TRAVEL TIPS
MILAN
OVERVIEW VISÃO GERAL TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTE ATTRACTIONS ATRAÇÕES WHERE COMPRAS TO STAY ONDE WHERE FICAR TO EAT ONDE SHOPPING COMER
OVERVIEW Milan (Milano in Italian) is Italy’s second largest
Summer in Milan is usually warm and humid
city and the most financially important city in
with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 30°C
the country. A paradise for shopping, opera,
(60°F to 85°F). Winter temperatures, usually
and nightlife, Milan is about the lifestyle of
between 0°C and 10°C (32°F and 50°F),
enjoying worldly pleasures. The city is the
occasionally can fall to -10°C (15°F), with
marketplace for Italian fashion – fashion
some snow each year. Winters are generally
enthusiasts, supermodels and international
quite cold and foggy. In spring and autumn,
paparazzi descend upon the city twice a year
temperatures in Milan are the most pleasant of
for its spring and autumn fairs. The most
the year, but the weather can be changeable
modern of all Italian cities, Milan still keeps
with frequent rain in September and October.
most of its past history intact.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS MILAN
TRANSPORT Central Milan is quite small, and most of it can be covered easily on foot. But if you prefer not to walk, Milan has a comprehensive transport network and swapping between the metro,
by punching them in the machines on board buses or at the metro stations. Tickets are available for purchase from newsagents, tobacconists (a capital T for tabacchi distinguishes these outlets), most coffee bars and at automatic vending machines at major metro stations and at bus stops.
bus, tram or trolleybus is easy, thanks to the
TRAM AND BUSES
integrated ticketing system. Services operate
Tram, buses and trolleybuses run from between
daily 6 a.m. to midnight, with night buses
4 a.m. and 6 a.m. until between midnight and 1
running to approximately 1:30 a.m. Tickets
a.m. All stops are marked by signs showing the
last 75 minutes, allowing the traveller to use unlimited buses and trams within this time or make one ride on the metro.
METRO The metro, called Metropolitana, has three lines, the red, green, and yellow lines. There is also the blue Passante Ferroviario, an urban rail line. The lines converge at Duomo, Centrale FS, Loreto and Cadorna. Tickets must be validated
route, connections and schedules.
TAXIS As can be expected in a wealthy city, taxis can be expensive in Milan and, because the number of licensed white cabs is strictly controlled, they can be hard to find during busy periods. In Milan, as in the rest of Italy, taxis only pick up passengers at designated stands.
ATTRACTIONS There are many wonderful places to see in the beautiful city of Milan. Whether you are looking for thrills and excitement, history and exhibitions, or parks and gardens, you will not have to look far. The Piazza del Duomo, in Duomo Square. Milan’s main cathedral, (construction of which started in 1386) is a massive late Gothic church in white marble, with hundreds of spires and thousands of statues on its exterior and a famous façade. Don’t miss the chance to climb up onto the roof and enjoy the spectacular views of the city.
SANTA MARIA DELLE GRAZIE The church and Dominican convent which is famous for the mural of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. The mural can be seen in the refectory of the convent. The church and convent are on the UNESCO World Heritage sites list.
MEAZZA STADIUM
TEATRO ALLA SCALA
Milan’s Meazza Stadium was named after
By Giuseppe Piermarini is one of the world’s
Giuseppe Meazza, a famous footballer who
most famous opera houses. The new theatre
played for both the Inter Milan F.C. and Milan
was built on the former location of the church
F.C. teams. It was originally built in 1926 and has
of Santa Maria della Scala, from which the
since been rebuilt and renovated. It is Italy’s
theatre gets its name. In 1943 it was badly
number one stadium. It is also often referred
bombed and rebuilt three years later. Highlights
to as San Siro, after the surrounding district. An
include the Museo del Teatro (theatre museum)
enormous sculpture of a horse was erected in
which was founded in 1913 and is home to
1999 and sited between the Meazza Stadium
a fine collection of sculpture, paintings and
and the nearby San Siro racetrack. The horse
ceramics, and also La Scala’s Ballet School
was actually designed by Leonardo da Vinci,
which was founded in 1813 and has produced
who never found the time to execute it himself.
many world famous ballet dancers.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS MILAN
NAVIGLIO GRANDE
PALAZZO BRERA
The area of Milan characterized by the Navigli
Situated in Brera, Milan’s artistic centre and
(Milan’s artificial canals) is certainly one of the
one of the most beautiful areas of the city,
most picturesque in the city. The oldest canal is
the Palazzo Brera is home to the Pinacoteca
Naviglio which was constructed between 1177
Art Gallery, the Braidense National Library and
and 1257 and is about 50 km long. In the past
the Accademia di Belle Arti (Art Academy). In
it was used as transporting goods, particularly
the Pinacoteca gallery, there are more than
the blocks of marble that were used for
600 works by masters of the Lombard and
building the Cathedral. In nearby streets there
Venetian schools which date from the 15th to
are jazz clubs, wine bars and restaurants,
the 18th century.
which are always crowded in the evenings.
PRADA GALLERY
BIBLIOTECA E PINACOTECA AMBROSIANA
Located at Via Fogazzaro 36 (on the corner of
It’s one of the main architectural and artistic
Via Cadore), this gallery plays an important
sights in Milan. This impressive building is among
part in Italy’s contemporary-art scene. The
the most beautiful buildings you can visit in the
gallery hosts two exhibitions a year as well as
city. It houses both the historical Ambrosian
the Milan edition of the Tribeca Film Festival.
Library and the Ambrosian Art Gallery.
CIVICO MUSEO ARCHEOLOGICO The buildings of the archaeological museum are as interesting as the collections they house. The initial courtyard was once the entrance to the Monastero Maggiore. Inside the museum there is a detailed model of Mediolanum, the city in Roman times. Almost the entire ground floor is dedicated to artefacts from this important settlement. Downstairs a stretch of Roman city walls can still be seen. The gardens at the rear hold a polygonal tower, originally part of the city’s defence system; later, it was transformed into a chapel for the monastery.
WHERE TO STAY POLDI PEZZOLI MUSEUM
Accommodation in Milan ranges from
This museum began in the 19th century as
In the centre of the city, there are several
the private collection of Gian Giacomo Poldi
options for those who want to be close to
Pezzoli. It is home to the works of a particularly
all the shopping and historical sights located
broad collection of Northern Italian and Flemish
there. These hotels range from affordable to
artists. The exhibition also includes weaponry,
the pricier, boutique hotels.
inexpensive and cheap to boutique and luxury.
glassworks, ceramics, and goldworks.
THE SFORZESCO CASTLE
The Amendola Feira district has many hotels for both businessmen and tourists which are
Situated in the centre of Milan, opposite the
less expensive than the hotels in the city certre.
Cathedral in the Piazza del Duomo, this castle
The district is easy to reach by train, tram and
begun as the residence of the Dukes of Milan.
metro. During important events these hotels are
Today the castle hosts several of the city’s
generally full, so advanced booking is advisable.
museums and art gallery collections. It is home to the museums of applied arts, ancient
The majority of Milan’s hotels can be found in
art, historical musical instruments, prehistory,
the districts of Isola and Brera. The wealthy
Egyptian art and fine arts.
area of Brera is close to the centre, the galleries, and sophisticated boutiques Hotels in this area can be expensive.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS MILAN
Navigli in the southwest of Milan is a very
today the major gorgonzola producers
lively area. The Navigli canal runs through the
operate in Piedmont.
district and jazz bars, clubs and restaurants line its banks. The area is also the location
Dining times tend to be earlier than in Rome or
of a wonderful Saturday street market. So, if
Florence, with lunch generally served between
socializing and meeting people is what you are
12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 7:30
after, this is definitely where to stay.
p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Dinner, and sometimes lunch, are usually preceded by that great Milanese institution, the Aperitivo. In recent years, Milan
DINING OUT
has established a local version of the Aperitivo or Happy Hour. Roughly from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., many bars offer drinks and cocktails at a fixed price, accompanied by free all-you-can-eat
Like most cities in Italy, Milan and its
buffets with snacks, pasta, rice, and many
surrounding area has its own regional cuisine,
other appetizers.
which, as is typical for Lombard cuisines, uses rice more frequently than pasta, and features
In summer enjoy gelato, an excellent Italian
almost no tomato. Milanese cuisine includes
ice cream. The sign gelato artigianale indicates
cotoletta alla milanese, a breaded veal (pork
gelaterias that produce their own ice creams,
and turkey can be used) cutlet pan-fried in
without industrial processing.
butter. Other typical dishes are cassoeula (stewed pork rib chops and sausage with
Bakeries are open every day; there, you can
Savoy cabbage), ossobuco (stewed veal shank
enjoy great and inexpensive bread-related
with a sauce called gremolata), risotto alla
food, such as pizza and focaccia. You can find
milanese (with saffron and beef marrow),
bakeries almost everywhere in Milan. They are
busecca (stewed tripe with beans), and brasato
good alternative to bars for a fast lunch.
(stewed beef or pork with wine and potatoes). Season-related pastries include chiacchiere (flat fritters dusted with sugar) and tortelli (fried spherical cookies) for Carnival, colomba (glazed cake shaped as a dove) for Easter, pane dei morti (“bread of the dead�, cookies aromatized with cinnamon) for All Soul’s Day and panettone for Christmas. The salame milano, salami with a very fine grain, is widespread throughout Italy. The best known Milanese cheese is gorgonzola from the nearby town of that name, although
SHOPPING
STREET MARKETS There are many street markets all around Milan where you can find everything from designer labels to well-made fakes, fresh
Shops generally open from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30
vegetables to old antiques, an espresso maker
p.m. and from 3.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., although
to Italian-made shoes, and all at a fraction of
many stores, especially in the city centre,
department store cost.
open continuously from 9.00 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. Besides being closed on Sundays, shops
The Fiera di Sinigaglia is held every Saturday
normally close for half a day during the week
morning in Viale d’Annunzio. You can find
(Monday afternoon for food shops, Monday
everything there: Indian, South American
morning for the others).
and African craftwork, new and second-hand clothes, old furniture, perfumes, candles,
The main shopping area is the so-called
books, comics, records, videos and DVDs. This
Fashion Quadrangle (quadrilatero della moda),
is a great place to wander and browse and
a set of blocks roughly between: Piazza
save money.
Duomo, Piazza Cavour and Piazza San Babila. Here in Montenapoleone Street, Della Spiga
Mercatone del Naviglio Grande — Another
Street, Vittorio Emanuele Street and Manzoni
interesting market in Milan is the Mercatone
Street, you will find the most prestigious
del Naviglio Grande. This takes place along the
boutiques and showrooms in the world.
Alzaia Naviglio Grande on the last Sunday of each month. Dedicated to antiques, the market
For people wanting to spend a bit less while still buying beautiful pieces, other areas are
has over 400 exhibitors.
better. One of these is Vercelli Avenue. Another
CURRENCY
one is Buenos Aires Avenue, reputed as being
The euro, denoted by the symbol € (or EUR), is
the longest shopping street of Europe.
the official currency of Italy. The euro is divided
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS MILAN
into 100 cents sometimes called euro-cents. All circulating coins have a common side showing
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
the value, and a map in the background. The coins also have a national side showing an image specifically chosen by the country that issued the coin. Euro coins from any European Union (EU) member state may be freely used in any nation which has adopted the euro. There are €2, €1, 50-cent, 20-cent, 10-cent, 5-cent, 2-cent, and 1-cent coins. The euro banknotes have common designs on both
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