Located on the Plains of Lombardy, Milan is the second largest city in Italy and a global centre of style, culture and fashion. If its luxury hotels, amazing architecture and a refined café culture you’re looking for, then a Milan holiday has it all. From the world’s oldest shopping mall at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, to famous football teams, excellent cuisine, Fiat cars, art and entertainment – you and your family and friends can enjoy a bit of everything in vibrant Milan.
The very first thing to check out on a weekend break in Milan is the beautiful Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting 'The Last Supper' hangs there. The painting took 21 years to be restored and is still absolutely enchanting. The official Dan Brown ‘Da Vinci Code’ tour to the church is booked months in advance.
During Milan city breaks, you must also visit one of the world's largest cathedrals, the Duomo. An example of the Gothic style of architecture, the cathedral includes over 2,000 sculptures and spires. From the church's roof you can get a good view of the gilded Madonna on the dome, and also see Central Milan laid out before you.
Michelangelo’s unfinished artwork ‘Rondanini Pieta’ hangs in the Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) formerly a palace-fort in the 14th century. This popular sight on the tourist trail also houses the Museo d'Arte Antica, which has a fantastic range of Gothic and Renaissance artefacts plus rooms painted by Leonardo da Vinci himself. The ancient weaponry in the Sala Verde room of the museum is thrilling.
For opera fans, Milan is also home to La Scala and the Teatro alla Scala Museum, both of which are must-see locations. Right across from the Museum, in the Piazza della Scalla, stands Leonardo da Vinci's captivating monument.
Nearby is also the Basilica Sant Ambrogio, which has a central altar of gold. While the Museo Poldi Pezzoli houses an interesting array of weapons, glassware and clocks, and the Brera Art Museum includes artworks by both modern masters and those of the Renaissance period.
