An impressive set of columns located in an eclectic area of the city. Worth the trip as there are…read moremultiple other sites to see and numerous cafes to have another or drink.

Oddly not a part of either of my walking tours, the Colonne di San Lorenzo has been here near Porta…read moreTicinese for 15 centuries and they're actually 200 years older than that, having been moved here in the 4th century after they existed elsewhere. Definitely worth a stop to admire their ancient grandeur if you are in the area. [Review 10671 overall, 439 of 2019.]

Corso Vittorio Emanuele (through Piazza del Duomo to Via Mercanti) gets my vote for best pedestrian…read morewalking / shopping street ever! It has really been spruced up for Expo 2015.

Once upon a time, Milano used to be a busy city, constantly on the run, always late for your next…read moredaily routine. Being Italy's commercial, financial, fashion capital, it just made sense to ONLY reserve a tiny spot for pedestrians to stroll around (young generations prefer to refere to such a past time as "fare una vasca"... which literally means to swim from one end to the next of a pool). Corso Vittorio Emanuele has seen it all... from the opening of McDonald's in the (distant) 80s, to the competition (Burger King) taking over the Duomo location. From an historic landmark (an old cinema called ASTRA) being converted into a store (Zara)... It has hosted many a street performance (break dancing, rapping & freestyle sessions). It has been the go-to place for younger generations that wanted to spend a funny afternoon together (a few cinemas, lots of shopping stores, a few decent food joints). It brings pedestrians from the Duomo square to the San Babila square (from which one can find Via Montenapoleone for some (window) shopping). Though now there are other pedestrian sites along the line (Via Dante and the streets around Sforza Castle, hopefully not limited to the duration of the Expo). When i think of THE pedestrian street of Milan. .. this is what comes to mind.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is such a magical place. A must when visiting il Duomo di Milano. The…read morehustle and bustle of countless tourists, people going about their day. So much luxury shopping it's incredible, and some amazing restaurants too! This shert magnitude of the architecture & history is awe inspiring. A great place to come and feel energized... but also a little overwhelming with so many people! I love sitting in one of their indoor cafés and people watching, just adore being here! The beauty of the floors, walls, ceilings, is truly magnificent. The up keep by the Italians is a marvel. Bravo to them from maintaining such an amazing cultural landmark! The sweeping glass ceilings alone will make you swoon!

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.

In late November of 2024,I spent a delightful morning relishing this Cistercian Monastic Complex…read moreoriginally created in the 12th Century.I saw and appreciated its awesome bell tower,church,and cloister.Chiaravalle was a major agricultural center in the Medieval and Renaissance Period. In the interior of this special church,I saw fine paintings produced in the Renaissance Period by Bernardino Luini("Madonna on the Throne With Christ Child"),Giovanni and Giovan Mauro Della Rovere(Fiamingo Brothers,"Foundation of Abbey of Chiaravalle"),and Bramantino(frescoes).The abbey's church,bell tower,and cloister are fine examples of Gothic Architecture.The booklet "Chiaravalle Abbey Milan"written in English and sold at the abbey's shop for a very reasonable price helped me appreciate this religious complex more.You can reach this abbey by bus from the Milan Metro (Bus#77 from the Corvetto Metro Station).

The Abbey of Santa Maria di Rovegnano (Latin: Sanctæ Mariæ Clarævallis Mediolanensis) is a…read moreCistercian monastic complex in Milan, Lombardy, northern Italy. The borgo that has developed round the abbey was once an independent commune called Chiaravalle Milanese, now included in Milan and referred to as the Chiaravalle district. The abbey was founded in 1135 (!!!) and it is one of the first examples of Gothic architecture in Italy, although maintaining some late Romanesque influences. Curiously, the church tower is known in the local dialect as Ciribiciaccola. Agriculture and Grana Padano Here as elsewhere in the Po valley the Cistercians, and later the Benedictines, were known for their industry in clearing the thickets and woodland and in draining the marshes so as to establish up-to-date agriculture practices based on a system of large farming establishments called granges. The origins of the hard Italian granular cheese known generically as grana--the best known examples today being Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano (or Parmesan)--are traditionally ascribed to the monks of Chiaravalle. The weekly meetings with your art history teacher ends here. See you soon on Channel Yelp;)

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.

L.O.V.E. While…read morewandering from the Museo del Duomo to San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, I needed to find something besides another cathedral, which is what I wanted to see, to capture my husband's attention. After checking out the Starbucks Reserve Roastery around the corner, we stumbled across this monumental sculpture by Maurizio Cattelan. Also known as Il Dito, or The Finger, it is a giant hand with all of the fingers cut off except for the middle finger sculpted from Carrara marble. L.O.V.E. The name L.O.V.E. stands for Libertà, Odio, Vendetta, Eternità, which translates to Freedom, Hatred, Revenge, Eternity. It is located in Piazza Affari in front of the Italian Stock Exchange, although it did not start there originally. Coincidence?? Art brings the world together. While talking to the manager of Tavola at a Wine and Food Event in The Woodlands, he actually told us a story about Maurizio Cattelan, whose piece The Comedian sold for $6.2 million. Interesting to learn more about this self-trained Milano based artist who uses humor and satire in his works of art. My husband did share our Milan photos with that manager. We bonded over L.O.V.E.

L.O.V.E. aka Il Dito (Italian for 'the finger') is a sculpture consisting of a hand with the middle…read morefinger. The name L.O.V.E. is the acronym of "Libertà, Odio, Vendetta, Eternità" ("Freedom, Hatred, Revenge, Eternity"). The sculpture is placed in front of the Italian stock exchange. It's a fun art piece to check out that wasn't too out of the way.

La Cà Granda ("the big house") was once used by the Milanese people to describe the original…read moreOspedale Maggiore complex. That was founded in 1456 by the Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza (you might recognize that name from the Sforza castle). Originally to provide medical care for the city's poorest people and reorganizing medical care from multiple institutions into a single building. Today, Cà Granda covers an area of 43,000 square meters (10.6 acres). Shaped like a huge rectangle, a look at a Milan satellite image makes it instantly recognizable (straight line southeast from the castle across the Duomo). Renaissance-style round arches along the massive front of the building which was extensively damaged by Allied air raids during WW2. After those repairs, the University of Milan moved in and today it is the home of the art institute. Much of the structure is open for tours. If you appreciate classic architecture, it's worth a look. [Review 10712 overall, 480 of 2019.]