The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is not only beautiful with high end shopping but it is much…read morelarger than I expected. I made way over to spinning the bull mosaic and there was a circle full of people just jumping in to spin the bull. It is best to visit the Galleria on a week day for the weekend is super crowded. I experienced both and I prefer the weekday 100%.

What and amazing meal, our server Jaba did a great job in recommending the dinner choices, and…read moredessert. His attention to detail was amazing. This was the best meal that we had in Italy on our vacation. and Jaba made this meal very special for us. Thank you!

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.

Beautiful architecture, inside and out. The inside was busy but I was lucky enough to go during…read moreSunday mass, which probably accounted for half the people in there. I had to leave for another experience and came back later to see the Crypt. Some of the staff gave me a hard time about coming back in, wondering why I needed to leave even though I explained I didn't want to wait for 2 hours in the cathedral. I was able to visit the Crypt, which is only open for a short while. It's a beautiful experience if you're able to fit it in. Taking photos inside the Crypt is prohibited. Outside is very busy so be cautious of pick pockets and scammers...they are everywhere. Toilets are available to one side but for a fee.

L.O.V.E. While…read morewandering from the Museo del Duomo to San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, I needed to find something besides another cathedral, which is what I wanted to see, to capture my husband's attention. After checking out the Starbucks Reserve Roastery around the corner, we stumbled across this monumental sculpture by Maurizio Cattelan. Also known as Il Dito, or The Finger, it is a giant hand with all of the fingers cut off except for the middle finger sculpted from Carrara marble. L.O.V.E. The name L.O.V.E. stands for Libertà, Odio, Vendetta, Eternità, which translates to Freedom, Hatred, Revenge, Eternity. It is located in Piazza Affari in front of the Italian Stock Exchange, although it did not start there originally. Coincidence?? Art brings the world together. While talking to the manager of Tavola at a Wine and Food Event in The Woodlands, he actually told us a story about Maurizio Cattelan, whose piece The Comedian sold for $6.2 million. Interesting to learn more about this self-trained Milano based artist who uses humor and satire in his works of art. My husband did share our Milan photos with that manager. We bonded over L.O.V.E.

L.O.V.E. aka Il Dito (Italian for 'the finger') is a sculpture consisting of a hand with the middle…read morefinger. The name L.O.V.E. is the acronym of "Libertà, Odio, Vendetta, Eternità" ("Freedom, Hatred, Revenge, Eternity"). The sculpture is placed in front of the Italian stock exchange. It's a fun art piece to check out that wasn't too out of the way.

Corso Vittorio Emanuele (through Piazza del Duomo to Via Mercanti) gets my vote for best pedestrian…read morewalking / shopping street ever! It has really been spruced up for Expo 2015.

Once upon a time, Milano used to be a busy city, constantly on the run, always late for your next…read moredaily routine. Being Italy's commercial, financial, fashion capital, it just made sense to ONLY reserve a tiny spot for pedestrians to stroll around (young generations prefer to refere to such a past time as "fare una vasca"... which literally means to swim from one end to the next of a pool). Corso Vittorio Emanuele has seen it all... from the opening of McDonald's in the (distant) 80s, to the competition (Burger King) taking over the Duomo location. From an historic landmark (an old cinema called ASTRA) being converted into a store (Zara)... It has hosted many a street performance (break dancing, rapping & freestyle sessions). It has been the go-to place for younger generations that wanted to spend a funny afternoon together (a few cinemas, lots of shopping stores, a few decent food joints). It brings pedestrians from the Duomo square to the San Babila square (from which one can find Via Montenapoleone for some (window) shopping). Though now there are other pedestrian sites along the line (Via Dante and the streets around Sforza Castle, hopefully not limited to the duration of the Expo). When i think of THE pedestrian street of Milan. .. this is what comes to mind.

Most people come to Milan for the fashion and to see the Duomo di Milano, but my main reason?…read moreConnecting with my Christian roots and seeing The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. This painting is known all over the world--whether you're religious or not, it's hard to NOT know this painting. Seeing it in person is just as breathtaking as expected. Highly recommend: set your calendar and book tickets at the earliest time 3 months in advance! Though you can hire a tour guide, I didn't find it necessary, since I found everything I needed to know about the Last Supper via AI. Since tickets are strictly timed, show up a bit earlier than your slot. Tickets allot a 15-minute viewing time. Once the 15-minutes are up, you WILL be escorted as a group out to allow for the next group.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must visit in Milan!! It houses the masterpiece of Leonardo da…read moreVinci's The Last Supper painting in the refectory. The church is gorgeous. It's quieter and more peaceful compared to the city center. We came mostly for The Last Supper painting. We booked our tickets months in advance through Get Your Guide. Our tour guide was awesome and we got to know the history of the church and the materials used by Leonardo da Vinci in his paintings. When you get inside the refectory, they only let a small number of people inside for 15 minutes at a time. Once your time is up, you exit while the next group comes in for their 15 minutes. And the same process repeats itself. Just know that there is a no flash policy when taking pictures of The Last Supper to preserve the paining.

This is a campus of museums- you could spend an entire day here alone!…read more We visited prior to another tour so only explored the campus itself not any of the museums- impressive! Many many various courtyards that all have a different purpose & feel. I am sad we did not have more time here to explore but we had not researched the area enough to... shame on our loss

So much fun diving into all these great places to see and absorb as much as possible. One thing…read morethat seems to be common with tours is the lack of headphone quality. I would suggest having your own pair or stay close to the guide.

You are walking around the center of town, like most dutiful tourists do... you have marvelled the…read moreColonne Di San lorenzo (one of the vrey few Roman remains still "intact"... you are probably either looking for a great place to eat, or are lost... and... You stumble upon a white wall decorated with old dolls pinned on the wall... DO NOT FEAR. .. you are not partaking in the latest horror sequel of SAW... It is simply a permament exhibition, to which you may choose to give your personal contribution. All dolls up on the wall represent a woman who has been killed (by a relative or an ex lover/husband). YES. .. i realize many may think this is a bit GORY, sending a chill down your spine... but, life is not not all fairytale like... AND if you have stopped and thought about how in Italy a woman is killed every 3 days, then.. this exhibit has served its purpose. .. I will remember, one of these days, to pin my own doll up on the wall, symbolizing how lucky i was to survive my own demon and live to tell my story.

Interesting and creepy same time. No need to make a trip to see the wall but you can reach it…read moreeasily from Duomo if you really interested.

Corso Buenos Aires is known for being one of the most significant and busy shopping zones of Milan…read more It's accessible by the Red M1 metro line to: Porta Venezia, Lima, and Lonetta (sorry, spelling may be off) as the zone spans 1.2km. It is also walkable from Duomo although I didn't attempt this since it was raining. This is a good shopping retreat for those who need a break from the haute couture of Via Monte Napoleone and neighboring luxury shops and are looking for H&M, OVS, and other stores of that type. However, as a tourist from NYC, I would not make this a destination if I were to revisit Milan. This is not out of snobbery (as I like brands of all price points), but just an FYI for those who can get the same/similar clothes for cheaper back home.

The Corso Buenos Aires is a nice about 1,5 km long shopping street (about 300 stores) with a lot…read moreof different bars, restaurants and coffe shops to take break from shopping. If you stay in Milan for a holiday I could recommend it cause it's close to the central station, to Brera and well connected via the metro M1 to the inner city, or the tram 9 to Naviglio. Close to the Porta Venecia ther's a unique Park, the wonderful Giardini Publici Indro Montanelli, which was a former zoo and you can still see some elements of the zoo architecture in it and also the museum of natural history which not only contains the remains of the former zoo aimals but also some interesting and dramatically staged dioramas and some rare dinosaur skeletons. The museum of modern art is right behind the park and also within walking distance of the Porta Venecia where the Corso Buenos Aires orignates.

Such a hip little area to explore while in Milan! I stayed in the Navigli district during my visit…read more and it was definitely the best decision that I made. First off, the views of the canal (Naviglio Grande) are stunning! It's safe and a wonderful place to get your stroll on. Every morning I'd see people out running, walking their dogs, and taking a stroll up and down the canal. Public transit is so easy to access and will take you to any part of the city from here. Also, there are a ton of cute restaurants, bars, and shops! This is the place to be at night. If you want a nice aperitivo, you HAVE to check out Navigli in the evenings! There are literally tons of bars and restaurants advertising their aperitivo hour and trying to scoop you up into their places. The music is bumping and there are live street performers and several vendors out on the street selling all kinds of things. This is the epicenter of Milan's urban nightlife and it's so fun! When in Milan, you should definitely make some time to check out Navigli.

A recent tour guide recommended the Canal neighborhood and her recommendation was definitely 5*…read more There are so many options to choose from. They specialize in "Happy Hour" (Italian word apparently) with snacks and drinks. They also have lots of restaurant choices with patio and inside options. Lots of street vendors. Definitely make time for a walk both before and after a meal or snack. It is really close to the green line Genova stop. I'm very glad to have made this a part of my Milan trip, it is a must go!

This is a museum/school. It was a bit hard finding the museum, but pretty amazing once you find…read moreit. Tons of religious paintings that are larger than life and I mean large! Couldn't believe the size of some of these. It is strange that the exit is the entrance, so you will have to walk ALL the way back. Still, an amazing place and check out my pictures!

This museum is a must see when in Milan. It is so wonderful that I would even recommend a trip to…read moreMilan just to see it. The art is mostly religious but the setting is what makes it special. The wall color is different in each room and the scale of the art is unlike anything I have ever seen in either the Uffizi, Prado, the Louve or the Met. Paintings the size of Times Square billboards cover walls of intense blues, teals and magenta. We had the good fortune of seeing a spectacular exhibit featuring the work of Giorgio Armani whose elaborate creations were on display in almost every room. The building itself was a marvel. Timed tickets are a must.