Added: 08/19/2005 |
Milan city zones and attractionMilan (Milano), situated on the flat plains of the Po Valley, is the capital of Lombardy and Italy's richest and second largest city. Milan is divided into 20 city zones that are identified numerically by the local council, but which also have names. Most of the major Milan attractions are located in the city centre and can be seen on foot, in fact, most are within a stone's throw of Piazza Duomo, the heart of the city and the third largest cathedral in the world.
Within the inner ring and northeast of Piazza Duomo are the main shopping areas of Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and (bordered roughly by Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga and Via Montenapoleone), the area referred to as the "golden triangle". West of the golden triangle and behind La Scala, but still within the inner ring, is the chic area known as the Brera, with its more bohemian subdivision, the Latin Quarter. The medieval Navigli area (named for its canals) lies southwest of the city centre, outside the first ring road. Most of its canals are covered now, though two remaining canals extend south and west from Piazza XXIV Maggio. Look for memorable nightlife in the Navigli, Brera, and Corso Como areas, as well as in the Latin Quarter. This area is full of nightclubs, which means that it is always lively and a little chaotic.
Some Milan city zones are famous for its exhibition for example Trade Fairs is Amendola-Fiera. This is a residential area as well, with many tree-lined streets and tall palazzi, most of which were constructed after 1930 and are still in good condition. Vittoria is also a popular residential area that has a working or middle-class feel. Viale Lazio (one of the streets in this area) is made up predominantly of residential, leafy avenues; Corso Lodi reverberates with the hum of commercial activity. Viale Umbria is residential and Corso XXII Marzo is filled with shops. Some fashion houses have their headquarters in Vittoria, between Viale Umbri and Corso Lodi. Further east, between Forlanini's verdant park and Taliedo, (heading towards Linate airport) is the Idroscalo, a large dock filled with water where one can swim, sunbathe, and sail. There is still some industrial activity further east on Viale Mugello and towards Viale Molise (the large complex of Macello Comunale) and further out, beyond the station of Porta Vittoria, is the famous wholesale market, Mercato Ortofrutticolo.
Among other Milan city zones we should name Città Studi (Study city) is located in the east of Milan and as the name suggests, is the University district, home to the Polytechnic and several chemistry, biology and pharmaceuticals departments. Many of the buildings here were constructed from the 1920s through the 1940s and the overall feel is that of a charming, residential area with trees on every street.
Speaking about sport Milan city zones we should mention San Siro that is famous for its stadiums: San Siro football ground and its Montestella, stadium. This area sums up Milan and its combined love for music, media, glamour and football!
Among the most outstanding attractions in Milan city zones we should name such churches and museums like
Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio - a symbol of Milan's religiousness. Inside there are valuable works of art that tell the story of about 1600 years of Milan's history.
Basilica of Sant' Eustorgio
A wonderful medieval religious building that was built at the beginning of the fourth century on the wishes of the Bishop Eustorgio who brought the remains of the wise kings here from Constantinople.
Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore
This wonderful basilica, located opposite the Roman columns that are the only remains of a third-century temple, includes many different architectural styles, due to the various renovations that the building has undergone.
Santa Maria delle Grazie
This church was built in the second half of the fifteenth century. It was only completed years later by "il Bramante" on the wishes of Ludovico il Moro. The famous architect designed the wonderful apse, the cloisters and the old sacristy. Leonardo da Vinci painted "The Last Supper" in the refectory, which is one of the most famous works of art ever painted.
A selection of the most interesting museums in Milan that must be visited include:
Cenacolo Vinciano
Between 1495 and 1498, Leonardo da Vinci painted the whole wall of the refectory in the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with a fresco of The Last Supper, one of the most famous masterpieces in history.
La Scala Theater Museum
Founded in 1913, this interesting museum houses exhibits of various costumes and theatre sets that are of great historical and artistic value. Some rooms are dedicated to the La Scala Theater's architecture and the life of the famous composer Giuseppe Verdi and costumes that belonged to famous artists such as Maria Callas and Rudolf Nureyev.
The Pinacoteca di Brera is an art gallery set up in 1809 by Napoleon Bonaparte. It houses a great number of works of art that were "confiscated" from churches and convents throughout Europe. Its collection includes masterpieces by artists such as Piero della Francesca (Pala d'Urbino), Raffaello (Sposalizio della Vergine), Mantenga (Cristo Morto), il Bramante and Caravaggio
Pinacoteca Ambrosiana - Milan's oldest museum, which was opened in 1609. It is home to some masterpieces by artists such as Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello and Botticelli.
The Museum of Ancient Art is housed in the splendid Castello Sforzesco, and is home to some of the most important sculptures that help to understand Lombard history and culture. The works come from a period ranging from the 4th to the 16th century.
Museum of Science and Technology - one of the most interesting science museums in the whole world. 40,000 square meters of exhibition space for subjects ranging from astronomy to computers.
Don't forget to visit the buildings and monuments that bear witness to the history of this city, the economic and cultural centre of Italy:
Castello Sforzesco
Is a majestic building. Inside it has wonderful interior courtyards, built in Gothic-Renaissance style and incredible halls, designed by Leonardo, and frescos painted by master painters such as Bramante, who were commissioned by the court of Ludovico il Moro.
The Monumental Cemetery
This great cemetery was built around 1860. Among the statues, chapels and other works of art, we can find the graves of some of the most famous people from Italian and European culture, such as Alessandro Manzoni, Salvatore Quasimodo, Eugenio Montale and Maria Callas.
Royal palace
The Royal Palace, in Piazza Duomo, is a very old building that dates back to 1100 and which has been home to the most powerful men in Milan over the centuries, from the Viscontis to the Sforza family, the Spanish governors and Austrian rulers.
La Scala Theater
A Temple to Opera music, built at the end of the 1700s over the remains of the Church of Santa Maria della Scala, from which the theater then took its name. Some of the greatest names in opera have made their debuts in this theater: Rossigni, Donizetti, Bellini, Puccini and Verdi.
Also visit such charming places like
Porta Venezia Gardens
These wonderful gardens can be found between Via Palestro and Porta Venezia. The gardens which were the first to be opened to the public in Milan, date back to the end of the eighteenth century host many monuments dedicated to famous characters from Italian history and there are also many botanical species to be admired.
Piazza Mercanti
This characteristic square near the Duomo is surrounded by very interesting historical buildings that represent Milanese culture from the middle ages to the seventeenth century: Palazzo della Ragione that dates back to 1200, the Loggia degli Osii, the seventeeth century Palazzo delle Scuole Palatine and Palazzo dei Giureconsulti that stands at the top of Via Mercanti.
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