here with its deejays and you can dance to the most famous music of the 70s and 80s. type: Clubs & Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Via Castelbarco 11 Nordest Cafe Edit This An elegant bar featuring jazz concerts Wednesday and Thursday nights and classical music on Fridays. type: Bars & Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Via P. Borsieri 35 openinghours: closed Sat. tel: 02/6900-1900 Orient Express Edit This Cosy bar, where it is also possible to get a bite to eat and listen to live music. type: Bars & Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Via Fiori Chiari 8 tel: 02/805-6227 Tunnel Edit This Latin american music. type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Via Sammartini Bar Magenta Edit This Extremely trendy and usually packed with a young crowd. type: Bars & Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Via Carducci 13 Teatro Nazionale Edit This Located in Piazza Piemonte, near via Marghera (a street famous for its ice cream shops and pizzerias), this is one of the largest theatres in Milan. In its programme, there are plays of many different genres, from musicals to gospel representations to more classical plays. type: Theatres World66 rating: [rate it] Capolinea Edit This Long established jazz venue and lice music club that hosts top-notch performers. Ori López: type: Bars & Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Via Lodovico Il Moro 119 Scimmie Edit This Popular stage, small and buzzy and mainly hosting jazz. type: Bars & Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Via Ascanio Sforza 49 Teatro Smeraldo Edit This Located near the characteristic Brera area, this theatre includes often in its programme Musicals and concerts of very famous singers. type: Theatres World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.smeraldo.iol.it Teatro Nuovo Edit This Situated in Piazza San Babila, in the city centre, this theatre promotes musicals and sparkling comedies. type: Theatres World66 rating: [rate it] Teatro Carcano Edit This It is located in Corso di Porta Romana and presents always a diversified and rich programme. type: Theatres World66 rating: [rate it] Piccolo Teatro Edit This This theatre is strictly connected to the person of Giorgio Strehler who wanted it and worked for its greatness. It consists in the older Piccolo Teatro in via Rovello (city centre), and in the Nuovo Piccolo Teatro (near Brera area) finally finished after many years of construction. Moreover, in the nearby there is also the Piccolo Teatro Studio. This theatre promotes festivals and researches. type: Theatres World66 rating: [rate it] |