Tours

There are many different areas in Milan to explore, but a great place to start is Brera, because it is a district that is famed for its nightlife and restaurants, but also has art galleries to visit in the day and glorious palaces that played an important role in Milan's history. Even if you cannot enter these palaces (because they are still private residences or offices), you can still drink in their beauty from the outside, as you wander down the narrow streets. It is best to take the Metro to reach Brera. The nearest stops are Lanza, Moscova (line 2) and Cairoli (line 1).

There are a number of things to do during the day in Brera, such as visit the Pinacoteca di Brera (the Brera Art Gallery), which is found in the same building as the Academy of Brera, Milan's School of Fine Arts. This gallery has 30 rooms of paintings from different eras. Not to miss are Mantegna's Dead Christ, Madonna and the Saints by Piero della Francesca, or the Wedding of the Virgin by Raffaello. Those who prefer to occupy their time with lighter pursuits can visit various art galleries around the Via Centrale and surrounding streets of Via Ciovasso and Monte di Pietà. There are antique shops and shops selling quality handmade goods, and on Via Solferino and Corso Garibaldi you can browse in some exquisite boutiques. If you feel guilty about all of the purchases you have made, indulge in your shopper's remorse while wandering alongside the peaceful Martesana Canal (Leonardo da Vinci allegedly designed the locks). As mentioned before, the real attraction of Brera is its nightlife; once made up of piano bars, the district is now full of bars and restaurants. The Jamaica, at the end of Via Brera, was popular with intellectuals in the 1960s, and is still a good place for an aperitif. There's also Moscatelli, a small bar with a huge choice of wines, and El Tombon de San Marc, the first English pub in Milan, which also serves sandwiches, cold dishes and salads.

Brera also has good restaurants, which thankfully stay open until late. In the same street at number 24 is the Latteria di San Marco, a very famous and very crowded small Lombardy restaurant, that is very affordable. Also popular is La Libera in Via Palermo, which serves traditional Italian food, and La Briciola on the corner of Via Solferino and Via Marsala, which serves outstanding soup, something which Milanese restaurants are not often commended for! Brera also has a wide choice of international cuisine.

Brera is a definitely a gem of a district waiting to be discovered by night owls and "morning people" alike.

If you are in the heart of the centro storico, stop by the famous Duomo, which began construction towards the end of the 14th Century. The restoration and cleaning of the facade began in 2004 and was recently completed. Nearby is the world-renowned Teatro alla Scala, site of the premieres of such famous operas as Norma by Vincenzo Bellini, Otello by Giuseppe Verdi, and Madama Butterfly and Turandot by Giacomo Puccini.