MUSEUMS
Pinacoteca di Brera
The Pinacoteca di Brera is not just an art gallery – it’s one of Italy’s best art galleries, located in an art school in Milan’s ‘artists neighborhood’. The pinacoteca is in a stunning neoclassic building and the collection of paintings dating from the Middle Ages to the Romantic period is perhaps second only to the Uffizi in Florence – and Brera only sees a fraction of its visitors.
The Last Supper
The Last Supper is Leonardo da Vinci’s most mysterious artwork, portraying the reaction of the apostles after Jesus’s announcement that one of them would betray him. The peculiar expression on the face of Jesus Christ, halfway between sadness and hopelessness, is one of the great enigmas of art history. The Last Supper is not a true fresco, as it was painted on a dry wall rather than on wet plaster. This makes the artwork very fragile, and only a limited number of people are allowed to see it each day.
Fondazione Prada
This is one of the most recent additions in the world of Milan museums, having been open since 2015 in a former gin distillery in the southern outskirts of the city. The gallery is dedicated to contemporary art and it includes permanent exhibits as well as temporary ones, arranged in the spaces of the former distillery and in three purpose-built structures. The centerpiece of the gallery is the Haunted House, a four-story building covered with gold leaf and including artworks by Louise Bourgeois – only 20 visitors are allowed at each time, so make sure you book a time slot when you purchase your entry ticket.
Museo del Novecento
This museum definitely wins the best location award – it’s right next to the Duomo, and from its terrace you can get a wonderful view over the square. This museum is dedicated to 20th century art and it showcases over 300 permanent exhibits. One room includes works by international artists, but the bulk of the museum focuses on Italian 20th century art, with sections dedicated to the major art movements of the time. The Museo del Novecento is housed in the Arengario, a fascist-era building from where Mussolini used to address the Milan crowds.
MUDEC
MUDEC was opened in mid-2015 and it is dedicated to arts and cultures from all over the world. Rather than being divided geographically, it follows a historical approach, detailing the history of Milanese ethnographic and archaeological collections.
There are examples of art from as far away as Japan, Papua New Guinea and West Africa, and temporary exhibitions – in summer 2017 there will be an exhibition dedicated to Kandinsky and one about Argentinian dinosaurs.
Museo nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia ‘Leonardo da Vinci’
The museum is dedicated to Leonardo Da Vinci – the arts and science section includes some of Leonardo’s drawings and reproductions of his machines.
Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano
This is another perfect Milan Museum for children, located in the Porta Venezia public gardens and right next to the Planetarium. There are sections dedicated to minerals and the evolution of man, but the best ones to visit are the palaeontology section with dinosaur bones and fossils and the diorama collection depicting different ecosystems from around the world.
Museo Poldi Pezzoli
The museum is the home and private collection of Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli, a wealthy 19th century noblemen who left his entire estate to the Brera academy after his death. The house was renovated and designed to provide the perfect background for the precious art collection, including paintings from the Italian and Northern European masters as well as some beautiful statues.
Villa Necchi Campiglio
Villa Necchi Campiglio is basically the 20 century version of Museo Poldi Pezzoli, the home of a wealthy industrialist family left to FAI (the Italian National Trust) after the death of the last member in 2001, and subsequently turned into a museum.
The building is worth a visit for its exquisite Art Deco furniture and decorations, and because it was one of the first ‘modern homes’ in Milan with a lift, telephones and intercoms, and a heated swimming pool. FAI retains ownership of the house and sometimes organises events like flower exhibitions and farmers markets in the beautiful gardens around the villa.
PARKS
Parco Sempione
Was designed by Emilio Alemagna and rests between the Castello Sforzesco and Piazza Sempione with the Arch of Peace. It contains the Napoleonic Arena, the Aquarium, the Tower, the Art Theater, which is called Triennale and the city library. This beautiful park has a little somethign for everyone. The grounds, speckled with ponds and romantic bridges, contains play grounds for kids, a relaxing place on the grass for young people and multiple outdoor areas and museums in which to take a stroll.
Parco Forlanini
The entrance is at Via Corelli No. 124, which starts in Via Argonne and Viale Forlanini and goes to the Idroscalo. It’s a large park of 235 hectares remains the biggest green space in Milan. You’ll find quite a few ponds a rolling green hills.
Giardino della Villa Comunale
This garden, situated in Via Palestro 16, is a little English garden with a romantic interpretation of nature and classical elements.
Gardino Guastalla
Named after the street it rests on, this park began as an aristocratic garden and boasts a calming fish pond in its center.
Parco Lambro
This large park is situated in Via Feltre, and contains a large number of natural elements.
Naviglio area
With Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese rests between the streets of Viale Gabriele D’Annunzio and Viale Goriaza. This part of the city contains the Darsena Basin, which is where all the channels and rivers of Milan meet and where the Olona River, currently subterraneous, and the Naviglio Grande merge. The Darsena was constructed by the Spanish Earl of Fuentes in 1603 to enhance the transport of goods.
Naviglio Pavese
This is part of the Darsena Basin and merges together with Ticino after 33 km. It was built in the 13th century by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, but wasn’t actually finished until 1819.
Naviglio Grande
This park has its source in the river Ticino in Tornavento. The channel was important for the transportation of the marble used to build the Duomo
MARKETS
East Market, Lambrate
Located in Lambrate, a periphery but hip and creative district on the rise, East Market is definitely the coolest market in Milan. Over 100 stalls are located in a vast industrial building formerly a metalworking company in World War II. Vendors are not restricted to a particular bracket of produce, so there is great variety. There are epic vintage garms but also new casual-wear brands; antique and retro furniture, but also new design pieces; refurbished bikes, records and jewellery, and the list goes on. What unites the stalls at East Market is a cool aesthetic – you won’t find any sad-looking craft items here. There is also a great selection of international food stalls and a small bar area so you can have a drink and listen to the live DJ set. It’s worth dedicating an afternoon for your visit.
Mercatone dell’Antiquariato, Navigli
On the first Sunday of each month, Navigli Grande is transformed into a thriving antique market. Amble (or hustle) along the canal side, which is crowded with stalls selling everything from traditional white linen tablecloths with lace embroidery and antique glassware, to mid-century lamps and vintage designer Italian skirt-suits. The canals are also lined with bars and restaurants so you can stop for lunch or coffee at any time. It is open roughly between 8am and 6pm, but some vendors start packing away at about 4pm.
Mercato Floricolo all’Ingrosso, Porta Vittoria
This wholesale flower market is worth mentioning for residents of the city. It might not be particularly central but it’s worth the trip because you can find all kinds of flowers, plants and pots at discounted prices. Whether you are looking for striking floral decorations for an event, cut flowers for your kitchen table, or vogue indoor plants, you will be able to find them here. Usually the preserve of commercial buyers, it is open to the public every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am–12pm.
Mercatino Usato, Milano Centrale
This is a permanent indoor market selling second-hand goods of all genres. Because Mercatino Usato buys goods as well as accepting donations, the quality of the products is typically very high. It’s like a giant, classy Oxfam. Open Monday–Friday, 10am–1pm and 3.30 pm–7.30 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10am–7pm.
