Fantastic visit to the Duomo di Milon, or Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint…read moreMary, during our visit to Italy. It's the largest duomo in Italy (St Peter's is in the Vatican) and we both thought it's the most impressive on the outside. The history of the duomo is fascinating as you will learn about its construction on the tour. BTW, there are basically 3 areas to tour 1) duomo outside and interior 2) exterior roof tour, and an artifacts tour underneath the main floor. Construction began in 1386 and the cathedral wasn't officially completed until the 20th century. The architectural influences in that time are incorporated - medieval, Renaissance and later. Unlike most cathedrals, you can walk extensively across the roof during the roof tour between the flying buttresses, and pinnacles. The roof has 135 spires and thousands of statues, making the exterior astounding! At the top of the central spire stands the famous golden statue of the Virgin Mary, the symbol of Milan. The interior is very unique as well. One of the most unusual features - an astronomical clock built in 1786!At solar noon, sunlight passing through a tiny opening creates a spot of light on the line, allowing the cathedral's astronomers to determine true solar noon. Check it out - you will be glad you did!

Beautiful architecture, inside and out. The inside was busy but I was lucky enough to go during…read moreSunday mass, which probably accounted for half the people in there. I had to leave for another experience and came back later to see the Crypt. Some of the staff gave me a hard time about coming back in, wondering why I needed to leave even though I explained I didn't want to wait for 2 hours in the cathedral. I was able to visit the Crypt, which is only open for a short while. It's a beautiful experience if you're able to fit it in. Taking photos inside the Crypt is prohibited. Outside is very busy so be cautious of pick pockets and scammers...they are everywhere. Toilets are available to one side but for a fee.

Prepare yourself to wait: bring a book and don't rely too much on your cell phone - sometimes the…read morereception inside the building is not so great. In general, the employees are courteous and reasonably helpful, though I think it's best to do your homework online before going in. I've received erroneous information in the past and the last thing you want to do is make a second trip to get your paperwork done. Before stepping foot in this place, make sure that the service you want isn't available on the website. Many certificates can be easily ordered online now and there's even a number you can call 24 h a day.

This museum is a must see when in Milan. It is so wonderful that I would even recommend a trip to…read moreMilan just to see it. The art is mostly religious but the setting is what makes it special. The wall color is different in each room and the scale of the art is unlike anything I have ever seen in either the Uffizi, Prado, the Louve or the Met. Paintings the size of Times Square billboards cover walls of intense blues, teals and magenta. We had the good fortune of seeing a spectacular exhibit featuring the work of Giorgio Armani whose elaborate creations were on display in almost every room. The building itself was a marvel. Timed tickets are a must.

This is a museum/school. It was a bit hard finding the museum, but pretty amazing once you find…read moreit. Tons of religious paintings that are larger than life and I mean large! Couldn't believe the size of some of these. It is strange that the exit is the entrance, so you will have to walk ALL the way back. Still, an amazing place and check out my pictures!

This is a nice pedestrian street here in Milano. Connecting the Castello Sforzesco and the Piazza…read moreCordusio. For me the nicest walking / shopping street here in the city center. Lots of shops and Restaurants. Ok, many shops are chains, but it has a charming character and is best enjoyed when you're not in a rush (enough visitors are), so take your time. It's a nice little stroll down to the Duomo. Be sure to stop by the excellent "Signorvino" on Via Dante 13/15 for a glass of Prosecco (or a bottle of wine). Even though visited by many, it doesn't feel overcrowded, due to the width of the street.

A nice street for outdoor shopping. I think it is a closed street and I saw only delivery trucks…read moreor police cars driving by. It might not be good on a rainy day, but this street is so spacious. It has a lot of nice cafes with indoor or outdoor seatings, clothing stores, shoe stores at more affordable prices than those super high end stores at Galleria.

Luxury high end shopping bonanza is how I would describe the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II. There…read moreare so many luxury brands here from Louis Vuitton, fendi, Gucci and of course Prada. It's a fashionista's playground and also a window shopper's potential maxed out credit card. Architecture here is absolutely beautiful and mesmerizing. Look for the Lucky Bull mosaic throughout the marble floors. It's actually a few feet away from Dior. What you do is place your right heel on the bull's testicals and spin around three times for good luck. I'm not certain that it would bring good luck, but it's worth a shot. Plus it's funny watching others do it whilst trying to keep their balance. I did it a few times and I couldn't stop laughing.

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is not only beautiful with high end shopping but it is much…read morelarger than I expected. I made way over to spinning the bull mosaic and there was a circle full of people just jumping in to spin the bull. It is best to visit the Galleria on a week day for the weekend is super crowded. I experienced both and I prefer the weekday 100%.