One of Milan’s highest and most unique scenic overlooks, the Torre Branca is a 300-foot-high (91-meter-high) steel tower designed by Gio Ponti in 1933 and set in the city’s Sempione Park. Take the elevator that whisks visitors to the observation deck at the top, and enjoy a bird’s-eye view over the city to the Alpine peaks on the horizon.
Note: The museum is temporarily closed to the public. After visiting Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper in Santa Maria delle Grazie, discover another side of the artist at the pretty vineyard he was granted by patron Ludovico Sforza, located just across the street. Reopened in 2015, this small plot was where Leonardo would relax while working on his iconic fresco.
Hop on the historic funicular from the city of Como and climb 2,362 feet (720 meters to the hilltop town of Brunate to take in the spectacular panorama over Lake Como as far as the Swiss Alps. If that isn’t enough of a bird’s-eye view, you can continue up the trail to the 1920s lighthouse for an even higher scenic perch.
Milan is famous for its fashion and design, and the Franciacorta Outlet Village is one of the largest and most popular outlet centers outside Lombardy’s cosmopolitan capital. Browse Italian and international brands at the more than 70 retailers offering deep discounts off retail prices.
A short walk from the Duomo, Piazza Fontana is one of the prettiest squares in Milan’s center, a quiet respite from the hubbub of nearby Piazza della Scala and Piazza del Duomo. The piazza is named for its 18th-century neoclassical central fountain, designed by Giuseppe Piermarini and is encircled by trees and benches.
The pretty resort town of Desenzano del Garda is on the southern shore of Lake Garda (Lago di Garda), Italy's largest lake that straddles the northern regions of Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino. A popular destination for ancient Roman nobility from nearby Verona, the town is home to the ruins of a Roman villa and a museum of artifacts unearthed during its excavation. There is also an archaeological museum, a picturesque harbor, and a waterfront promenade.
The Leonardo3 Museum is an interactive exhibition dedicated to Italy's greatest luminary: Leonardo da Vinci. The exhibit, known as The World of Leonardo, includes more than 200 interactive machines and working models based on Leonardo's designs and a digitized version of the entireCodex Atlanticus, containing the inventor’s notes and sketches.
Get a taste of Milan’s high fashion on a budget at the Fidenza Village outlet shopping center. Popular with Italians, this complex has over 100 shops featuring brands such as Versace, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel, and Furla. Several restaurants and a children’s play area make the outlet center an easy half-day trip from Milan for the whole family.
The Mille Miglia is one of the world’s most storied open-road races, featuring vintage cars that travel across Italy. The race is named after the original distance of about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers). The Mille Miglia Museum, set in the 11th-century Monastery of Saint Eufemia outside Brescia, celebrates the race and automobiles.
Milan is known for its sophisticated style and unforgiving pace, but that doesn’t mean you can’t slow down and unwind in Italy’s fashion capital. If you need a break, QC Termemilano is an indulgent spa in the heart of the city with thermal baths, steam baths, relaxation rooms, massages, treatments, and more.
The ultimate destination for footie fans, Casa Milan is the striking new headquarters of the city’s leading football (aka soccer) club, A.C. Milan, and is located just 10 minutes from San Siro Stadium where games are held. Known for its futuristic façade embossed with the team’s colors, the building houses an A.C. Milan museum and shop.
One of nine hills that form the UNESCO-listed sacred pilgrim routes in Piedmont and Lombardy, the Sacro Monte of Varese (Sacro Monte di Varese) is dotted with 14 chapels, three archways, and three fountains marking a medieval trail dedicated to the Mysteries of the Rosary, and set against a scenic backdrop of forested mountain peaks.
Housed in the 17th-century palace that was once the Pezzoli family residence, this house-museum contains one of Milan's most prestigious collections. It’s a treasure trove of paintings by Botticelli, Bellini, and Mantegna, as well as decorative art, armor, and ancient artifacts accrued by Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli in the 19th century.
The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum (Museo Bagatti Valsecchi) in Milan is a showcase of what Italian mansions (palazzi) were like back in the day. Once home to two brothers—Fausto and Giuseppe—the stunning palazzo displays their vast collection of antique paintings, ceramics, tapestries, ivory, and furniture that they acquired during the last part of the 19th century.
One of the most popular repositories of masterpieces in Italy, the Accademia Carrara is home to medieval and Renaissance canvases by Raphael, Botticelli, Titian, Canaletto, and Mantegna. A highlight of Bergamo, the gallery is a must for art aficionados visiting this northern Italian city.
The area surrounding the alpine town of Bormio has long been known for its hot springs, and ancient Romans once soaked in these natural thermal baths. Do as the Romans did, and spend a day relaxing in the hot-spring pools and grottoes at the Bagni Vecchi Spa, which also offers saunas and a panoramic outdoor pool.
Milan’s Fashion Quarter is home to a handful of luxury shopping streets including Via della Spiga. This is where locals come to buy their designer clothes from brands such as Roberto Cavalli, Hermes, Moschino, and Armani. The chic fashion street is also home to a number of upscale dining options, cocktail bars, and cafés.
The 18th-century Villa Panza is home to an impressive collection of contemporary American art—the Panza Collection, with more than 150 works of art from the 20th century. A visit here is a must for art aficionados, though the elegant villa and surrounding grounds are a draw for architecture and garden enthusiasts, as well.
On the shores of Lake Como overlooking the Valtellina and Valchiavenna mountains, Forte Montecchio Nord is Italy’s only intact fort dating from World War I. Modern history enthusiasts will enjoy learning about Italy’s role in the Great War by exploring the fort’s powder room, subterranean tunnels, barracks, and original Schneider guns.
The towering bronze figure of San Carlo Borromeo near the town of Arona on Lake Maggiore is impossible to miss. Second in size only to New York’s Statue of Liberty, the hollow statue has steep stairs and ladders inside leading up to its head, where visitors can peer out over the surrounding landscape.
The epicenter of Milan’s legendary nightlife, the Naviglio Grande is a landmark canal with a much less sophisticated past. Once part of an urban network of transport waterways, it is one of only two canals left today. It sits at the heart of the buzzy Navigli District, and its nearby galleries, eateries, and clubs are among the city’s trendiest.
Visit Lake Como in peak season, and you’ll have to hunt for a sunbathing and swimming spot. This beach club in the lake’s namesake town is where to find a private beach spot, swim in the lake or pools, and enjoy an aperitivo—all under the watch of Villa Olmo, a beautiful lakeside villa in an area crowded with them.
In a city known for its contemporary architecture and design, the award-winning Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) stands out. These twin high-rise residential buildings are wrapped in lush greenery from the thousands of trees and plants that grow from the balconies, which mitigate Milan’s carbon dioxide levels and provide a soothing sight for sore city eyes.
Housed in Villa Reale—the former summer home of Napoleon Bonaparte—Milan’s Gallery of Modern Art (Galleria d'Arte Moderna) boasts paintings by Italian and international artists such as Boccioni, Cezanne, Picasso, and van Gogh. Tucked away in the city’s public gardens, the museum is a peaceful retreat for art and history lovers.
Made up of three elegant historic palaces, just steps from La Scala opera house, Gallerie d’Italia is one of Milan’s most important centers of art and culture. The permanent collection has hundreds of Italian artworks from the 19th and 20th centuries, plus there are temporary exhibitions and cultural events. It is a must-see for art lovers visiting Milan.
Formula 1 racing enthusiasts will love visiting the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, one of the most famous car and motorcycle race tracks in the world. There are three tracks on the grounds surrounding a historic royal palace; the main 3.6-mile (8-kilometer track hosts both the Formula 1 and the motorcycle Italian Grands Prix each year.
Built in 1030, San Sepolcro Church (Chiesa di San Sepolcro) was originally designed in the Romanesque style, though Baroque additions were made in the 17th century. Most visitors come to visit the church’s crypt, known as the Crypt of Leonardo after da Vinci, who appreciated the crypt so much that he placed it at the center of a map of Milan.
Situated on Piazza Duomo in the heart of Bergamo’s Città Alta, Cattedrale di Bergamo—also known as the Cathedral of Saint Alexander—celebrates the city’s patron saint. Completed in 1889, this neoclassical landmark boasts a striking white marble facade. Inside, visitors can explore the frescoes, sculptures, and paintings by masters such as Giovanni Battista Moroni and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.
The Quadrilatero d’Oro, or the Golden Rectangle, is the center of high fashion in Milan—a district filled with luxe boutiques, swanky bars, smart cafés, and cool restaurants. The windows boast the latest haute couture from high-end labels such as Chanel, Gucci, Armani, Versace, Valentino, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana.
Piazza Vecchia, or the Old Square, is the heart of Bergamo’s Città Alta (Upper Town) and a favorite spot for photography enthusiasts. This elegant piazza connects the medieval streets of the upper city and showcases architectural landmarks such as the ornate Contarini Fountain, the Civic Tower, and the historic Palazzo della Ragione, making it a cultural centerpiece.
