Milan, the commercial center of Italy is known for its arts, fashion, design, finance, entertainment and tourism. This stylish city is famous for its high-end dining and shopping. I had a few days to explore Milan, so I set out from Paris Gare de Lyon Station on the TGV (Train a Grande Vitesse) high speed train to Milan Porta Garibaldi Station.
It was my first time in Milan and I was super excited. I enjoyed every part of my 7 hour journey to Milan and had enough time to reflect on my trip, as well as plan the journey ahead while admiring the beautiful countryside as we traveled through the beautiful fields, villages and French alps.
I arrived Milan at about 6pm. The next day, I set out to explore the city and my first stop was the Duomo.
Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milan)
This beautiful cathedral is the most famous building in Milan. No visit to Milan is complete without a tour of this impressive structure which is the second largest church in Italy after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Visitors can take an audio guided tour of the interior and also visit the roof top to enjoy an amazing view of the city.
Leonardo da Vinci’s the Last Supper
This masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci, depicting Jesus Christ and his disciples at the historic moment when he reveals that one of them would betray him (as described in the Gospel of John 13:21), is considered one of the most important artworks in the world. This is one of the most sought after tourist attraction in Milan; therefore tickets are competitive as they are mostly sold-out ahead of schedule. Visitors only get 15 mins to see the painting in a group of not more than 25 persons. This is to ensure the painting is preserved in room temperature.
Shopping at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
This magnificent building is one of the world’s oldest shopping malls, built between 1865 and 1877. It houses the first Prada store (since 1913) together with other luxury brand names such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Armani and others.
Most visitors come here to spin their heels in the famous bull’s testicles from the Turin coat of arm which is part of the four mosaics portraying the coast of arms of the three capitals of the Kingdom of Italy. It is generally believed that spinning on the testicles of the bull brings good luck.
Bus tour
This is a brilliant way to explore the popular landmark and attractions in Milan. The hop-on hop-off bus offers 24 hour and 48 hour tickets with 3 different bus routes to choose from.
Have you been to Milan? Share your Milan experience here.
No Responses