This is one of the most beautiful churches I have seen in Italy…read more Considered the "Sistine Chapel" of Milano, San Maurizio is overwhelmingly blessed with walls and ceilings decorated by one of the masters of frescoes Bernardino Luini and his sons. Entering through the doorway of the Archeological Museum, you walk to the left to the entrance. Once inside, your eyes are mesmerized by the frescoes of men and women dressed in flowing robes as appropriate in the mid-1500s. There is a huge organ on the second floor looming over wooden choir seats. The frescoes are on a wall separating the church where the general masses sit and the hidden portion of the church where nuns par tipster in the service. The towards the back are frescoes from passages of the Bible such as Noah's Ark, the passion of Christ, etc. The volume of art was spectacular. Having just been restored the color are so freshr-looking you could be looking at the scenes as they would have appeared when the Master artists finished their work. Entrance is free but please do tmake a donation to support this incredible treasure.

The Duomo is Milan's most beautiful church by exterior, but he has a competitor for the most…read morebeautiful church by interior: San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, a former nunnery! Behind a virtually nonexistence facade, San Maurizio hides perhaps one of the most ornate church interiors and can actually compete with the famous Sistine Chapel. From the moment you step in the door - assuming you finally find the right door - you will be awed by the incredibly colorful paintings that surround you! Despite being in a small room, the vast amount of the beautiful paintings can spell-bind you for a while. Additionally, for the first time in history, you as a public member can finally pass through the partition wall into the previously restricted nunnery hall! Like the public worship hall across the wall, the nunnery hall is also filled with paintings. However, while the worship hall paintings are intended to awe the public the divine grace with vibrant colors, the nunnery hall paintings intend to invoke piety with serenely-colored examples of female saints. You can admire for a few minutes or examine for hours, but this church is certainly a sight that you should not miss! Did I miss it's free to enter? --- tl;dr version: 1) Perhaps Milan's most beautiful interior 2) Small spaces that are filled with marvelous paintings 3) Free sight that should not be missed

Best known for its Ossuary, a small side chapel with high walls that is almost all entirely…read moredecorated with human bones. The origin story is a cemetery was running out of room and bones started to get stored in this small chapel, it continued to be added to and decorated with human remains. They are all arranged decoratively and form patterns, the most interesting ones to me are the giant crosses on opposing walls. It's macabre and not for everyone but it was one of the first destinations I want to go to. The good thing is they open at 8am for early risers and its a good way to avoid the inventible crowds in this tiny room. From the main church you turn left down a dark hallway to get to the Ossuary. The entrance is small and people will crowd around as this is the main attratcion. Outside on the right side is another large church you can go into, the lighting is insane and the time I went light happened to be falling quietly and elegantly on some empty chairs. This church is HUGE and much larger than it appears on the outside. Getting in is kind of confusing since they doors aren't open and aren't clearly marked but worth checking out as well.

San Bernardino alle Ossa is known for having an Ossuary Chapel clad in human bones. This was by far…read morethe craziest thing I saw in Milan, and I would highly recommend checking it out. This church of medieval origin stands on the site of an ancient cemetery. It was rebuilt several times (it was destroyed by the collapse of the old bell tower of Santo Stefano in 1642 and by fire in 1712). The building, designed by Carlo Giuseppe Merlo, was finished in 1754. It has a central floor plan and a dome with elliptical oculi. An atrium leads to the Ossuary Chapel, a square chamber with frescoed ceiling whose every architectural detail is clad in human bones. There must be thousands of former human beings in there... I can't confirm if this is true, but allegedly, the bones are from people who died of the plague.

The Duomo was truly breathtaking and incredibly intricate. We spent a long time admiring the…read moredetails. We purchased the terrace access via stairs for 15 euro each for 9:30 am. I recommend showing up earlier in the morning to avoid the crowds. There are different entrances depending on the ticket you purchase. The staircase is narrow and the turns are quick and can feel a little claustrophobic. Every part of the Duomo is worth taking a moment to take it in.

Magical and a must visit if you are in the city of Milan…read more Be sure to secure a reservation online and print out the tickets or you can just open your phone to scan your QR code. You can buy tickets the day of, but the lines were so long. I wouldn't recommend it! You don't want to spend your day waiting in line. Reserving a time slot online was soooo easy!! People who secure online can bypass the line by simply walking towards the BACK. There will be a lot of workers to help guide you. Before going into the cathedral, there is a restroom to use but for a fee. 2 euros per person and I paid with a credit card. Wear comfortable walking shoes. The cathedral is not stroller friendly and it is not handicap friendly so keep that in mind. You will have to walk up and down stairs. Very manageable! Give yourself time to enjoy the cathedral in all the angles!