Tourist information on Milan, Italy

Milan is the capital city of the Lombardy region in the northwest of Italy, 30 miles south of the Alps. The second largest city in Italy, it is financially the country's most important city, a major hub of industry, finance, fashion, education, sport and tourism. A modern cosmopolitan city, with an urban landscape dominated by modern high-rise architecture, it has little in common with most other historic Italian cities. Yet Milan has a rich cultural heritage. It harbours a wealth of historical monuments and world renowned art treasures which, along with the designer fashion shops, vibrant nightlife and local cuisine, make it one of Europe's top tourist destinations.

Milan originated as a settlement founded by the Celtic Insubres some time in the 4th century BC. Named Medhlan, it was captured by the Romans in 222 BC and became Mediolanum. The city thrived under Roman occupancy and became the capital city of the Western Roman Empire from 286 until 402 AD, when it was invaded by the Visigoths. Milan was destroyed by the Ostrogoths in 539 and conquered by the Longobards in 569. It came under the control of the Franks in 774. Because of its position on important trade routes to the Alps, Milan became extremely prosperous during the Middle Ages. Having taken a leading role in the Lombard League, Milan became a duchy in the 12th century. Over the following centuries, various factions fought for control of the city and it was successively ruled by the Visconti, the Sforza, the Spanish and the Austrians. After he had conquered Italy in 1796, Napoleon declared Milan capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Subsequently, it returned to Austrian control in 1815, at which point it became a major centre of culture, particularly opera. In 1859, Milan was joined with the Kingdom of Sardinia, which then became part of a unified Italy. During World War II, the city suffered extensive bombing by the Allies and was a centre of fierce Italian resistance under German occupation. After the war, the city was rapidly rebuilt and experienced a period of phenomenal growth, its economic boom fuelled by an influx of immigrant workers from the south of Italy. Milan's economic prosperity continued well into the 20th century and it became not only an industrial powerhouse but one of Europe's main financial centres, and a leading centre of world fashion.

Milan is one of the most architecturally diverse cities in Italy, its ancient monuments standing proud alongside striking modern edifices as if to remind us that, whilst the city is now a modern hub of commerce and industry, it also has a long and distinguished history. Milan has much to attract the culturally minded tourist, from its grand squares, historic buildings and museums to its world-class opera houses and theatres. A good place to start a tour of Milan is the Piazza del Duomo, the city's main square, located at the very heart of the city. Around this are situated many of Milan's most famous monuments, including: the Duomo di Milano, the Palazzo Real, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Palazzo dell'Arengario, the Palazzo Carminati, the Palazzo dei Portici Settentrionali, the Palazzo dei Portici Meridionali and the Monument to King Victor Emmanuel II.

Dominating the Piazza del Duomo is the Duomo di Milano, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Built between the 14th and 19th centuries, it boasts a striking marble façade, 135 spires and exterior decorations that include over 3000 statues. The nave is 45 metres high, the highest Gothic vaults of a complete church. There is an elevator which takes you to the top of the structure, giving you not only the best view of the city, but also a chance to appreciate the quality of the workmanship on the exterior sculptures. Throughout most of its history, the Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) was the seat of government of Milan, but today it serves as an important cultural centre. Although it dates back to the 11th century, it was rebuilt in the 14th century and further renovated in the 16th and 18th centuries. Today, it houses the Civico Museo d'Arte Contemporanea, a museum of modern art.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a large covered arcade that was built in 1865 to link the Piazza del Duomo with the Piazza della Scala. One of Milan's best known landmarks, it has an eye-catching mosaic floor and is crammed with bookshops, boutiques, cafés, fast food outlets and restaurants. This takes us from the cathedral to Milan's other great building, the Teatro alla Scala, the world famous opera house, which was built in 1778 and has a capacity of 2000. In addition to its opulent auditorium, it houses a museum with a fine collection of paintings, sculpture, paintings and ceramics. Another important building on the Piazza della Scala is the Palazzo Marino, a palace that was designed in 1558 for a wealthy banker but building was not finished until 1892. It has served as Milan's town hall since 1860.

Castello Sforzesco is an imposing medieval castle, built in the 15th century, which was once the seat of the Duchy of Milan. Badly damaged by Allied bombing in WWII, it was rebuilt and now houses several museums, which display diverse collections of art, textiles, weapons and armour. This is where Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Trivulzianus manuscript and Michelangelo's last unfinished work, a marble sculpture named the Rondanini Pieta, are exhibited. Cimitero Monumentale is a cemetery located in the northeast of the city which contains a large number of impressively sculptured tombs. Among the famous people buried here are the writer Alessandro Manzoni, the pianist Vladimir Horowitz, and Herbert Kilpin, the founder of the football club A.C. Milan.

Pinacoteca di Brera, situated in the north of the city centre, is an important art gallery which houses one of the finest collections of Italian paintings in the world. Santa Maria delle Grazie is a large Byzantine church in the west of the city which exhibits Milan's most famous work of art, Leonardo da Vinci's mural The Last Supper (Cenacolo Vinciano). The Chiesa di San Lorenzo Maggiore is a basilica in the south of the city (in the Porta Ticinese area) which was founded in the 4th century but largely renovated in the 16th century, retaining its Byzantine appearance. With its large dome and four towers, it bears a passing resemblance to the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul. The interior wall paintings are among the few surviving examples of Roman paintings in the city. It also has an attractive courtyard with a Roman colonnade. The Palazzo Borromeo is a grand 15th-century palace with courtyards, frescoes and the well-known painting Sala dei Giochi. A classic of an altogether different kind is the 127 metre high Pirelli tower, a striking example of 1960s modernist Italian architecture which is by far the most elegant skyscraper in Milan.

Milan may not have as much in the way of green open space as other major cities, but there are a number of attractive parks around the city. Parco Sempione is a large city park situated to the rear of Sforzesco Castle in the historic centre. It was designed as a neoclassical landscape by the architect Emilio Alemagna and combines natural features, including a lake, with manmade structures, such as the Arch of Peace. Giardini Pubblici (Public Gardens) is an 18th century garden complex at the heart of the city, designed in the English garden style. It includes an assortment of trees, fountains, statues, rockeries, and an grand old villa and museum. Founded in the 16th century, the Giardini della Guastalla are among Milan's oldest gardens. Situated near the University, it is a small but elegant park which is a nice area for walk and contemplation. There are also three important botanical gardens in the city: the Milan University Experimental Botanical Garden, the Brera Botanical Garden and the Cascina Rosa Botanical Garden.

Milan's main international airport is Malpensa, 40 km to the northwest of the city centre. Its smaller, older airport Linate is 8 km east of the centre and has flights to a limited number of destinations in Italy and Europe. There is a bus service from both airports to the city centre, and an express train runs from Malpensa. Milan is also reached by Orio al Serio airport (45 km to the northeast in Bergamo) and Parma airport (100 km to the south), which cater mainly for low cost airlines. Milan's main train station is Milano Centrale, at Piazza Duca d'Aosta. This provides high speed and regular rail services to major Italian cities, including Rome, Venice, Naples, Turin and Florence, and some European destinations, such as Paris, Munich, Geneva and Barcelona. A commuter rail service operates from Garibaldi station. Milan has an extensive public transport system comprising buses, trams and a metro.