Top in Town Milan

One of Milan’s most well-trodden shopping routes starts at the Piazza del Duomo with the renowned department store Rinascente, offering a wide range of fashion items under one roof, and continues onto Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, the pedestrian street lined with the most popular brand-name stores.

Located in the heart of the city, and known by the locals as the ‘Living Room of the Milaneses’, the Galleria is considered the oldest shopping arcade in the world. This stunning feat of architecture is lined with some of the world’s most famous fashion and designer stores (including Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Versace), landmark restaurants and cafés. Other innovative additions include a hotel and the ‘Highline Galleria’, a new highline walkway giving access to the Galleria’s rooftops.

One of the most famous attractions in the world, the “Cenacolo” by Leonardo da Vinci is a large 15th-century mural painting representing the scene of the last supper of Jesus narrated in the Gospel. It can be found in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Reservation is required.

The Navigli (in Italian, that’s a plural word) are a widespread network of canals whose history is linked to the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. One of the most vibrant districts in the city, it boasts small artisan workshops and painter’s studios reminiscent of those found on the left bank in Paris. Don’t miss a visit to the new Darsena, recently renewed.

The square is the perfect location for Gallerie d’Italia Art Museum and world’s premier opera house. Considered one of the most important and famous theatres of the globe, also known as the ‘Temple of Opera’, La Scala theatre has hosted the most revered names in the world of music and theatre. Lying adjacent to La Scala, the related museum is also accessible from the foyer.

The Ambrosiana picture gallery contains several exquisite works of art from the 15th through 17th centuries and Leonardo da Vinci’s huge notebook, the Atlantic Codex.

Brera is synonymous with the artistic heart of the city. In fact, as you stroll along the streets of this ancient district, you cannot help but be enchanted by its almost surreal atmosphere boasting small artisan’s workshops or quaint stores selling canvases and paints.

Known as Milan’s luxury fashion district and one of the most prestigious precincts in the city, the Montenapoleone district generates 25% of the entire city’s international shopping turnover.

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