A Weekend in Milan
A Weekend in Milan
The fashion capital of Italy was calling my name, so Kendall and I headed out there this weekend during Milan fashion week. We didn’t participate or see any of the events because we are neither rich nor famous, but we had a good time sightseeing in the city. Read on to discover the best things to do in Milan.
The Duomo
The Duomo of Milan is the iconic image that people typically picture when they think of Milan. The gothic cathedral is well-known for its many spires and intricate carvings. Kendall and I went inside and up on the terraces. The entrance ticket for the cathedral and taking the stairs to the top (there is a more expensive elevator option) was 13 euros.
The Duomo of Milan
Me in front of the Duomo of Milan
The inside of the cathedral of the Duomo of Milan
The spires at the top of the Duomo of Milan
One of the intricately carved spires at the top of the Duomo
A view of the pigeon-filled square in front of the church
The views from the top terraces were mediocre, because Milan is not a particularly beautiful city, but the terraces themselves were nice. I’d still say that going to the top of the Duomo is a must-do while in Milan.
The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
This galleria is a stunning building with an immense glass roof that holds a shopping mall filled with luxury designer brand. I am certain that I cannot afford a single thing in there, but the building was beautiful to simply walk through.
A look at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
San Bernardino alle Ossa
This church is very unassuming from the outside and from the inside of the chapel, but it is actually home to something very interesting and odd. Kendall and I walked in and were unimpressed by the plain chapel, but we tuned down a hallway and emerged in an ossuary, or a large room where the bones of the dead are displayed.
All I had read about before-hand was that San Bernardino had a “bone room,” and boy did it. Not just a bone room, but a bone chapel filled and decorated with human bones.
It was amazingly spooky and weird.
Kendall watched a little boy look around and then sneakily stick his finger right into the eye socket of a skull. *Shudder* But really, it was fascinating, and an off-the-beaten-path thing I was glad to see in Milan.
The Ossuary of San Bernardino
A skull in the ossuary of San Bernardino
Walking Around the Navigli District
Navigli in Italian means ‘canals,’ so this district predictably has canals and is sometimes referred to as Little Venice. A lot of locals and visitors bike around the canals and enjoy the active nightlife in the area. Our hostel for the weekend, the New Generation Hostel Urban Navigli, was in the canal district, so Kendall and I spend a good amount of time walking around the canals.
The don’t hold a candle to the canals of Venice that we saw the previous weekend, but the area is one of the nicer areas of Milan.
A Look at the big canal of Milan
San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
This church has been dubbed “the Sistene Chapel of Milan,” and for good reason. The entire church is filled with detailed frescoes.
The frescoes of San Maurizio
The vibrant colors of the frescoes in San Maurizio
The frescoes of San Marizio
Castello Sforzesco
Right smack in the middle of Milan is a huge castle. It was kind of odd to come across the castle in the midst of so many buildings in the large, industrial city, but is was impressive and is also home to several museums. To save money, we didn’t go into any museums, but we walked through the courtyards of the castle and enjoyed the vocal stylings of a street performer out front.
The main tower of Castello Sforzesco
Castello Sforzesco, a castle in the middle of Milan
Cimitero Monumentale
It may be strange that we went to a cemetery and that it made the list of the best things to do in Milan, but this cemetery is nothing short of astonishing. The front is marked by large, imposing buildings, and the rest is filled with ornate graves and twisting trees. While in Paris, I visited the Pere Lachaise cemetery, but this one may be even more beautiful. If you’re a fan of spooky and/or beautiful places, this cemetery should make your list of things to do in Milan.
The front buildings of the Cimitero Monumentale of Milan
One of the graves in the Cimitero Monumentale of Milan
The central path of the Cimitero Monumentale of Milan
One of the mausoleums seen in the Cimitero Monumentale of Milan
A spooky tree-lined path in the Cimitero Monumentale of Milan
Aperitivo!
Last but certainly not least, Kendall and I went out for aperitivo. Aperitivo is this wonderfully fantastic concept of paying for a drink and getting an entire buffet of food to go along with it. And I’m not just talking snacks like chips and nuts here. No, I’m talking big dishes of delicious and fresh Italian food.
Kendall and I went to Yguana cafe, one of the most recommended aperitivo spots in Milan. I got the traditional aperitivo drink, an Aperol Spritz, but maxi sized, for 12 euros, and Kendall got a rum and coke for 10 euros. With our drinks we enjoyed their expansive buffet of pizza, fresh pastas, polenta, fried rice, seafood salad, pasta salad, hummus, brownies, tiramisu, and more.
A lot of Italians enjoy aperitivo after work as a pre-dinner or pre-night out mini-meal, but as a student, it is easy to make aperitivo into a delicious and filling full meal. There are aperitivo places all over the city, and it is definitely a must in any Italian city, but especially Milan.
Kendall with our aperitivo drinks at Yguana Cafe
Enjoying my Aperol Spritz at Yguana Cafe
All in all, Kendall and I had a good time in Milan. The city is huge and doesn’t feel distinctly Italian, so I can’t say I’m in love with it, but I did enjoy the quirky things Milan had to offer for the day!
Canals, Castles, Cathedrals, Cafes and Caitlin! There is a lot to “C” in Milan. Thanks for keeping us in the loop.