Things to Do in Milan: From the Last Supper to the Design District

Milan rewards visitors who engage with what it does well rather than expecting Venice’s picturesque canals or Rome’s ancient ruins. It is Italy’s wealthiest, most internationally-oriented city, and its attractions reflect that: world-class design culture, the finest opera house in Italy, Leonardo da Vinci’s most important painting, and an aperitivo culture that turns early evenings into a social institution.

The Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci’s Cenacolo Vinciano (1495–1498) is in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie. It is the most important painting in Milan and one of the most important in the world. Visits are strictly controlled: 30 people maximum, 15 minutes per slot. Book as far in advance as possible at cenacolovinciano.vivaticket.it — slots sell out months ahead in peak season. There is essentially no same-day availability.

The Duomo

Milan’s cathedral is one of the world’s largest Gothic churches. The exterior’s 135 marble spires took nearly 600 years to complete. The interior is dark and atmospheric; the rooftop terrace (lift or stairs) gives views across Milan to the Alps on clear days. Combined tickets cover the cathedral, archaeological area, treasury, and roof. Book online at duomomilano.it.

Art

Pinacoteca di Brera — The city’s premier art museum. Raphael’s Marriage of the Virgin, Mantegna’s Dead Christ, Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus, and one of the finest collections of northern Italian Renaissance painting. Often less crowded than comparable museums in Florence or Rome.

Pinacoteca Ambrosiana — Leonardo’s Portrait of a Musician and the original cartoon for the School of Athens. A smaller collection but outstanding works.

Museo del Novecento — 20th-century Italian art in a building overlooking Piazza del Duomo. Boccioni, Morandi, De Chirico, Fontana.

Design and fashion

The Quadrilatero della Moda (fashion quadrilateral: Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Corso Venezia) is worth walking even without shopping — the flagship stores have extraordinary interiors. The Brera neighbourhood has independent design galleries and antique shops. The Navigli canal district is the most charming area of the city, lined with bars and restaurants.

Day trips

Lake Como (1 hour by train) — Bellagio, Varenna, the Villa del Balbianello. Lake Maggiore (1 hour) — the Borromean Islands. Bergamo (45 minutes) — a medieval hilltop town with an extraordinary upper city.