Milan, Italy

milan
The last trip I took my friend Destiny to before she left for the states was Milan.  A simple day trip to the fashion capital of Italy.  Milan is a large city.  The fifth largest in the EU and it is nothing like the coast of southern Italy which I had grown to like.  Milan is actually nothing like I had pictured it.

As with most of my day trips in a foreign city, the goal isn't to unveil some unseen side of the city, but to see as much of the tourist sites as possible since I only have a limited amount of time.  We arrived early in the morning and got a breakfast of a croissant and coffee at a little cafe.  Then we headed to the Castello Sforzesco.  The castle was built in the 15th century and features a drawbridge and moat (the most important components of a castle, right?).  There is a museum you can access in the castle, however, I just spent a little time walking around the outside of the castle.

Next, we headed to the Santa Maria delle Grazie church.  Just like Barcelona is all about Gaudi, Milan is all about da Vinci.  This church was so important for me to see because it housed the location of the original painting by Leonardo da Vinco, "The Last Supper."  It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The image is important because it is one of the most widely recognized paintings in the world.  It was painted around 1490 and it is a miracle that it has survived.
The painting went through many changes in ownership and was not protected as artwork would be protected today.  The mural covers and entire wall and I have to admit that I was very moved by this image.  Seeing such an old image that I've read about in books and seen on tv was a amazing!

At the Last Supper, this is where Jesus would reveal to his apostles that one of them would betray him.  The image of the Last Supper is the apostles' reaction to this shocking inforamtion Jesus had given to them.  Even knowing this information, Jesus continues to wash the feet of the apostles the day before his inevitable crucifixion.  On the other side of the room you can also see a large fresco of the Crucifixion by Gaudenzio Ferrari in 1513.

I'd recommend getting tickets online to see the paintings.  When we arrived they told us we needed reservations, but we arrived early enough at the church that we made them there and them returned later to see the paintings.  You get to see them for about 15 minutes before the next group is ushered in.  Unfortunately I was not able to take any photos.  They are very strict about this policy.

If you walk outside of the church you can see a shop nearby called Cartoleria. I recommend stopping in and having a look while speaking to the owner.  He is an older gentleman with such a great personality.  This shop, he proudly told us, is very famous.  And then he went on to tell us about all the books his one of a kind shop is featured in and that Mel Gibson was there last week. 

The man is a book binder and makes the loveliest bound books and stationary and his family has had this business for over 150 years.  The best part about this shop are the prices.  I couldn't beleive how cheap these handcrafted paper goods were.  I bought some notebooks with maps on them and also one with da Vinci's Vetruvian Man, which is one of my favorite images.

Later we headed downtown for some lunch.  I know Italy is famous for their pasta so I had some pasta with clams.  In Milan, I also had the most deliscious pistacio connoli.  I know I'd said in Naples that I wasn't really that impressed with their cannoli but this cannoli had redeemed itself.

During our trip to Milan, we also did some light shopping.  I say light mostly because the high end stores in Milan are made for the wealthy and perhaps if I had a couple thousand dollars to blow at the Prada flagship store in the Galleria, I would have enjoyed Milan a little more.  Another reason we had to do a bit of shopping is because you cannot enter the Duomo without covering most of your legs and shoulders.

The Duomo in Milan is a Gothic cathedral with building beginning in 1386.  It took 6 centuries to finish and its pretty massive.  You can go to the top of the Duomo for cities views, which I suggest.  There is a rather long line for tickets which cost about 7 euro to walk the stairs or 12 euros to take a lift.  Once you are on top you can see almost all of Milan.  It's worth the climb to the top.

Later in the day we headed back to Germany.  I pretty much did everything I set out to do in Milan.  Though a large city, the sites I mentioned above are walkable.  
milan castle

Castello Sforzesco
Above, Castello Sforzesco
santa maria delle grazie
the last supper

cartoleria milan
italian foodcroissant and coffee
duomo
inside of duomo
top of duomo


top of duomo milan
duomo
milan, top of duomo
milan duomo

galleria milan
milan galleria

As I'd mentioned before, Milan is not like I had imagined. I was actually pretty underwhelmed with Milan and I probably wouldn't return. There are so many more beautiful places in Italy that I would rather go.  I think, like I said earlier that since this city is based around fashion, that having a shopping spree here for the average person is just not feasable, but otherwise everything else isn't super expensive.  I am however, very happy that I got to see and experience "The Last Supper."  If anything go for that.

If you'd like to read more about my adventures in Italy, you can follow the links below:
Venice, Italy | Bari, Italy | Naples, Italy | The Island of Capri | Anacapri from the Clouds | Pompeii, Italy | Dali Exhibit in Sorrento, Italy | Dinner in Downtown Naples

Ever been to Milan?  What are your thoughts on this city? I'd love to know in the comments.


Linking up at:

Plucky's Second Thought

23 comments :

  1. I've always wanted to go to Milan...how fun!

    Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!

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  2. I enjoyed my visit to Milan but we stayed outside of the city center. I was really impressed with the Duomo and I wish we had went to the top. The views in your photos are amazing.

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  3. I've been twice to Italy but never to Milan, the view from the top looks awesome!

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  4. I haven't been to Milan for many years but even then, I remember it was extraordinarily expensive.

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  5. Thanks for sharing your trip to Milan. How fun!! I found your link on Savvy Southern Style.

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  6. I've never been to Milan (apart from the airport), but it doesn't look anything like how i imagined! I'd love to see those paintings, and the view from the top of the Duomo.

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  7. We have been there - only for a day like you. We had heard bad reports but we ourselves loved it and could have spent much more time there. We managed to do quite a lot of things because the receptionist at our hotel took us in hand and gave us a list of things to see and do complete with map and what order to do them in. It made such a difference. Actually we were there for less than a day :) Your photos are beautifully clear.

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  8. I'm ambivalent about Milan. It's nothing like as gorgeous as most other famous Italian cities but then there is something about it that I really like, perhaps the fact that it isn't one massive museum. I love the look of that paper shop!

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  9. We adore Milan and have spent several days and nights there in recent years. There is a lot to be discovered if you have the time to explore beyond the major tourist attractions. . .but they are so beautiful it is difficult to tear yourself away from them!

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    1. What were some of your favorite activities to do?

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  10. We did a day in Milan as well and we loved it! The next year is when the Expo goes live and it is supposed to be amazing! It would be nice to explore more of the city and eat at some of the buzzing districts!

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  11. I love that you are honest about your feeling towards Milan, I felt the same way about Paris (I know, I think I am alone on that!). It is funny how you have certain expectations of how a city will be and then it is completely different, sometimes for the better but also sometimes for the worse.

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    1. No, you are right. I'm mixed about Paris. I spend a little over half a day their and I didn't fall in love. Probably because it's so big that I didn't connect. But I know that I need to see more Paris at some point.

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  12. Pretty incredible that you had the chance to go just for a day! I understand what you mean though...some places just aren't my "cup of tea" and while I'm glad I was there once, I don't need to rush back. I felt like that about Madrid...glad I got to see Michelangelo's David but otherwise it wasn't for me....

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  13. Wow I never knew that Milan was so big! The architecture is so amazing!
    Can I also say how jealous I am of all your travels! Always so cool :)

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  14. Agreed that it's a pretty city to visit but that you don't need to stay for days in a row. I saw it on the way to a leg of the Giro d'Italia and enjoyed my time there!

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  15. We stopped in Milan shortly during a trip to Europe last Fall and were surprised how much we enjoyed it! we were breaking up a trip from Paris to go visit relatives in northern Italy so I hadn't really researched or focused on what to do in Milan (I missed the last Supper- which for an art major is criminal!) but we enjoyed the architecture and the energy of the city and found the people very gracious. Shopping there for mere mortals isn't possible- I did purchase some postcards and a great gelati-

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    1. Haha yea the shopping is ridic and you need to see the last supper!

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  16. WOW! So gorgeous! Wish I could see that in real life, especially the Last Supper!

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  17. I visited Milan on a day trip too, a long time ago, and it was a great city. I loved the cathedral more than anything else, though! We didn't get in to see the Last Supper nor did I know about that castle so I guess I will have to go back :)

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  18. I like Milan as a city and I love the fact that it's not overrun with tourists like Venice, Rome or Florence. The Duomo has to be one of the most impressive buildings in the whole of Italy especially when you aren't expecting much from the city x

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I love to hear from readers! Questions and comments welcome. I try to respond to everyone (I respond back to your comments on the comments page so check back for a response). Thanks for reading!

-Brittany Ruth