Milan is the best place to live. Milan: what to see, where to eat, where to stay. Complete Guide! Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

If you are not a motorist and plan to travel by public transport, the best solution would be to live near the metro. It works from 5.40 to 00.30 and is least likely to be subject to strikes. In addition, you will not spend extra time waiting for transport and tedious trips to the city center.

Be careful, some stations go beyond Milan (this is marked with a red line on the map) and the ticket price will be higher than usual.

Where to stay in Milan?

At the terminal stations there are traditionally residential areas, not all of them are friendly and equipped with infrastructure. We recommend staying closer to the historical city center.

Area De Angeli

Take a closer look at the zone De Angeli ( metro Wagner, De Andeli, Gambara). This cute area near the center is filled with many cafes, shops and workshops. There are taxi stops and tram 16 that will take you to the Duomo, Navigli or San Siro. You can view housing in this area using the following link.

Sant'Agostino metro station

Located between Sant'Ambrogio, where the Catholic University is located, and Porta Genova – a cluster of bars and cafes, a noisy area for an evening aperitif. Any of these places, as well as Colonne di San Lorenzo , are within walking distance. However, like the city center! This area has restaurants, supermarkets and plenty of public transport. Find a hotel near this metro station.

Porta Romana metro station

Twenty minutes from Cathedral Square on foot through the beautiful center and we are in front of the arch - Porta Romana . Nearby, in the old tram depot, a thermal bath was installed - lovers of relaxation and spa will definitely love it! You will be pleased with cafes and bars with generous aperitif tables, many nail salons, public gardens and transport accessibility. Follow this link to find all accommodation options near Porta Romana.

Loreto metro station

Loreto metro station is at the beginning of the shopping street Corso Buenos Aires . This location will allow you not to miss a single store, always find somewhere to have a snack and a cup of coffee. If you get carried away by shop windows, you may not notice how you approach the arches Porta Venezia , a park and a natural history museum, and then the Duomo is just a stone's throw away. On the other side of Loreto is the student area with the historic building of the Polytechnic University of Milan. Choose a hotel near Loreto metro station.

Sempione

It is better to avoid proximity to the park Sempione . The opportunity to take a walk near the hotel in a free minute really sounds great, but, unfortunately, Sempione Park attracts not only athletes, but also visiting illegal immigrants involved in robbery and selling drugs. It’s better to admire the park during the day, and walk around it after dusk. It is better not to enter into dialogue with immigrants.

Centrale

The area in front of the central station is teeming with immigrants, they live there, spend the night, engage in robbery, distribution and drug use. Despite the presence of prestigious hotels, restaurants, taxis and carabinieri nearby, walking near Centrale can often be an unpleasant experience. We recommend admiring the grandiose building of the station during the day, but not up close, or stick to the station shops, try to quickly get down to the metro or make the necessary transfer. Transfers to the airport depart from Centrale, if you decide to use them, just in case, be vigilant and watch your luggage.

If you are planning to travel around Milan by car, then do not be afraid to settle in the suburbs. After all, the city center will still be close, the distances here are short, and the price-quality ratio is noticeably better. The exception would be fashion and design weeks, when all the hotels are booked and prices are inflated.

We wish you a great stay in Milan!

The whole of Milan can be divided into eight tourist areas, each of which has a specific atmosphere, and its own pros and cons for tourists.

Today I will tell you about the Central Station area (Stazione Centrale e Corso Buenos Aires) - the most convenient area of Milan, according to most of my clients. And that's why.

The Central Station itself is a landmark of Milan - this huge building has a rather strange architecture: a mixture of Liberty, Art Deco and Fascist styles.

Yes, yes, it was on the orders of Benito Mussolini in the early 30s of the twentieth century that changes were made to the original design of the building to give Milan Central Station greater monumentality, which in turn was supposed to personify the power and might of the fascist regime. Over time, many symbols of fascism were removed, but some still remain. Today it is not only the second largest railway station in Italy (the first Roma Termine in Rome), from which you can go anywhere in Italy by high-speed train

as well as make one-day excursions to cities nearby Milan, but also a huge shopping center with more than 100 shops and fashion boutiques, 30 cafes and restaurants (including RossoPomodoro, which I already wrote about), as well as a small supermarket .

So if you have some free time waiting for a train or bus, you won't get bored at Milan's Stazione Centrale/Central Station!

But here are all the advantages of tourists staying in the Central Station area:

A large number of inexpensive cafes, bars and restaurants for every taste and cuisine. By the way, for those who miss soup in Milan, I can recommend the “soup” cafe “La Zupperia” at via Fara 33, not far from the Central Station. The menu always has 3-4 different soups (which is very rare in Italy) at a price of 4-4.5 € per serving. Open for lunch only.
And most importantly, there is a huge number of inexpensive, but very cozy hotels, the best of which, according to my clients, I will list here:

Hotel Bagliori's very friendly staff, strategic position between Central Station and Corso Buenos Aires, and charming internal garden make it one of the most convenient hotels in Milan.

There is another good and inexpensive hotel nearby: Hotel Due Giardini, free Wi-Fi and hearty breakfast; Well, a convenient location, and an internal garden, of course!

Hotel Salerno - very friendly staff, rooms are clean and comfortable (I visited in person)

The Best Hotel has a convenient location, a quiet green area and a wonderful internal garden, where, if the weather permits, you can have breakfast (breakfast, again, is delicious and hearty).

And this is a list of hotels that are literally a two-minute walk from the Central Station, on Napo Torriani and Boscovich streets.

By the way, on Boscovich Street there is a Penny Market Express supermarket, where you can have a quick snack at very reasonable prices

Have a good trip!

Milan (Italy) - the most detailed information about the city with photos. The main attractions of Milan with descriptions, guides and maps.

City of Milan (Italy)

Milan is the main city of Northern Italy and the capital of the Lombardy region. This is a modern metropolis, which is considered the business and financial center of the country. Milan is the capital of fashion and business, the most stylish, expensive and rich city in Italy, which is rated on a par with Paris and London among lovers of entertainment and shopping. But this is not the only thing the capital of Lombardy is famous for. Here you can look at such famous attractions as: the magnificent Duomo, the Sforzesco Castle, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazia, which houses the legendary fresco by Leonardo da Vinci “The Last Supper” and many other equally interesting historical and cultural monuments.

Milan Central Station receives trains from most major cities in Italy: Turin, Rome, Naples, Florence, Venice, as well as from many European capitals and cities: Barcelona, Zurich, Geneva, Paris, Munich, Vienna, Prague. The train station has access to the metro. Another important railway station is Cadorna. The Malpensa Airport Express stops here and there is also a metro.

There is a popular phrase that “all roads lead to Rome.” So, all roads in Northern Italy go to Milan. The city has excellent transport accessibility. But it should be noted that highways are toll roads.

Milan has a well-developed public transport system: metro, trams and buses. There is a single ticket, which can be purchased at special machines and tobacco kiosks. The fare is 1.5 euros. There are 4 metro lines: red, green, yellow and purple lines.

Shopping and purchases

Milan is one of the main centers of world shopping and fashion. Here you can find everything: from fashion brands to products from small designer workshops. The main shopping area is the Fashion Quadrangle, which is located between the Duomo, Piazza Cavour and Piazza San Babila. Most of the famous boutiques can be found on the streets of Montenapoleone, Della Spiga, Vittorio Emanuele, Sant Andrea, Porta Venezia and Manzoni. Near Milan there are as many as five large outlets where you can buy designer and branded items at big discounts. The largest of the outlets is Serravalle. It is located an hour's drive from Milan and buses depart from the Sforzesco Castle.

Food and drink

Although Milan often follows fashion and modern trends, it is one of the outposts of traditional Italian cuisine. Avoid restaurants around the Duomo, they tend to be popular tourist spots with poor quality food at inflated prices. Please be aware that most restaurants charge an additional "service charge", approximately 2 euros per customer.

Attractions

Although Milan is not the first city many tourists associate with Italy, it does boast some wonderful sights and cultural monuments. For all its serious reputation as the fashionable, business and financial center of the country, it is a city with a rich history and cultural heritage.

The Duomo or Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente is a symbol of Milan, located in the heart of the city on the square of the same name. It is one of the largest religious buildings in the world (accommodates about 40,000 people) and probably the most beautiful church in the Gothic style. The Duomo was built over 4 centuries from the 14th century. Its roof is topped with 135 spiers, and its façade is decorated with 2,245 marble statues. The modest interior, strikingly contrasting with the glittering and richly patterned exterior, makes a strong impression with its 52 gigantic columns. The stained glass windows and nave of the Duomo are the largest in the world. Inside you can see a bronze candelabra from 1200, the tomb of Giacomo Medici, and the reliquary of San Carlo Borromeo. A walk along the roof of the Duomo will be very atmospheric, from where on clear days you can see the snow-capped peaks of the Alps. Next to the central passage there is an underground entrance where you can see the foundations of an ancient 4th century basilica and baptistery, discovered during the construction of the metro. Entrance to the cathedral is free. Important: entry in short skirts, shorts and bare shoulders is prohibited.

Gallery of Victor Emmanuel II - located slightly away from the Duomo and connects the cathedral square with Piazza La Scala. It was built in the 70s of the 19th century and at that time was the largest shopping gallery in Europe. There are expensive boutiques and elegant cafes here. The gallery is a superb example of 19th century architecture.

La Scala - one of the most famous opera houses in the world is located in a rather inconspicuous building in a small square. Accommodates 2,800 spectators. The season lasts from December to May.

Santa Maria delle Grazie is a 15th-century brick Gothic church with an early Renaissance Bramante dome. Gained worldwide fame thanks to Leonardo da Vinci's fresco "The Last Supper". Unfortunately, the church and the fresco were damaged during bombing during the Second World War. Leonardo's fresco was painted in the refectory of a former Dominican monastery at the end of the 15th century. Unfortunately, da Vinci's fresco is constantly being destroyed and restored (Leonardo painted the fresco on damp plaster).

The Sforzesco Castle is one of the main attractions of Milan, included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The castle was built in the 14th century and was the main residence of the Milanese rulers - the Visconti and Sforza. Now there is a magnificent museum with such rarities as Michelangelo’s last masterpiece, paintings by Bellini, Correggio, Mantegna, Berggone, Foppa, Lotto, Tintoretto, Egyptian and other antiquities, medieval weapons. In front of the 70-meter Torre de Filare there is a large fountain built under Mussolini. Behind the castle is the large neoclassical Sempione Park, one of the favorite places of Milanese.

The historic district of Cinque Vie is the oldest part of Milan, located between Piazza Cordusio, Via Meravigli and Via Orefici. In this area you can find many Roman archaeological sites such as the theatre, the imperial palace and the imperial mint. In addition, there are many ancient churches, such as Santa Maria alla Porta (the Baroque pearl of Milan), San Sebastiano, San Giorgio el Palazzo, Santa Maria Podone, San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore .

San Maurizio is a Baroque church whose interior is considered the most beautiful of Milan's religious buildings. It was built at the beginning of the 16th century for a Benedictine nunnery. Inside the church is painted with beautiful frescoes by the best masters of Lombardy. The monastery was built on the ruins of an ancient Roman circus and walls. Now there is an archaeological museum here, which will introduce Milan during the Roman Empire.

The Pinacoteca de Brera is a 17th-century Renaissance palace that originally housed a Jesuit school. Now it is one of the best art museums in Italy. Paintings by the best artists of Lombardy and students of da Vinci, Venetian masters, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens, Picasso and many others are exhibited here.

San Ambrogio

Sant'Ambrogio is one of the oldest churches in Milan, founded in the 4th century by Saint Ambrose, who is the patron saint of the city. The church is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. It was built in the 12th century around the choir of an earlier church from the ninth century. Notable is the ancient altar from the 9th century, located among those built during the Carolingian period.

Cimitero Monument

Monumento Cimitero is a monumental cemetery from the late 18th century that is famous for its rich tombstones and Art Nouveau sculptures.

The Da Vinci Museum is a national museum of science and technology located in a former monastery. Of particular interest is the Leonardo da Vinci gallery with working models of many of his inventions and machines, created according to his drawings and drawings. Also on display are instruments used by Galileo, Newton and Volta.

Naviglio is an atmospheric place in the area of the canal of the same name with many restaurants and clubs.

Sant'Eustorgio is a 12th-century Romanesque basilica with a beautiful tall bell tower. Nearby is another church - San Lorenzo Maggiore, dating from the early Christian period. The Renaissance dome was added in 1574, the mosaic in the chapel of St. Aquilina dates from the 4th century. In front of the church is a portico of sixteen Corinthian columns, which is the largest surviving monument from the Roman period.

The Arch of Peace is an interesting example of neoclassical architecture. This triumphal arch was built in the first half of the 18th century and is located in the center of a large square behind the Sforzesco Castle and the park. Construction of the arch began under Napoleon Bonaparte, but was completed after his defeat at Waterloo by the Austrian monarch Francis I, who dedicated it to peace.

Santa Maria del Carmine is a church of the Carmelite Order, built in the 13th century from red brick. The church was destroyed by fire in the 14th century and abandoned. Restored in the 15th century by Antonio Solari. It is an interesting example of Lombard neo-Gothic.

The Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore (St. Lawrence) is a temple built in the Renaissance style with an ancient baptistery and a Romanesque bell tower from the 12th century. The church was founded in the 4th century and is one of the oldest in Milan. A mosaic from the period of late Antiquity and several Roman columns have been preserved here.

San Babila is a brick church founded in the 11th century. The baroque building of the 16th century was rebuilt in the 19th century in the style of its original medieval appearance. The neo-Romanesque bell tower was completed in the 30s of the 20th century.

The Velasca Tower is an interesting example of civil engineering. This is a 106-meter skyscraper of an unusual architectural form.

Be careful, some stations go beyond Milan (this is marked with a red line on the map) and the ticket price will be higher than usual.

Where to stay in Milan?

At the terminal stations there are traditionally residential areas, not all of them are friendly and equipped with infrastructure. We recommend staying closer to the historical city center.

Area De Angeli

Sant'Agostino metro station

Porta Romana metro station

Loreto metro station

Sempione

Centrale

We wish you a great stay in Milan!

Milan in the collective unconscious (or conscious, but no less collective) is considered the capital of shopping. Those who travel to Italy as often as they go to work perceive Milan exclusively as the business capital of Lombardy. Yes, what’s there, even the Italians themselves, if they need to arrange a romantic weekend with their beloved, Milan is the last thing they think about.

Like, for romance you need to go to Rome, everything there is aimed at this, plus it is supported by the eternal classics of cinema, “Roman Holiday” with Audrey Hepburn, and “Madly in Love” with Celentano and Ornella Muti in the lead roles. Is Rome expensive? So we have Cicque Terre, Ferrara, Venice and so on, strictly according to the list “The most romantic locations in Italy based on films and books.”

To be honest, until recently I was in complete solidarity with the Italians, however, as my last visit to Milan showed, we are all deeply unfair to the capital of the Lombardy region. The simple catch is that, unlike Venice or Rome, Milan does not put its treasures on display. They are hidden in courtyards and hidden in alleys, and to find them you need to try on the role of a rare pearl diver, but this will make your finds even more valuable. In today’s article, I share tips on how to arrange an ideal romantic weekend in Milan, and at the same time get to know the city again and fall in love with it immediately and irrevocably. True, there is one small condition - visiting many of the places listed in the article will have to be planned in advance, because you can’t just get there from the street.

WHERE TO STAY? FABULOUS HOTEL CHÂTEAU MONFORT

In order to immediately and uncompromisingly tune in to the right mood, you should stay in the most romantic hotel in Milan - five-star Chateau Monfort. It is located in a historic mansion in the Porte Venezia district, which is within walking distance of the Duomo and just a few steps from Milan's Art Nuovo district.

In the photo: the entrance to the Château Monfort hotel in Milan

Don’t let the word “five-star” scare you, the cost of living here is not astronomical, but by Milanese standards it is completely humane - from 200 to 260 euros per night in a double room. The hotel, again, is small by Milanese standards - only 77 standard rooms, 5 suites and 3 Junior suites, but most importantly, by staying here, you will get a rare opportunity to visit a fairy tale, and in the literal sense.

In the photo: the lobby of the Hotel Château Monfort

The interior of Château Monfort is reminiscent of palaces, but not pompous ones where it’s hard to breathe, but of the kind that all those to whom their mothers read Charles Perrault’s bedtime stories as children are accustomed to imagining them. It seems that there are stairs with twisted railings, and antique wrought iron lamps, but at the same time the hotel is very bright and modern, all the rooms are designed in pastel colors, and, what is most interesting, each room in Château Monfort is thematic, that is, dedicated to one or another fairy tale, opera or magical character.

In the photo: Cinderella room at Château Monfort

For example, there are “Cinderella” rooms. There is a round four-poster bed, pumpkin-shaped ottomans on the floor, the lampshade of the floor lamp looks like the corset of a ball gown, and the lamp looks like a clock, the hands of which froze in the first quarter before midnight.

In the photo: the fairy-tale number “The Nutcracker”

In rooms dedicated to The Nutcracker, bed posts with stoles look like the protagonist of Hoffmann's fairy tale, and ottomans look like wrapped gifts waiting under the Christmas tree to be opened. In the rooms, the design of which is inspired by Puccini's opera "La Bohème", the interior of the rooms includes an antique French claw-foot bathtub, a stove, which was used to heat attics in the Latin Quarter of Paris, and above the bath - (surprise!) there is an installation in the form of linen drying on a line of French milliners .

In the photo: French bath in the La Boheme room

Another opera that inspired the designers of Château Monfort is Turandot, in this room the headboard is made in the shape of a dragon spitting flames. There are also rooms in the hotel, the main character of which is the night bird owl, and there are also rooms dedicated to the fiery Phoenix Bird. Here there is a sauna right in the room (after all, the mystical bird regularly practiced rebirth from the ashes), the lamps are made in the form of ancient cages, and the bed is covered with a translucent mesh stole.

In the photo: a room dedicated to the Phoenix bird

However, all of the above are just decorations, the real magic is in the amazing atmosphere of this place. It’s not for nothing that Château Monfort is often chosen by newlyweds to spend their honeymoon here, or by young people who decide to propose to their beloved in absolutely fabulous scenery.

In the photo: restaurant of the Château Monfort hotel

For example, every evening guests are brought to their rooms with chocolate bars and programs with a handwritten weather forecast for the next day; at breakfast, on the tables near the cakes and other sweets, there is a figurine of Alice from Lewis Carroll’s fairy tale, which seems to say: “Eat this,” the backs of the restaurant chairs are made in the shape of hearts, and at exactly midnight in the Mezzanotte lounge bar (the name translates as “Midnight”) the clock, created by Eberhard especially for Château Monfort, strikes.

In the photo: a basket with handicrafts - one of the details in the “Bohemia” room

And, of course, what is a fairy tale without a main character! Château Monfort certainly has one - this is the rabbit Juan Lapin. According to legend, Juan Lapin was the favorite of the wizard Ambrose, and together they staged magical performances throughout Milan. But one day the rabbit realized that he had gained fame and success, but had lost the most important thing - freedom, and therefore ran away from the castle. The wizard Ambrose looked for his friend everywhere, and when he despaired of finding him, the rabbit took it and returned, and not alone, but with his girlfriend and the little rabbits.

They say that since then the rabbit has lived in one of the rooms of the magical castle Château Monfort, and in this case the rule “a fairy tale is a lie, but there is a hint in it” applies, because figurines or images of rabbits can be found in every room of Château Monfort. The most famous rabbit figurines are displayed in the hotel lobby, near an antique picture frame.

Pictured: framed bunnies in the lobby of Château Monfort

By the way, this is also a place for a selfie with Juan Lapin. Those who post a photo with a rabbit on Instagram and use the hashtags indicated on the accompanying information card near the figures receive pleasant surprises from Château Monfort, and guests of the magic castle can join the rabbit club and receive a 10% discount on your next hotel stay, however, this only works if the reservation is made on the Château Monfort website.

DAY ONE: MILAN'S ART-NUOVO, SPA AND MICHELIN-STARED RESTAURANT

A morning at the Château Monfort hotel is perhaps the best thing that can happen to you if you go to Milan with your loved one. You wake up on a four-poster bed, lazily throw back the covers with your foot and... decide to lie in bed for at least another 15 minutes, and then an hour, because the beds here are surprisingly comfortable, and in general the atmosphere in the castle is so relaxed that you can quickly get ready and run errands only a person with absolutely iron willpower or a notorious masochist. At Château Monfort, everything is conducive to laziness, and the hotel owners know this; it’s not for nothing that breakfast here is until 11 o’clock in the morning.

In the photo: it is impossible to quickly get out of such a bed

At breakfast, don’t miss the chance to find another white rabbit - the same one from the fairy tale “Alice in Wonderland”; its figurine with a clock is displayed near the table with drinks. From food, take valuable prosciutto, cheeses, wholemeal brioche and aromatic cappuccino. Don’t be surprised if, due to circumstances beyond your control, your breakfast lasts a couple of hours - it’s just that the atmosphere in the restaurant is very relaxed and conducive to long conversations.

In the photo: a rabbit figurine in the restaurant of the Château Monfort hotel

After breakfast, go for a walk, no, not to the Duomo, where there is always a tourist crowd in the morning, but to Via Carlo Pisacane, which begins a few steps from the hotel. This area of the city is not very familiar to Russian tourists, but it is one of the most beautiful in the city, because it is here that Milanese palaces in the Art Nuovo style are located.

In the photo: facades of houses in Via Carlo Pisacane, Milan

At Viale Regina Giovanna, cross the street and take Via Frisi. Here, pay attention to the small light-colored building, the facade of which is decorated with stone roses. This is another example of art noovo - an old cinema Cinema Dumont.

In the photo: the facade of the Cinema Dumont cinema

Soon you will exit onto Via Malpighi, where rises not only one of the most beautiful, but also, perhaps, the most unusual building in Milan - Galimberti house(casa Galimberti, address via Malpighi 3).

In the photo: the famous Galimberti house (casa Galimberti)

It was built by the architect Giovanni Battista Bossi between 1903-1905. It is impossible not to notice it, because the façade of the house is decorated with ceramic paintings depicting beautiful ladies, as if straight from the paintings of Alphonse Mucha.

In the photo: beautiful ladies on the facade of the Galimberti house

If you are not tired yet, you can continue your walk along the noisy Corso Venezia, here is another interesting object - Palazzo Castiglioni, built according to the design of Giuseppe Sommaruga, the main Milanese architect who worked in the Art Nuovo style. Palazzo Castiglioni is the architect’s first significant project; the building was built between 1901 and 1904, and Giuseppe Sommaruga personally worked out all the details of the palazzo, even the design of the forged grilles in the round windows of the first floor was made under his strict control.

Now take the metro and go to the center - to the Duomo. First, according to tradition, look into Milan Cathedral, be frightened by the creepy statue of the Apostle Bartholomew, who was flayed, take a selfie in front of the Duomo and stand for a while near the cathedral to admire the numerous statues and bas-reliefs that decorate its facade. By the way, the bas-reliefs were completed only in 1956, but the construction of the cathedral lasted as long as 579 years.

Then head up to the rooftop cafe La Rinascente for a snack and a glass of prosecco while admiring the figurine of the golden Madonna (affectionately known as Madonina) atop Milan Cathedral. By the way, they say that coming to Milan and not drinking a glass of wine at the rooftop cafe La Rinascente is a very bad omen, so you shouldn’t neglect the custom.

Photo: La Rinascente rooftop cafe - the best place to see the details of the Duomo façade

It's time to relax a little, for this we return to the hotel, change into a cozy bathrobe and go to the Château Monfort spa, which bears the symbolic name Amore e Psiche - “Cupid and Psyche”. Warm up in the sauna, soak in the pool, in a word, gain strength, because next we will have dinner at a restaurant awarded two Michelin stars - il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia.

In the photo: restaurant hall IL Luogo di Aimo e Nadia

il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia is not just a legendary restaurant in Milan, it is the best place to get acquainted with high Italian gastronomy. That is, this is the case when it makes sense for gentlemen to come to dinner in jackets and ties, and for ladies in evening dresses, and a table here needs to be booked a month before the intended visit.

In the photo: the decoration of the tables in the restaurant resembles art installations

The interior of il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia evokes associations rather not with a restaurant, but with a gallery of modern art: pure and light colors here play in a duet with deep blue, and on the walls are paintings by the best contemporary artists. The restaurant is not only awarded two Michelin stars, it is also part of the Installation-District (Gegend) architectural project by Paolo Ferrari. il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia was opened in 1962 by Aimo and Nadia Moroni. Initially, the restaurant specialized in Tuscan cuisine, because the couple was originally from Tuscany. Today, the daughter of the restaurant’s founders, Stefania, is in charge here, and in the kitchen of il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia there are two chefs working their magic: Fabio Pisani and Alessandro Negrini.

In the photo: restaurant chefs Fabio Pisani (left) Alessandro Negrini (right)

According to Stefania, the idea of having not one, but two renowned chefs working in the kitchen at once arose for one simple reason - her parents always cooked together, as they say, worked with four hands, so she decided not to change traditions. In all other respects, Stefania also strictly follows the behests of her parents - each supplier of products for her restaurant is selected long and carefully: if there are herbs, then from a small farm in Sicily, if pistachios, then those that grow near Etna on the right side of the volcano, if pasta, then from Puglia, if there are lobsters, they are small and invariably from Sardinia, because they are the sweetest there.

In the photo: bread and wine at the restaurant iL Luogo di Aimo e Nadia

At the restaurant, don’t philosophize and order the “Grand tour in Italy” tasting set menu, consisting of five miniature dishes (cost 95 euros). During dinner you will find many amazing gastronomic discoveries, for example you can try the sweetest Sardinian shrimp with pistachio and almond mousse, ravioli with white turnips and apple cider vinegar or the Monte Gargano lamb fillet cooked in extra virgin olive oil, served with wild herb sauce from Sicily and fruit mostarda. However, the content of the set menu depends on the season, because all the products in the restaurant are the freshest.

In the photo: appetizer at IL Luogo di Aimo e Nadia, cod fillet in the most delicate batter

The absolute hit of the menu is a dessert with peas delivered to Milan from the island of Pantelleria. This is a real gastronomic adventure on your plate: an almond sponge cake covered with mascarpone cream, and on top the dessert structure is decorated with sweet Sicilian peas and mint leaves.

In the photo: the famous pea dessert at il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia

According to Stefania, the idea of a dessert with peas arose for one simple reason - young peas are no less sweet than wild berries, and they go perfectly with mascarpone. Website of the restaurant il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia: http://www.aimoenadia.com

DAY TWO: VISITING LEONARDO, BASILICA OF SANT' AMBROGIO
CHURCH OF SANT MAURIZIO AND CUISINE FROM A VENETIAN Smoothie

Let's devote the second day to examining the frescoes in the western part of Milan. Which Milanese fresco is the most famous? Certainly, "The Last Supper" by Leonardo Da Vinci. There are rumors that it is impossible to get to Santa Maria delle Grazie (Chiesa e Convento Domenicano di Santa Maria delle Grazie), and tickets to visit the refectory of the Dominican monastery, where Leonardo created his monumental fresco, must be booked six months in advance.

In fact, everything is not so critical, tickets for the desired dates can be ordered on the website http://www.vivaticket.it/, and if you take care of this issue three to four weeks before the trip, then no problems will arise. Moreover, now near the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie there are always resellers selling tickets with a markup of 2-3 euros, but if we talk about the price of tickets on the official website, then in winter a visit to the “Last Supper” costs 8 euros, and in summer - 12.

It’s time to write a separate article about Leonardo’s “Last Supper,” but for now we’ll get by with just a small set of facts. For example, it is known that da Vinci painted it from 1495 to 1498, but in fact, the development of sketches for the fresco lasted much longer. However, strictly speaking, this is not exactly a fresco, because this type of painting implies that the artist must paint quickly, on wet plaster and straight to the finished piece, which was completely unacceptable for the meticulous Leonardo. As a result, Da Vinci invented a special primer made from resin, gabs and mastic and painted “The Last Supper” dry, which also played a cruel joke on the master’s recognized masterpiece - the fresco very quickly began to collapse.

Many people think that the main mystery of the fresco is who is depicted on it: Mary Magdalene or the Apostle John. Here I would like to say one thing - everyone sees what they believe in, because, in fact, there are many more questions regarding Leonardo’s fresco than answers. For example, there is a version that the same person posed for the image of Christ and Judas, only at different ages, they say, Leonardo wrote the sketch of the portrait of Christ from a boy from the church choir, and then what grew from the boy grew, and they also say that the Apostle Thaddeus in the fresco is a self-portrait of da Vinci himself. But the fact that the structure of the fresco constantly contains references to the number three is a recognized fact: three windows, apostles in groups of three, and the contours of the figure of Jesus again resemble a triangle, however, what kind of meaning did Leonardo put into this - again a reason for speculation and construction of various theories.

In the photo: Judas in Da Vinci’s fresco “The Last Supper”

One way or another, the innovation of The Last Supper remains beyond any doubt today. When painting the fresco, Leonardo destroyed all the canons existing in his time: the apostles and the Savior are depicted at the same tables at which the monks of the Dominican monastery ate, on their table are the same dishes and wine that were prepared in Santa Maria delle Grazie, the faces of the heroes of “The Last Supper” are copied from real people, and the rays of light on the fresco are a continuation of the real sunlight falling through the windows of the refectory.

In the photo: there is a version that the second figure on the right is a self-portrait of Leonardo

The golden ratio passes through many places on the wall painting, and thanks to the fact that Leonardo was able to correctly reproduce the depth of perspective, the fresco after completion of the work looked three-dimensional, that is, the monks, as they say, could really feel the presence of the Savior in the same room with them. You can see the same 3D effect today; to do this you need to move 9 meters away from the fresco and rise 3 meters above the floor level, but, unfortunately, if the first is easy to implement, then there is a problem with the second - in the hall, which was the former monastery refectory, there is no that there is nothing to climb, but jumping is also prohibited. However, it is best to view the fresco from a distance of 9 meters, and you are allowed to stay in the hall for no more than 15 minutes.

In the photo: the courtyard of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie

The second point of today's program is a visit to the vineyards of Leonardo da Vinci. They are hidden in the courtyard of the mansion La Casa degli Atellani, which is located across the street from Santa Maria delle Grazie. It is known that on April 26, 1499, Ludovico Sforza gave Leonardo the vineyard of San Vittore. Of course, the vineyard did not survive to this day, but on the eve of the Expo exhibition that took place last year in Milan, scientists managed in laboratory conditions to restore living matter from the preserved remains of the vine and revive the very grapes that Leonardo da Vinci once grew.

Pictured: Leonardo da Vinci's vineyards at La Casa degli Atellani

In addition to the vineyards, at La Casa degli Atellani you can see wall medallions with portraits of Ludovico Sforza and members of his family, as well as paintings in the form of zodiac signs. But the main charm is the local courtyard, it is so beautiful that you can sit in it for hours. The entrance ticket to La Vigna di Leonardo is 12 euros.

In the photo: the courtyard of La Casa degli Atellani

A light snack in one of the local cafes, and we head to Basilica of Saint Ambrose(Basilica Sant'Ambrogio), one of the oldest churches in Milan. Ambrose of Milan is the patron saint of Milan; the basilica dedicated to him was built between 379 and 386, although it acquired its current form only in 1099. By the way, it is believed that this place in Milan has especially good energy; it is not for nothing that many Milanese girls dream of getting married in this church, and they also say that a pendant with the image of the Madonna from the Basilica of St. Ambrose protects against illnesses and troubles. The address of the basilica is Piazza S. Ambrogio 15, Milano.

In the photo: Basilica of St. Ambrose (Basilica Sant’Ambrogio)

Last church for today - Basilica of San Maurizio(Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore), which is considered one of the most beautiful churches in Milan. “Hmm, you can’t tell by appearance,” the tourist thinks, goes inside and freezes with his mouth open.

In the photo: frescoes in the Basilica of San Maurizio

The fact is that inside the basilica there is a real precious box, because all the walls of the church from top to bottom are painted with frescoes telling about the earthly life of Christ and illustrating the lives of the apostles and saints. Here, willy-nilly, you will have to stay for at least an hour, because it is physically impossible to see all this beauty faster - your eyes will simply run wild! Address of the Basilica of San Maurizio: Corso Magenta, 13, 20123 Milano.

In the photo: the Last Supper fresco is also in the Basilica of San Maurizio

After an intense day with a rich cultural program, it makes sense to spend the evening at Château Monfort, especially in a local restaurant Rubacuori by Venissa is worthy only of praise, which automatically means that it is ideal for a romantic dinner for two.

In the photo: the restaurant hall of the Château Monfort hotel

The first word in the name of the restaurant translates as “Heartbreaker”, and Venissa is a winery and restaurant on the island of Mazzorbo in the Venetian Lagoon. And, as Winnie the Pooh said, “this is not without reason,” because one of the four chefs of Rubacuori by Venissa, Andrea Azoli, is from Veneto, and therefore the restaurant’s cuisine is a mix of Milanese and Venetian gastronomic traditions.

In the photo: chef Andrea Azoli - heartthrob from Veneto

Be sure to try the local sea bass, amberjack with spraje, lamb, and for dessert take a mousse cake made from several types of coffee. By the way, a coffee dessert is the most Venetian delicacy you can think of, because the first Italian coffee shop appeared in Venice.

In the photo: Amberjack fish with asparagus and egg

By the way, you will most likely have a chance to personally talk with the Heartthrob Chef; Andrea Azoli often comes out to guests and asks if they liked everything. There is no need to skimp on adjectives and hide your delight, because chefs of fine dining restaurants are like artists – vulnerable creatures. After dinner, sit in the hotel bar with a glass of wine from the local winery La Cella di Bacco (Bacchus Cellar), wait until the ancient clock in the lounge bar strikes midnight, and only then go to bed.

Photo: Château Monfort hotel lobby

By the way, all guests of Château Monfort, even those who usually do not dream, invariably have fabulous dreams here. Perhaps the fact is that the magical atmosphere is conducive, or maybe it’s the hotel’s mascot - the rabbit Juan Lapin casts a spell? Mystery? Or just a miracle? I am inclined to the second, because where, if not in the Milanese castle with the rooms of Cinderella and the Nutcracker, can real miracles happen.

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Yulia Malkova- Yulia Malkova - founder of the website project. In the past, he was the editor-in-chief of the elle.ru Internet project and the editor-in-chief of the cosmo.ru website. I talk about travel for my own pleasure and the pleasure of my readers. If you are a representative of hotels or a tourism office, but we do not know each other, you can contact me by email: [email protected]

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