First off, Milan is known as Italy's top fashion city and it's a good place to shop for designer clothes, shoes, and accessories. Good shopping streets include Via Dante between the Duomo and Castle, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II near Piazza della Scala, and via Monte Napoleone near the Duomo. For exclusive fashions, head to the area around via della Spiga called the Quadrilatero d'Oro or Golden Quadrangle that also includes Via Montenapoleone, Via Andrea, Via Gesù, Via Borgospesso, and Corso Venezia. Corso Buenos Aires has less expensive shops and chain stores, many of them even open on Sundays. Of course if you don't want to spend lots of money, window shopping is entertaining too.

Milan's Duomo, or Cathedral, is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Construction started in 1386 but took nearly 500 years to complete. 135 spires and 3200 statues adorn the duomo roof and you can take an elevator (or climb the stairs) to the rooftop for a close-up view as well as magnificent views of the city below. (See photos by clicking on the link above.) Piazza del Duomo, the square where the cathedral sits, is the hub of Milan's historic center. Also on the square are a statue of Vittorio Emanuele and the Palazzo Reale housing the Duomo Museum and Contemporary Art Museum.

The 15th century Convent of Santa Maria della Grazie houses Leonardo Da Vinci's famous fresco, the Last Supper. Although the building was bombed in 1943, the fresco survived. To see the fresco, it's necessary to book in advance (open Tuesday through Sunday). Click on the link above to see how to book tickets for the Last Supper.

Milan's castle, Castello Sforzesco, is near the center of Milan and unlike many castles you don't have to climb a hill to get to it. Inside the castle are several museums but even if you don't want to go into a museum, the castle is a good place to wander around and the courtyard serves as a local park. You can see castle artifacts and architecture details. The art museum houses Michelangelo's last sculpture, the Rondanini Pietà. There's also the Museum of Ancient Art, a collection of musical instruments, and the Egyptian and prehistoric sections of the Archeology Museum.

Teatro alla Scala, or La Scala, is one of Italy's top historic opera houses. La Scala first opened in 1778 and has been the opening venue for many famous operas. The theater was renovated in 2004. Attending an opera in La Scala is a top experience for opera fans but you'll need to book in advance. La Scala's museum has a collection of musical instruments and portraits and busts of musicians and you can view the auditorium from boxes and the backstage area. It's currently open daily except holidays, 9-12:30 and 1:30 to 5:30pm.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, built in 1867, is a huge glass-roofed shopping arcade lined with elegant shops, bars, and restaurants. Inside are mosaics with the symbols of the cities forming the newly united Italy. Some people consider it good luck to stand on the testicles of the bull of Turin. The galleria is built in a cross-shape and links the squares of the Duomo and La Scala.

Basilica Sant' Ambrogio, one of Milan's oldest churches, is an eleventh century church built on the site of a fourth century church. Sant' Ambrogio is Milan's patron saint and you can see him in a crypt along with two third century martyrs. The church is an excellent example of Romanesque architecture and inside are many interesting relics, carvings, and mosaics. Be sure to see the gold altar. There's also a small museum associated with the church.

Pinacoteca di Brera is Milan's top art museum, housing a collection of over 600 works from the 14th through the 20th centuries including works by top artists such as Raphael, Piero della Francesca, and Bellini. The gallery was started in the 19th century and is housed in a 13th century convent. Closed Mondays and some holidays

10/6/17