The most beautiful places to see in Milan and its surroundings

The city of Milan is one of the major cities in Europe, with its large skyscrapers and economic centers. However, it is also a city that has beautiful places to visit, full of art, history and culture.

Milan is famous for being a place where great and world-class artists have met; today is no exception, thanks to its art schools, its important museums and its great fashion designers.

An important event that takes place twice a year in this city is the fashion show, known as Milan Fashion Week, where the main Italian designer houses and renowned international stars meet.

For this reason, we invite you to discover the best tourist places to see in Milan and its surroundings.

Top 15 of the best places to see in Milan, Italy

1. Duomo of Milan

The Milan Cathedral or the Duomo di Milano, is located in the Piazza del Duomo, in the historic center of the city of Milan.

This cathedral is one of the most important things to see in Milan, as it is the third largest church in the world.

Its Gothic-style façade is so majestic that it has impressed its visitors since the Middle Ages; making many see in this temple, a heavenly representation on earth.

Its interior is as impressive as the exterior; there you will be able to appreciate a series of enormous columns, crowned with different reliefs of religious motifs on their upper part, and various works of art that adorn this church.

2. Royal Palace of Milan

Currently, the Royal Palace of Milan is a cultural center, where different activities are carried out, and even on occasions, the Fashion Week in Milan; however, this palace for a long time was the seat of the Milanese government.

It is located in the Piazza del Duomo, and has 7,000 square meters with a neoclassical façade, the work of the Habsburg rulers, who remodeled the palace at the end of the 18th century.

Inside you can see different paintings by renowned artists, which are loans from the main museums in the world.

In addition to this, you can visit the palace museum, which is divided into four periods, namely: Neoclassical, Napoleonic, Restoration and Unification of Italy.

3. Basilica of St. Ambrose

Saint Ambrose is considered the patron saint of the city, which is why on December 7, the city dresses up to celebrate his day.

Although the church was erected in the fourth century of our era, in the eleventh century it was rebuilt, becoming the greatest influence of the Lombard Romanesque style.

Inside, they highlight:

• The entrance hall.

• The Sarcophagus of Stilicho, with its religious reliefs.

• The majestic inner dome.

• The tomb and skeletons of Saint Ambrose, Saint Gervasio and Saint Protasio.

4. Sforzesco Castle

The Sforzesco Castle, one of the tourist jewels of the city, is one of the must-sees to see in Milan, Italy.

It was built in the 14th century, under the auspices of the Visconti family, which together with the Sforza, were the most important families that ruled this territory.

In the fifteenth century, Francisco Sforza began its reconstruction, where its large and beautiful gardens stood out, along with the passageways, nooks and crannies and labyrinthine areas of the castle.

Today, several establishments dedicated to art and entertainment operate inside it, such as the Sempione park, next to the castle.

In the Sforzesco Castle you will also be able to appreciate the last sculpture by the artist Michelangelo, an unfinished sculpture, but which demonstrates the greatness of the creator of “El David”.

5. Santa Maria delle Grazie

When Leonardo da Vinci created the Last Supper, it was held in the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent, where the Italian painter, faithful to his inclinations for innovation, created a masterpiece where two different elements stand out.

The positive element is that he developed the image of the last supper, under a different motif, in his time, it was common to represent communion, that is, when they shared bread and wine; however, da Vinci opted for the moment in which Christ announces the betrayal of one of the apostles.

The negative element of the work is that Leonardo da Vinci used a different type of paint for this type of work, thinking that it would be better to represent it; but it deteriorates very quickly, which is why today continuous maintenance work is done to keep it alive.

Today you can visit the convent, and the place where this important mural is located.

6. The Canals of Milan

From the fifteenth to the nineteenth century, the main communication routes of Milan were through various water canals, very similar to those in Venice.

One of the architects of navigation through these canals was Leonardo da Vinci, who designed some systems so that the Milanese canals could be navigated quickly.

When in the 19th century the trains displaced the river routes, little by little, the canals of Milan were emptied, with the exception of Navigli.

If you travel around the city and want to have fun, Navigli and its canals are one of the best activities to do in Milan, since in addition to the nocturnal beauty of the landscape, you can enjoy the festive atmosphere in this area of the city.

7. Brera Art Gallery

Located in the Brera district of Milan, this art gallery is one of the most important museums in the world.

Among its halls you will find several important works by the great masters of Italian and European painting; among them: Bramante, Caravaggio, Tintoretto, El Greco, Raphael, Rubens, Bellini.

8. Mercanti Square

Milan is a modern cosmopolitan city, with great skyscrapers and the life of the great cities of the world; however, Mercanti Square still retains that medieval touch that makes it a special place.

In the Mercanti Square, merchants, buyers and sellers from all over Milan and a good part of Italy met for centuries, being one of the most important commercial centers, along with the city of Venice.

Around it are must-see buildings, such as the Alla Scala Theater, and the Vitorio Emanuele II Gallery.

9. Quad D´Oro

The city of Milan is also one of the fashion capitals of the world, and the Quad D'Oro, or the Golden Quadrilateral, is the nerve center of Milanese fashion.

In its streets you will find the most exclusive shops, with the best designers in the world; which is why numerous stars of art, sports and entertainment come here to get their best suits.

10. Milan Central Station

One of the oldest railway stations in Europe, without a doubt, a place to see in Milan and its surroundings, since if you want to leave the city by train, you must pass through here.

It was inaugurated in 1906, but it would be finished in 1931, due to economic problems and the outbreak of the First World War.

Inside, the great steel dome, the glass ceiling and its walls with tile panels stand out.

Discover the best places to see in Milan and its surroundings

Not only is the city of Milan full of charm and magic, in its surroundings you can also experience and appreciate the beauty of the Italian landscapes together with the warmth of its people.

11. Lake Maggiore

An idyllic landscape of northern Italy, Lake Maggiore or mayor in Spanish, is undoubtedly one of the must-sees to see in Milan and its surroundings.

The lake is the second largest in the country, and borders Switzerland to the north, so in some locations, you can see the Alps.

The lake is beautiful by itself, but on its shores, you will see villages with beautiful houses, old churches and places full of art. It is one of the most beautiful places in Italy.

12. Charterhouse of Pavia

When the Visconti family built the current Sforzesco Palace, the religious temple known as the Carthusian monastery of Pavia, it was also through them.

Its entrance includes an elongated path with gardens on its sides, from where you will appreciate the magnificence of the temple's architecture.

Its geometry and sculptures stand out, with its reliefs and points, a real charm to the eyes.

Inside is the church and the museum, where you can take a guided tour with a monk, who will tell you everything related to the Cartuja de Pavia.

13.Verona

When William Shakespeare created one of his greatest works: "Romeo and Juliet", it was the magical city of Verona, the place where the events took place.

In Verona you can visit Juliet's house, where thousands of tourists are photographed, to get a souvenir of this sad story.

The Verona Arena is another unmissable place in the surroundings of Milan, which is an ancient arena from the 30th century of our era, where the Romans went to see different shows.

Today, the Verona Arena is a privileged Opera House.

14. Vigevano Square

It is another of the unmissable visits in the surroundings of Milan, considered the most beautiful square in Italy.

It is very similar to Saint Mark's Square in Venice, being a long and wide square, where the locals of Vigevano gather for their most important celebrations and festivities.

15. Bergamo

The beautiful city of Bergamo is a perfect visit if you want to know the surroundings of Milan.

If you arrive through the city's airport, you will be able to visit its upper part, where the most attractive tourist places are located.

The southern area is more residential, but both are connected by one of the oldest trams in the country.

In high Bergamo, you will see the best views of the city in its Civic Tower, and you should also visit the Piazza Vecchia.

These have been the most beautiful places to see in Milan Italy, a beautiful city that shines for its surroundings.