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Administrative region of Milan in Lombardy, Italy
Photo: Geobia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
While the Centro Storico is the unquestionable heart of Milan, it is the north of the city that is its hub. Here you will find two most important railway stations - the imposing Milano Centrale and busy Porta Garibaldi - as well as the ever-growing array of office towers that make up Milan's modern skyline, housing the headquarters of companies that make Milan Italy's economic capital.
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Società per la Belle Arti ed Esposizione Permanente
Changing exhibitions of contemporary art.
Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea (PAC)
A contemporary art space. In 1993 a bomb destroyed the building in a time when Italy was heavily committed in its fight against the Mafia.
Galleria d'Arte Moderna
Mainly features 19th-century Italian art.
Museo Civico di Storia Naturale
Casa museo Boschi di Stefano
Extensive collection of 20th century art. Building (1929–1931) and some furniture by Piero Portaluppi.
A very big, relatively modern and busy square in the north-east of Milan, famous for hosting the city's majestic central station, and the Pirelli skyscraper. The Piazza is generally bustling with people, and is at the heart of Milan's economic and business district. It is where you'll end up if you need to go to the central station, but it is also a good place to go because it boasts some excellent examples of post-Second World War modern architecture, such as the Pirelli building, and some elegant hotels, such as the Hotel Excelsior Gallia.
A modern and very busy square north-west of Milan. It contains some of the most important office blocks and company buildings in the country, and boasts some good examples of 1950s and 60s Italian architecture. The square is an important one for transportation, and contains some grand hotels. It is also close to the Piazza Duca d'Aosta and the city Central station.
Considered one of the finest and most beautiful streets in the city. Right near the glitzy Montenapoleone area, it is flanked by a series of beautiful villas, museums and palazzi, from all eras. It also contains parts of the Giardini Pubblici, an old and leafy garden and park. On addition to being an aristocratic-aired place, today, several elegant boutiques have opened up here, so it's great for both sight-seeing and designer shopping. Best station to reach it is that of Palestro right in the middle, but San Babila and P.ta Venezia are within decent walking distance.
One of the longest shopping streets in Italy and Europe. It is a large avenue, who, at first, is quite old, but the buildings gradually become newer further along. Today, it contains loads, loads and loads of shops, such as Swarovsky, H&M, Milano House of Cashmere, Calzedonia, Outlet, United Colors of Benetton, Adidas, Nike, Calvin Klein, Zara, Luisa Spagnoli, and a good number more. Since the Corso Buenos Aires is so long, you have the P.ta Venezia and Loreto stations at either side, and the Lima one more or less in the middle.
The Napoleonic "new gate" is located next to the modern business district and is simpler built than the other city gates. You might pass through if walking from the central station to Duomo.
Porta Orientale or Porta Renza
Known by its current name since 1862, this gate has origins that can be traced back to the Roman Empire. The current rather massive gate structure consists of two buildings and was completed in 1828.
Yet another gate from the early 19th century that has lent its name to the district around it and to the nearby railway station.
Public gardens
An 18th-century park complex in the Montenapoleone/Porta Venezia district, designed in an English Romantic garden style. Inside, you can find rockeries, water features, fountains, statues and monuments, and other interesting features. You also get a planetarium, a natural history museum, and on the other side of the Palestro street, you can also find an opulent Royal villa which today hosts a contemporary art collection within grand ornate halls. Reachable via P.ta Venezia, Turati or Palestro metro stations. The gardens are in an excellent position since they're quite near to the Duomo and Brera district, and extremely close to the Montenapoleone street and the glamorous shopping area around it.
The tallest building in Italy by virtue of its 84-metre spire on top of 146 metres of office floors, completed in 2011 to serve as the headquarters of the Unicredit bank.
The government of the region of Lombardy spared little expense to relocate itself to what became Italy's tallest building when completed in 2010. It ceded this title to Torre Unicredit one year later, but has an upper hand in terms of the highest usable floor at 160 metres. The building is open for visit every Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00. During visit time, you can climb to the "belvedere" glass wall on the 39th floor
The tallest residential building in Italy. The unmistakable Jenga-like visage of the tower is achieved by alternating balconies to offer better views and privacy.
Diamond Tower
Grattacielo Pirelli
Completed in 1956, the Pirelli Tower became a turning point in the history of global architecture, even though its looks may pale now in comparison to the newer postmodern-era towers, as well as a symbol of the rebound of Milan and the Italian economy following the Second World War. It was built by the Pirelli company known for tire manufacturing, and was the seat of government the Region of Lombardy until it moved to Palazzo Lombardia.
Breda Tower
Vertical Forest
The residential twin tower's name should be interpreted literally, as it stems from the fact that the buildings' intricate facades contain actual living trees on various levels, which serve a variety of purposes beneficial to the residents. The total amount of vegetation growing on the facades is equivalent to a hectare of an actual forest.
Galfa Tower
The name "Galfa" is a portmanteau derived from the names of the two streets where the tower has its facades, Via Galvani and Via Fara.
owned by FAI - Italian National Trust
Built by Piero Portaluppi from 1932 to 1935 for the industrial Necchi Campiglio family, it also has a beautiful garden.
Milan Conservatory
It is a university for the musicians of the future and concerts by them are held in the Verdi (about 1000 seats) and Puccini halls.
A self service restaurant near the Central Railway Station, with pizza, pasta and other classic Italian dishes and English speaking staff. Very reasonable prices and good food combined with a wide variety of wines - this is not a tourist trap.
Pizza Fashion near the Centrale train station is good choice and they also do takeaway dessert if you're running to catch your train.
Nice pizza in a small restaurant with very economical prices.
A lively Italian restaurant with decent ossobuco, pizza and other dishes at about €15 and delicious desserts.
Dishes from Sicily, mostly fish and seafood. Try the swordfish!
Expect to find typical local dishes on the menu like risotto alla milanese and ossobuco. They have a five courses menu that is a bit expensive but worth the money.
Specializing in Paduan cuisine with dishes like ossobuco con risotto.
For a Mediterranean take on Japanese cuisine, head to La Terraza which serves fusion food among a contemporary decor. During the summer months, everyone heads to the terrace, where you can see the treetops of the nearby Giardini Pubblici. There's a "happy hour" every day except Sunday; on Sunday, brunch is served.
A refined restaurant from 1899 serving meals such as mozzarella, Parma ham, mussels, salad, Milanese-style risotto, spaghetti, soup, beef, chicken, scampi.
Fashionable Armani-style place for aperitivo and drinks.
If you want to visit a real Aperitivo bar in true Italian fashion, this is a worthy hot spot.
A bar specialising in beer from Belgium. 5 beer on draught and 50 in the bottle.
Wednesday and Thursday nights hosts a gay crowd at L'elephant
Elegant two-star hotel with 25 single, double and triple bedrooms with private bath, shower, Wi-Fi connection and air conditioning.
Thirteen single, double/twin and triple accommodations with en-suites services, internet connections, TV and telephone.
3-star hotel 400 metres from the main railway station.
This 4-star hotel, surrounded by many famous monuments, has 282 rooms, a restaurant, parking, Wi-Fi and a bar.
Four-star hotel 100 m away from the station.
Really close to the Centrale station.
The Auriga is a four-star hotel right in front of the central train station of Milan. It has 52 bedrooms, all with private bath, shower, TV and internet connection.
Cheapest booked via an intermediary, more expensive direct. Parking €20 per night, or use cheaper local garage. Excellent location near Stazione Centrale.
15 minutes' walk to the Duomo and 10 minutes to Via Montenapoleone, small and attentive.
Offers 109 rooms and 13 apartments right in the heart of Corso Como. The hotel also features a restaurant and bar, a fitness center with indoor swimming pool, and a garage nearby the hotel.
4-star hotel.
4-star hotel offers 99 rooms plus a wellness and fitness center, restaurant, bar, meeting rooms, suites and family rooms.
Four-star hotel 200 m from the central train station.
Classic 4-star hotel.
5-star boutique hotel in the Brera district, inspired by 1960s Milanese design. Features stylish rooms with custom furnishings and modern bathrooms. Breakfast is included.
Connects Porta Venezia to Piazzale Loreto, and is the place to go for fashion shopping: here you can find Calzedonia, Alex Fashion, Luisa Spagnoli, Furla, Brian & Barry and Nara Camice.
Found in the early 1990s, this sort of "multi-functional" shopping complex is found in the same place as its name. Considered a lifestyle emporium and 13,000 square feet big, it contains some fashion shops, design, photography and art gallery, luxury goods, a bookshop, accessories, a cafe and a restaurant. Situated in the Garibaldi district, near the Centro Direzionale (Milan's business district), it has a courtyard, and a European/Oriental inspired interior design.
Eataly is a gourmet grocery store associated with Slow movement. It styles itself as a place to "savor high quality traditional Italian food products and beverages along with local produce and artisanal products." Many different products are for sale, including not only produce but cheese, wine, olive oil, and sweets, and there are also several places to eat hot food. Anyone who enjoys shopping or window-shopping for food-related products is likely to enjoy walking through.
Northern Milan includes two of the most important railway stations of Milan:
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