From Milan to the mountains for 1 day. Where to go from Milan for one day. Magic world in the city center

Milan predisposes to trips around the area. Firstly, it is believed that the city itself is of little interest and there is almost nothing to see here. And although this is not entirely true, it is worth recognizing that Milan is a city that is inherently more modern than eternal, it was built on banal land, and not “on water” (although, at one time, the Milanese tried to fix this), and the Renaissance didn't start here. Secondly, Milan has a well-developed transport infrastructure. It is convenient to get here, and from here you can quickly get to many other Italian cities. At the same time, we are talking about both the immediate surroundings (primarily Lombardy) and remote places: thanks to high-speed trains, you can even “fly” to Rome in just 3 hours, not to mention Venice, Verona or Florence. In a word, the choice is wide. Perhaps even too much. When compiling travel routes from Milan, you can easily outline a couple of dozen directions - your eyes run wide.

First you need to decide on the purpose of the trip. If you are going to Italy for the first time and want to get to know the country in general - to see different regions and different cities - then when choosing where to go from Milan, it makes sense to focus on, let's say, bestsellers. These are Venice, Verona and Florence mentioned above. You can add to the list at the expense of Turin, Genoa, Parma, Bologna and Pisa. All of these cities are within easy reach of a day trip from Milan (and some dare to go one day to Rome): transport allows, and tickets are inexpensive if bought in advance (see www.trenitalia.com and www.italotreno.it) . However, you should be aware that each of these cities deserves much more than a short one-day visit. At least Verona, Venice, Florence and Rome are definitely worth stopping for a few days. If you are not going to Italy for the first time (or if you plan to come again and again and again), then it is advisable to focus on the immediate surroundings of Milan, which are by no means deprived of sights.

In terms of transport, traveling around Milan is quite convenient by rail (see www.trenitalia.com). However, in some cases (for example, when it comes to small towns and villages located away from the main tourist routes), it makes sense to rent a car (see www.rentalcars.com as an option) - this way you can get to many places without transfers which is more convenient and faster. Sometimes other modes of transport may come in handy, in particular, water transport, which will be discussed below (you will find all the necessary links along the text).

So, where to go from Milan? Let's start the review of the relevant areas with the Alpine lakes.

The lakes are perhaps the most popular travel destination from Milan, especially in summer. It's one thing to escape from the heat in a big noisy city, and quite another - in the fresh air, surrounded by natural beauties. And not only natural, I must say. In the northern environs of Milan, you can find many picturesque towns and villages, without which the Alpine landscapes are inconceivable. Nature and culture are intertwined here.

The most famous lakes are Maggiore, Como and Garda. Each of them can be visited in the format of a one-day trip from Milan. There are other, perhaps less known, but no less interesting lakes in the Alpine foothills. In general, expanse for compiling all kinds of routes for at least half a day or a day, at least for a month. This topic is discussed in detail in the article "From Milan to the lakes". Here we confine ourselves to a brief summary.

Going to Lake Maggiore(Lago Maggiore), it is worth paying attention to such places as Arona (Arona), Angera (Angera), Stresa (Stresa) and the Boromean Islands - Isola Bella (Isola Bella), Isola Madre (Isola Madre) and Isola Superiore (Isola Superiore) . It is convenient to get here by rail both from the main Milano Centrale station (from here it is faster) and from the Milano Porta Garibaldi station. For example, the road from Milano Centrale to Stresa takes about an hour. It is convenient to move around the lake by water transport (see www.navigazionelaghi.it).

On the lake Como(Lago di Como) Bellagio, Lenno, Tremezzo, Menaggio and Varenna, as well as the town of the same name - Como deserve priority attention. From Milan it is convenient to go first to Como (just over half an hour from Milano Centrale to Como S. Giovanni station, or almost an hour from Milano Cadorna to Como Nord Borghi, you can also get to Como from Milano Porta Garibaldi station). Then you can use water transport (see www.navigazionelaghi.it). Another option is to drive to Varenna (about an hour drive from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino station), and then go on a boat trip to Bellagio, Menaggio, etc. (Varenna is much closer to these places than Como.)

On the lake garda(Lago di Garda) It will be interesting to visit first of all Sirmione. To this end, you can drive to Desenzano del Garda (an hour and a half drive from Milano Centrale), from where boats run regularly in the direction of Sirmione (see www.navigazionelaghi.it). In addition, scenic spots such as Salò (with the emphasis on "o"), Malcesine and Limone can be reached by boat.

In addition to these three lakes, you can go from Milan to Lake Iseo(Lago d'Iseo), Lake Horta(Lago d'Orta) And Lake Lugano(Lago di Lugano).

At first glance, visiting Verona(Verona) it is advisable to combine with a trip to Lake Garda (Lago di Garda). If we are going to Garda, then why not drop by Verona? However, like Bergamo, Verona deserves more. In general, it would be nice to devote two or three days or at least a day to this city, staying here for the night (detailed recommendations for accommodation in Verona are set out), on the way to Venice, where you should not go on a one-day excursion.

(No, if you really want to, then you can go to Venice from Milan in one day. Just be prepared for the fact that the trip will turn out to be tiring. In addition, out of habit in Venice, you risk getting lost in the crowd, without really seeing anything. )

However, you can do a lot in one day in Verona - at least wander around the Old Town, look at the Arena (Arena di Verona), look into a couple of churches or the so-called "Juliet's House" and, finally, admire the city from Heights of the Lamberti Tower (Torre dei Lamberti).

If you travel from Milan to Verona by high-speed train, the journey will take about an hour and a half - to Porta Nuova station, which is about 15-20 minutes walk from the historical center of Verona.

Cremona(Cremona), unlike Verona, it is not spoiled by the attention of tourists, despite the fact that from Milan you can get here in just over an hour by a regional train (you can walk from the Cremona railway station to the historic city center in 15 minutes). The city is notable for the fact that it was here that the great Antonio Stradivari once lived and worked, whose name is known even to those who have never held a violin in their hands. Of course, there is a Stradivarius museum in Cremona. In fact, it is part of the Cremona City Museum (Museo Civico) and is located in its building (there is also the Violin Museum, Museo del Violino, which is located at a different address - do not confuse). But, perhaps, the main visiting card of Cremona is Piazza del Comune with the majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Santa Maria Assunta), adjoining the baptistery (Battistero) and the bell tower of Torrazzo rushing up . By the way, if you wish, you can climb this bell tower - the views from there are excellent. True, climbing to a height of more than 100 meters will have to be done on foot. The architectural ensemble of the square is completed by the city hall (Palazzo Comunale). As a result, we have a fine example of medieval architecture. In other words, if you breathe unevenly towards the Middle Ages and dream of wandering through the half-empty streets of an old Italian city, know that Cremona is what you need.

Mantova(Mantova) is not too far from Milan. But high-speed trains do not go here, and the Regionale train takes almost two hours one way (plus another 10-15 minutes on foot to the historic city center). If this circumstance does not bother you, you have an excellent opportunity to see a beautiful and original city. Once Mantua was the capital of the Duchy (of Mantua, respectively). The legacy of those glorious times has largely survived to this day. First of all, we are talking about the Ducal Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and the castle of St. George (Castello di San Giorgio), where you can admire the frescoes by Andrea Montegni. This is, as they say, from the category of must see. However, the rest of the city makes quite a positive impression - there is something to see, and it's nice to walk around it. In addition, Mantua is located on the same railway line with Cremona (from Cremona to Mantua less than an hour's drive), and therefore it will be convenient to get to know these cities within one trip. You just need to understand that in this case, the acquaintance will turn out to be superficial.

Brescia(Brescia) often underestimated. It is believed that there is nothing to do here, and therefore, when planning trips from Milan, many tourists do not pay any attention to this city at all. And, perhaps, in vain. If Cremona and Mantua do not appeal to you, and you have already visited Bergamo and Verona, then the idea of ​​​​going to Brescia acquires quite tangible weight. It's worth coming here for at least half a day. This time will be enough to walk around the pretty historical center of Brescia and visit the main city attraction - the fortress (Castello di Brescia), which once belonged, in fact, like the city itself, to the Visconti Dukes of Milan.

The journey from Milan to Brescia will take a little over an hour if you travel by regional train, and about 50 minutes if you travel by high-speed train. From Brescia train station to the city center is within easy reach (10 minutes on foot).

In addition, we note that through Brescia it is convenient to go to Lake Iseo (Lago d'Iseo; to the town of Iseo no more than half an hour by train). Also, a trip to Brescia can be supplemented with a visit to Cremona (Cremona; about an hour by train).

If you do not want to travel far and long, then Pavia(Pavia)- one of the best destinations for a short excursion from Milan. The historical center of the city is small and to get around it, by and large, 3-4 hours will be enough, but if you like it, you can stay for a longer time. Pavia is an ancient city that once managed to be the capital of the Lombard kingdom. Pavia later became part of Lombardy. The University (Università di Pavia), which exists to this day, was founded here and the castle (Castello Visconteo) was erected, within the walls of which several museum sections (Musei Civici) are now located. In a word, Pavia is a city with history and its own unique atmosphere. However, tourists often do not reach Pavia, limiting themselves to visiting the monastery Certosa di Pavia(Certosa di Pavia; aka Pavia Certosa and Carthusian Monastery). Indeed, the monastery is impressive, but Pavia should not be ignored either. In other words, it makes sense to plan a trip for the whole day in order to see both the monastery and the city. At the same time, when planning your trip, please note that during the daytime, and almost always on Mondays, Certosa is closed (detailed information on the schedule of visits is available on the website museo.certosadipavia.beniculturali.it).

Pavia can be reached in 20-30 minutes directly from Milano Centrale and Milano Rogoredo train stations. Certosa is about 20 minutes from Milano Rogoredo (there are no direct trains from Milano Centrale). Less than 10 minutes drive between Pavia and Certosa.

About the trip to Cream(Crema) it is worth considering if you suddenly begin to think that you have already seen everything in the vicinity of Milan. This provincial town seems to be nothing special. But that's the beauty of it. Each of these seemingly inconspicuous Italian cities has its own charm. Crema, in this sense, is a good example. First, there are almost no tourists here. The city is on its own wave, and therefore, wandering through its streets and squares, it is interesting not only to look at the surrounding architecture, but also to observe the everyday life of the townspeople. Secondly, if you look closely, then even in the most provincial Italian outback there will definitely be something interesting. And here you can be surprised to find that Crema, although not great, does not at all give the impression of a backwater. There is a pretty Old Town, and elegant palazzos (Palazzo Donati and Palazzo Bondenti, for example), and a small City Museum (Museo Civico di Crema e del Cremasco), and, of course, its own Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta), where without him. Separately, we note the so-called Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Croce (Santuario di Santa Maria della Croce) - a temple erected on the occasion of the appearance of the Virgin Mary. This church is located somewhat away from the historical center of Crema. However, from the same Duomo to the sanctuary is only a 20-25 minute walk.

If you travel from Milan to Crema by public transport, then perhaps the most convenient way is by train with a change in Treviglio(Treviglio). The journey takes about an hour one way. By the way, Treviglio is also a pretty nice town with a cozy historic center. On the way to Crema, it is quite possible to stay here for a couple of hours.

Talking about small towns located near Milan, it is worth mentioning at least more places such as Lodi(Lodi) And Monza(Monza). Both are even closer, and from a historical point of view, perhaps even more interesting than Krema. And you can get to them without transfers: to Monza in 10-20, and to Lodi in 20-30 minutes.

When choosing a hotel or apartment in Italy in general and in Milan in particular, use not only booking sites, but also price comparison services. We recommend Roomguru.ru.

The same should be done when searching for air tickets. Pay attention, for example, to Skyscanner.ru.

The surroundings of Milan are of interest to tourists, no less than the city itself. This is due to the fact that the surrounding areas are very picturesque and have their own attractions. The most famous and popular destinations in which there is something to see in the vicinity of Milan are: Monza, Bergamo, Lake Ceresio and Lake Como.

Monza

Monza is a small town that was once the capital of Italy. The main attraction that attracts tourists is the Formula 1 circuit. Of the historical places, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist can be distinguished. It is the main architectural monument in the city. The cathedral has a Gothic finish and is quite richly decorated. You can also see the Theodolinda Chapel, which houses the figures of the holy apostles of the 14th century.

Those who wish can see the Residence in Monza, which is also called the royal palace. Entrance here is by appointment only, but you can visit the royal park at any time. The Museum of the Iron Crown is also interesting for viewing. The city has many more ancient churches and places that will be interesting to see.

Chapel of Theodolinda

Track "Formula 1"

Streets of Monza

Bergamo

Bergamo is a small city in the Lombardy region, located 40 km from Milan. It is located on a hilltop and is divided into Bergamo Alta and Bergamo Basso. At the same time, the second district is more modern in architectural terms. Usually, tourists first of all go to Piazza Vecchif, which resembles the Middle Ages. You can also visit the church of Santa Maria Maggiore and the mausoleum of Bartolomeo Colleoni, who was a great military leader. You can also visit the Gaetano Donizetti Theatre, which was built at the end of the 18th century. Art lovers can visit the Carrara Art Gallery.

Piazza Vecchif in Bergamo

Lake Ceresio

Lake Ceresio is located on the border of Italy and Switzerland. It belongs to the attractions in the suburbs of Milan, as it is located only 70 km from it. This lake is also called Lugano, because. on its shore is the city of Lugano. Often excursion routes include a trip to this city. It belongs to Switzerland, but the population is Italian-speaking. Crossing the border will not be a problem thanks to the Schengen visa.

You can start sightseeing local attractions from Piazza Riforma. Here is the building of the Municipality with a clock, as well as with sculptures that symbolize Religion, Consent, Strength and Freedom. From the square you can go for a walk along Via Nassa, where you can do all kinds of shopping.

Piazza Riforma in Lugano

One of the main attractions of Lugano is the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. Here you can see late Gothic frescoes and bas-reliefs of the Renaissance. If a walk around the city and sightseeing takes place as part of an excursion, then the route usually ends at Villa Chani. Many exotic plants grow here, and there are interesting sculptures.

Lake Como is located 40 km from Milan. Together with coastal buildings, it is interesting for tourists to visit. The main attractions in this place are luxurious villas. There are a lot of them here. Some of them are museums, and some are home to famous movie actors. The place itself is very picturesque. Interesting flowers and exotic plants grow on the banks.

One of the notable places in Como is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore. It was built back in 1399. You can also see the Church of Sant'Abbondio. It is made in the Romanesque style and attracts travelers. A beautiful view of the lake and surrounding areas can be admired at the observation deck on Mount Brunate. You can climb to it on a special funicular. There are at least 20 small towns along the shores of Lake Como. Each of them is interesting and has its own characteristics and attractions.

Milan is a special Italian city, distinguished from the rest by its liveliness, energy and modernity. Tourists usually set the goal of the trip to get acquainted with the cultural heritage and go shopping. There are a lot of places for shopping here. This is the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery (the first shopping arcade in Europe), outlets, the Ingrosso district, the Golden Quadrangle.

Popular attractions are not inferior to shops in quantity. The ideal holiday plan in the capital of Lombardy is the following: the first half of the day - enjoying the architecture and paintings, noon - shopping, the end of the day - a demonstration of a new dress or costume at the premiere at the opera house.

First day in Milan: where to go, what to see

From our past articles, you can find out and. Want to know what you can see in Rimini, Naples in 1 day. Well, now let's start our trip to Milan.

Your sightseeing in Milan can only be limited by the number of days you spend here. This city is just full of sights. Which of them can you see on your own in 1 day?

Magic world in the city center

The morning should be spent taking pictures of Milan from the roof of the most beautiful Duomo Cathedral in the world, striking in its decor, compositions of sculptures and size (designed for forty thousand people). This place will surprise children with its grandeur.

The interior decoration, giving a sense of fantasy and unreality, includes the following elements:

• incredibly high ceilings;
• elegant and very powerful columns;
• harmoniously painted walls;
• colorful stained-glass windows that are several hundred years old.

You should finish your acquaintance with the Duomo on its roof to enjoy a breathtaking view of the city. The cathedral is located in the central square of Milan, where all the historical streets converge.

Walking along the square in front of the Duomo with children, you can feed the pigeons, the food for which is sold right there for one and a half euros.

The complex operates from nine in the morning to six in the evening, with a break for lunch, which lasts from twelve to half past two. You can walk around the majestic structure for free, but going upstairs will cost six euros for a child and twelve euros for an adult. You will have to spend at least two hours admiring the masterpieces.

Best shopping or "Golden Quadrangle"

The best boutiques in the world, huge discounts and sales are a reality. This is what attracts city guests to the Golden Quadrilateral block, which connects four streets strewn with clothing stores of famous brands, boutiques with jewelry.

Elegantly decorated shop windows, decorated facades of buildings, the architecture of ancient streets are considered to be the famous sights of Milan. The following boutiques can be found on Quadrilatero Street:

• La Perla (house alone);
• Versace (house eleven);
• Gucci (house twenty-seven);
• Armani (house two);
• Prada (house eight), etc.

Experienced tourists joke that you can leave the world of shopping only after all the money has been spent.

In addition to purchasing shoes, clothes and jewelry, the Golden Quadrilateral opens up the following opportunities:

• visiting shops with antiques (street Via Borgospesso);
• lunch at a luxurious restaurant.

You can get to the world of shopping by metro, you should get off at Montenapoleone and San Babila stations. You can walk from Duoma. Boutiques are open for customers until late all days of the week without a break for lunch. You can walk here as long as your strength is enough.

Cultural evening at La Scala

The most famous opera house in the world. For three centuries, under its roof, it has been gathering aristocrats, the elite, world celebrities, politicians and just connoisseurs of art. The theater is very luxurious, decorated with stucco and gilding. It impresses with chic costumes of actors and amazing performances.

There is no such acoustics in any other similar institution, which allows you to fully enjoy singing and music anywhere in the theater. The highlight of this place is the dress code. Where else can you wear a long elegant dress?

La Scala is the most famous opera house in the world.

A ticket to the gallery costs at least twenty-five euros. There is nothing cheaper than two hundred euros to open.

What to visit in Milan - day two

Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci

After touching the beautiful, we recommend visiting a place full of technical exhibits. This excursion should be included in the list of families with children, here you can find a lot of educational and watch performances.

The expositions are placed within the walls of the old monastery in the pavilions and in the courtyard, as the size of the exhibits is huge. Here you can see planes, trams and trains, sailing ships and submarines. The most popular hall of the museum is the one that houses the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci.

The “temple of science” is open on weekdays from nine in the morning to five in the evening, and on weekends from half past nine to half past seven in the evening. Weekends at the museum on the following days:

• every Monday;
• first of January;
• may Day;
• Catholic Christmas.

The ticket will cost ten euros. The building is located on Via San Vittore, 21.

Gallery of contemporary art

It offers its visitors two and a half thousand masterpieces, five hundred rooms with collections, located in a very beautiful Villa Belgiojoso. Here you can see works of art by Picasso, Modigliani, Monet, Rosso and other great masters.

After admiring enough of the unsurpassed works, we recommend taking a walk for at least thirty minutes in the magnificent garden that grows around the villa.

The heart of the green paradise is considered to be a beautiful pond, and among the bushes and trees rise the ruins of buildings that flaunted in the Middle Ages.

The richest collection of paintings is located on Via Palestro, 16 (Palestro metro station). Gallery opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday from nine in the morning to half past six in the evening. Lunch from one to two. Acquaintance with works of art is offered free of charge.

Sforza Castle

This fifteenth-century structure will impress Russians with its striking resemblance to the Kremlin in Moscow. Tower and crowns look almost the same. This is due to the fact that a Milanese architect worked on the Kremlin project, taking the outline of the Sforza castle as a basis.

Here you can see a lot of interesting things preserved from the fifteenth century:

• bedding;
• housewares;
• clock;
• furniture.

In addition to the things used by the nobles, the castle houses a collection of valuable paintings and sculptures. The hall, which contains the works of Leonardo da Vinci and unusual musical instruments, will especially please.

A ticket to enter the Sforza costs fifteen euros. The castle museum is located on Piazza Castello. That, perhaps, is all that you can see in Milan in 2 days.

Day Three

How to watch the Last Supper (Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie)

The legendary work of da Vinci is so popular that tickets for viewing it should be purchased in advance (preferably in the morning). A fresco is exhibited in the refectory of the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie, dating from the fifteenth century. The flow of tourists who want to touch the spirit of the Renaissance has not dried up for several centuries.

The masterpiece is exhibited on Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, 20123 (Centro Storico area) from 8:15 am to 7:00 pm. The tour will take only fifteen minutes, but this is quite enough to enjoy the world-famous fresco. You should pay about seven euros for entry, three and a half euros for an audio guide (optional). Pay attention to the church itself, with amazing architecture and a sophisticated dome.

Poldi Pezzoli Museum

Considered the richest museum in Europe, it will surprise you with interesting expositions that the city inherited from a private collection. Here you can marvel at interesting items:

• paintings;
• ancient weapons;
• Jewelry;
• antique gizmos.

The building itself is not inferior in luxury to the museum collection. It is a luxurious mansion, combining episodes of Rococo, Gothic and Renaissance, and is located on Via Manzoni, 12. The complex is open all week except Tuesday from ten to six in the evening. Entrance will cost eight euros.

The Poldi Pezzoli Museum is one of the richest museums in Europe.

What to see near Milan - afternoon in Monza

Having seen the best main city "highlights", it's time to take a walk around the outskirts of Milan. You will go to the city of Monza, famous for its track, where Formula 1 races are held. It will delight tourists with the following attractions:

• elegant center;
• royal palace;
• the largest park in Europe, created by order of Napoleon (entrance from the "Boschetti" side);
? The beautiful half, like the strong one, will be happy with real Italian cosmetics.
Information about what you can bring from Rome. It will help you choose the right gift for family and friends.

So that the child does not get bored, take him to any of the suggested places:

1. Planetarium(tickets cost up to three euros);
2. Natural Science Museum(ticket ten euros) with an interesting excursion dedicated to dinosaurs.
3. Aviation Museum to the game room with simulators, flying trampolines and Lego playgrounds (ticket from four to eight euros).
4. Piazza Castello, from where the tourist tram leaves at nine, eleven and one in the afternoon, allowing you to explore Milan in a little more than an hour.
5. Museum of toys with a collection of teddy bears, dolls, railways, soldiers, which were created in the nineteenth - twentieth century.

Italy is an amazing country with beautiful nature and cultural heritage. The number of art masterpieces per square kilometer in this relatively small country is more than in any country in the world!
Milanweek is experimenting with new formats and giving a platform to talented guys. This time, Arina Karabanova, a photographer, will share her tips with us and talk about the surroundings of Milan.

The most popular and largest cities in Italy are known to everyone, these are Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, the resort areas of Italy and so on. Not everyone, unfortunately, has the opportunity to fly around and visit all these legendary cities. If you are lucky enough to visit only one major city in Italy, and you don’t have time and opportunity to view others, this by no means means that you will have to limit yourself to only one city.

Italy is very rich in historically interesting and picturesque medieval small towns in the vicinity of large centers, which, unfortunately, tourists are not very aware of. And they deserve no less attention.
I was lucky, once in Milan, to also visit the surrounding cities, which impressed no less than Milan itself.

Milan is surrounded by many not just medieval, but ancient cities that have retained their historical face, charm and traditions, which have individual features. Even cities located very close by have differences from customs to cuisine. It is impossible to cover everything in a short time, but if you have a couple of days left in addition to visiting Milan, you should definitely visit at least some of them, which will not be particularly burdensome for your wallet, but it will leave indelible impressions.

If you have a couple of free days, I can suggest the following itinerary:
the first day- the city of Pavia, founded in the 5th century! (it's only 35 km from Milan) and the medieval monastery of Certosa di Pavia, located between Milan and Pavia. It will take you about 40 minutes on the road both by bus and by train from Milan. Transport runs from all major bus stations of the city and the railway station.

Second day, these are the cities of Monza, Como and Lecco (located from Milan at an average distance of 35 km, and at an average distance of 40 km from each other). I will write about these cities and distance below.

And now let's start, perhaps, with the city of Pavia.

The city is located on the banks of the large Ticino River, which irrigates numerous fields around where rice and grapes are grown, which can be seen from the bus window - endless picturesque fields surrounded by small settlements with unique houses and cafes. In the Middle Ages, this river gave Pavia great power and wealth, making it a major hub at the crossroads of trade routes, which competed with Milan.

The two largest cities of their time were constantly at war and raided each other. The power of Pavia is evidenced by the fact that Charlemagne and Frederick Barbarossa were crowned in it. The city is incredibly cozy with its narrow streets, paved paths, and old buildings. Walking along the main street that leads to the covered arched bridge of the 14th century, standing on the site of an ancient bridge from the era of the Roman Empire (its remains can still be seen today), it seems that you are lost in time and would not be surprised by a knight passing by and hanging banners on houses cities. This feeling crowns the fortress of the Visconti of the XIV century, the rulers of Milan, whose power the proud inhabitants of Pavia had to acknowledge and submit to.

Visconti, by the way, founded the oldest university in Europe in the city. In its yards you can walk freely. There you will be met by arched vaults painted with solar patterns - symbols of the Sforza and Visconti families, along the vaults there are statues of learned men, and I must say all this produces a reverent feeling and respect for the temple of science. Due to the presence in the city of the country's most popular university, there are many young people from all countries in Pavia, all kinds of cultural projects are held, a constant movement that gives the city a special energy.

For shopping lovers, I’ll clarify that in the ancient streets there are many fashionable relatively inexpensive shops. Milanese like to come here for shopping, so that far from the bustle of the big city, in a cozy atmosphere, take a walk through the shops, not clogged with crowds of tourists.

The city has many attractions, of which one cannot fail to mention the city's cathedral, which took 410 years to build (Italians in general are not in a hurry to build cathedrals), which ranks 3rd in height in Italy!

And I will especially single out the Basilica of San Michele Maggiore (11-12 centuries), in honor of the Archangel Michael, in which Barbarossa was crowned. The church was built of sandstone according to the strictest canons. Outside, it is a kind of ancient dead structure. Due to the softness of the sandstone, the sculpted façade is almost worn away, leaving only the silhouettes of fantastic creatures and the outlines of figures, which creates a mystical feeling that the church has risen from the ruins of past centuries.

The impression changes dramatically when you get inside. The church is so ancient that it is a unique example of the combination of the Christian religion with pre-Christian ideas, the image of saints along with pagan monsters, devils, demons, hollowed out in the dark walls and columns of this amazing church. The remnants of incredibly realistic frescoes with images of faces look at you from the walls. In addition, low lighting, to better preserve the heritage, gives both mystical and sublime feelings. The basilica is definitely worth a visit and consider all the gargoyles living there. It is very difficult to remain indifferent.

The next waypoint is monastery of Certosa di Pavia. From Pavia can be reached by bus or train in 5-10 minutes. It is believed that the city and the monastery are connected by an underground passage, but historians have not yet confirmed or refuted these guesses. The beauty and uniqueness of the monastery is evidenced by the fact that it is included in the UNESCO list.

An amazing architectural ensemble with sharp turrets and roofs, which can be safely called one of the most beautiful in Europe, just 8 km from Milan. It was built from various types of marble, which gives it pink, blue and white hues that change depending on the lighting. The “carved” facade seems to be made of ivory, all covered with statues, medallions and angels, floral patterns and bas-reliefs (with images, by the way, not always of Christian figures, for example, Roman emperors), which, combined with various shades of marble, creates an amazing feeling of airiness.

The interior of the monastery is in no way inferior to the facade (where, unfortunately, photography is not allowed, but you can still find a lot of high-quality photos on the Internet) - the sky-colored vaults are decorated with crumbling golden stars. The hall has many sculptures and paintings. Despite the fact that some of the works from this monastery are in museums around the world, its wealth is amazing.

An interesting fact, one of the architects was the son of Pietro Solari, who created the faceted chamber and towers of the Moscow Kremlin. The legend of the founding of the monastery is also beautiful. The Duke of Milan, J. Visconti III, wanted his son's wife so much that they promised at his birth to build a monastery in honor of the Virgin Mary. Their son was born, and during the struggle for power he got rid of his mother, his father had already died by that time. Nevertheless, the promise was fulfilled, the monastery became one of the richest and most beautiful architectural ensembles of that time and the present. It also contains a garden and cells of monks, whose order required renunciation of worldly fuss and conversations, to achieve which, even for eating, in order to avoid communication, windows were made in the doors where a plate was pushed through, and communication took place with the help of notes.

Now the monastery belongs to another order - the Cistercians, whose philosophy is, among other things, the renunciation of luxury and excesses, which, however, did not prevent them from becoming the engine of the economy in France and England. For example, it is they who own the famous brand of French wine Chablis. The whole complex of the monastery surprises at the same time with its majesty and lightness. With an abundance of sculptures and paintings, it is very light and elegant. Even from a distance, growing on the horizon from the side of the road, it gives the impression of a castle in the air.

It will be interesting to devote the next day to three other cities where the famous Italian novel by A. Manzoni "The Betrothed" took place: Monza, Como And Lecco. From Milan, the journey will take about 35 minutes by any transport (buses run regularly from all major bus stations in the city), and between cities about half an hour. If it is not possible to move mobile, you can visit one of them to choose from and devote the whole day to it. Either way, you won't regret wasting your time.

Let's start with the city of Monza, which lies 20 km from Milan.

The city until the 6th century did not represent anything special, until the Lombards built a palace and a monastery in it, making it their summer residence. It is in this monastery that the author of the novel The Betrothed hides his heroine from persecution, the fugitive Lucia, and describes in detail the life of the nuns (including how they got there not always of their own free will).

Palace at Monza

During its heyday, the city sought independence from Milan, for which it had to pay many times with skirmishes and raids. The Basilica of the cathedral, founded in the 7th century, speaks about the antiquity of the city! And already in the 18th century, in the hunting grounds of Monza, a royal palace was built, in which, by the way, the Russian emperor also stayed. And now, entering the palace, in addition to visiting its halls, you can taste coffee or drink a glass of wine, which is very flattering, realizing that all this happens in the royal palace.

Also, the city, in addition to medieval streets, a very beautiful square surrounded by street cafes near the central cathedral, is famous for the fact that it houses the legendary automotor track, one of the fastest in the world, where the Formula 1 Grand Prix is ​​held.
The streets of Monza are distinguished by romance and color, all kinds of restaurants and shops add brilliance and charm to the city. Note that the cuisine of Monza is individual, there is even a recipe for risotto “Montsevski” in Italy.

The next city to visit is the city Como. The city lies in a valley surrounded by the Bergamo Alps on the shores of the lake of the same name - one of the deepest lakes in Europe and the 3rd largest in Italy. The city is no less ancient than all the others in the country, and in the II century it already became part of the Roman Empire, becoming a military base. In the Middle Ages, already being part of the Lombard kingdom, he also competed with Milan and was an ally of Barbarossa, for which the Milanese came to the city and ravaged it. From the historical heritage stands out the church of San Carpoforo, founded in the IV century, which stands on the site of the Roman temple of Mercury.

Now Como is picturesque and secluded, located on the shores of a beautiful lake at the base of the mountains. You can climb to the observation deck on Mount Brunate, see the panorama of the meandering lake and Como itself. The picturesqueness of these places has attracted movie, pop and television stars from all over the world, who have settled in it, having built magnificent villas.

This fact gave rise to the development of the direction of the so-called "vip watching" tourism - the hunt for celebrities. However, the city is also known for its food, born in the mountains - cheese, wine and fish caught in Lake Como, which you can immediately taste in local cafes and restaurants on the shore, looking at yachts and mountains, while the gifts of the lake are prepared according to traditional recipes. .

The next city we're going to is Lecco, also located on the shores of Lake Como in the Bergamo Alps, located on the other side of a branch of the lake (an average of 40 km from Como).

It is not worth talking about the picturesqueness of the town, founded by the Celtic tribes, and now preserving the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. The streets wind along small rocks, creating a bizarre labyrinth that leads to the church of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of the city. Nearby rises the bell tower "pencil" - the symbol of Lecco. It was in its vicinity that the story began in the novel "The Betrothed", from here the flight of the main characters began - the lovers Lorenzo and Lucia.

It will be interesting to just walk around the city, enjoying nature and views, mountains, boats and yachts on the lake. Walking a little deeper into the city, you will find yourself in the central square, where the city market is often located with many local delicacies and sweets. The so-called "Palace of Fear", so called by the people because of the tax office located in it, turns its facades onto the square.

Also, the imposing Visconti Tower, which was previously part of the city fortress, rises above the square. To climb the Piano Derna peak at a height of 1300 m, it is possible to use the funicular (the whole journey will take about 15 minutes), and the presence of the lake, of course, involves boat trips on boats and ferries, even a water taxi operates.

The attractions in Lecco do not end there, for example, the Visconti Bridge of the 14th century with 11 arches, ancient churches and atmospheric, unique medieval streets. There are even well-thought-out cycling routes in the city, covering the best views of the city and mountains.

There are still many unique places and cities in the vicinity of Milan (Bergamo, Cremona, Lodi, a monastery in a rock on Lake Maggiore, etc.), which have their own history, special atmosphere and their own individuality. So far, we have consecrated only the above-mentioned cities.

Traveling in Northern Italy (as well as throughout Italy) is endless and you will always be accompanied by new and impressive discoveries, which Italy never ceases to attract tourists, adventurers, lovers of history and art.

Milanweek thanks Arina for the interview and invites talented guys to send their letters to our mail or directly to the authors.

It is quite possible to see the sights of Milan in a couple of days on your own, and a map, a guidebook and reviews of travelers who have been here will help in where to go.

Dimitris Kamaras / flickr.com

In Milan, there are not as many sights of interest to tourists as in Rome or in. Many travelers are left with the impression of the city as a rapidly developing modern center, and tourist reviews mainly describe shopping, various events during the Fashion Week, open training sessions of the famous football club and visiting the annual Furniture Fair.

But Milan is a place with a history of more than 2500 years, for some time this city was the official capital of the Western Roman Empire, and in the Middle Ages it was the de facto capital of financiers, the largest commercial, commercial and banking center in Italy, a stronghold of the prosperity of the middle class.

Google Maps / google.ru

It is with the Middle Ages that the sights of Milan are connected on the map in any of the guidebooks designed for independent travel around this city. If you are interested in organized guided tours, you can see the most interesting ones and book a ticket for them on the websites and.

Even in one day in Milan you can see a lot of interesting things.

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

It is the most complex in architecture and one of the most majestic Gothic cathedrals in all of Europe.

Duomo di Milano, as the townspeople themselves call it, is the largest of the cathedrals in Italy and the fifth largest in the world. When visiting, you need to see the museum exposition, the crypt, the terraces and the courtyard, the archaeological excavation area, the roof.

The Cathedral is located in the very center, on Piazza del Duomo. The easiest way to get there is by metro, you need the M3 (yellow) or M1 (red) lines, you need to get off at the Piazza del Duomo station.

Kevin Poh/flickr.com

The cathedral is open daily, from 8:00 to 19:00, the terraces and the roof can be viewed from 9:00. The cost of tickets depends on what will be included in the inspection:

1. The minimum is 2 euros.
2. Full - 12 euros.

Guide services are also available here, guides work only in Italian and English, the cost of services is on average 16-18 euros, but there is no particular need for them. You can see everything on your own, and if something is of interest, you can translate the text from the information plate using an online translator.

The church is located on Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie, house 2. The easiest way to get here is on the main metro line M1 (red) to the Conciliazione station or to the Cadorna station. The church is located between them.

FouPic/flickr.com

For visitors, the doors of Santa Maria are open daily from 7:00 to 19:00, with a break between 12:00 and 15:00. 25 people are allowed into the room with the Last Supper, so you should “sign up in line” and then go wander around the church.

The entrance fee is 14 euros, in addition to the works of Leonardo, there are a lot of interesting things in the church, including legends concerning the difficult fate of the patrons of this place, summarized on information plates.

This is one of the oldest and most beautiful functioning shopping centers in the world. You can wander here for hours, in addition to endless shops and restaurants, the interweaving of galleries has a very interesting architecture, incredibly colorful areas for photographing and, of course, it is not in vain that it is included in the list of the main attractions of Milan.

Kylie & Rob (and Helen) / flickr.com

The gallery is located on Piazza del Duomo, a little away from the Cathedral. The easiest way to get there is by metro, along the M1 (red) line to the station square of the same name.

The gallery rows are open daily from 10:00 to 22:00.

Built in the 14th century on the remains of an ancient Roman citadel, regularly fortified and completed, the castle of the Dukes of Milan in the 16th and 17th centuries was the largest fortress in all of Europe.

Kent Wang/flickr.com

Now here is the Museum d'Arte Antica, whose collections include masterpieces of Renaissance masters and many other equally interesting exhibits. There are also halls with modern works of art.

The castle is located on Piazza Castello, the easiest way to get there is by metro, to any of the stations - Cadorna or Cairoli on the M1 line (red) or to the Lanza station on the M2 line (green).

Entrance fee - 8 euros, children - 4 euros. The castle is open daily, from 7:00 to 18:00 in winter and until 19:00 in summer.

One of the leading opera houses, which became famous after the opera by A. Salieri "L'Europa Riconosciuta" staged in it in 1778.

JohnPickenPhoto/flickr.com

The theater with elaborate red and gold decoration of the hall not only has rare acoustics, but is also a landmark of Milan and all of Italy of interest to all travelers. However, the unique acoustics of these scaffolds can be explained by the fact that until the middle of the 14th century there was the Basilica of Santa Maria della Scala, which, in turn, occupied an earlier religious building.

The theater is located on Via Filodrammatici, house 2. It is literally in a lane from the square with the Cathedral. The easiest way to get there is by metro, along the M1 (red) line to the Piazza del Duomo station.

Anna & Michal / flickr.com

There is a museum at the theater, with an exposition that tells first of all about everything related to the history of La Scala.

The museum's opening hours are daily, except for holidays, from 9:00 to 17:30, there is a break from 12:30 to 13:30. Ticket price - 7 euros, for children - 3.5 euros.

As for the theater itself, it is better to book tickets in advance, however, you should still look at the box office. Quite often, for daytime performances, several dozen tickets are on direct sale on the day of the performance. During the day at La Scala, 4 performances are given, starting at 14:00 and ending at 16:00. In the evening - three performances, at 18:00, 19:00 and 20:00.

A real miniature Venice. A network of canals began to be built in the 12th century for the purpose of cargo transportation. Where many people now walk, admiring the medieval elegant view of Milan, where many cafeterias, souvenir shops and pastry shops are located, there used to be back doors of barns and warehouses, on which large signal bells and ring handles hung, allowing you to knock on the door.

milantovisit.com

Each unloaded bag or box had protective seals with the coat of arms of the trading house that owned both the goods themselves and the warehouse with a berth. The same coat of arms adorned the bell on the door and the handle-ring.

In some restaurants of the walking area of ​​the canals, these elements of antiquity have been preserved, performing decorative functions. And from the once unloading mini-piers, small boats with excursions and boats now depart, offering either a “walk for lovers” with all possible entourage, including flowers, or just a boat trip along the canal.

In addition to the walking area, there is also an antiques market, flea rows, and various mini-fairs. Along the canals there are very colorful interesting shops selling everything, like a commission. If you wish, you can find really something extremely interesting and even rare in them, for relatively little money.

waterways-forward.eu

It is also worth visiting the Basilica of St. Christopher, with one of the oldest bell towers in all of Italy, carved wooden sculptures, ancient frescoes made long before the Renaissance, and part of a burnt stone wall with ancient coats of arms. The temple is active, that is, the entrance is free.

Also in the canal area there is an interesting small church of St. Eustorgio with a small museum exposition and a small early Christian necropolis. The temple is also active, but the donation still needs to be left.

You can get here by metro, to the Porta Genova station on the M2 line (green) or by tram. Tram number 2 will take you from the center for 1 euro directly to the Grand Canal. Stop - Porta Genova.

What else to see?

Getting acquainted with the sights of Milan, do not forget about its surroundings. First of all, these are, of course, world-famous outlets. Outlets are entire villages of shops selling collections of fashion houses, familiar to everyone who has known the intricacies of the art of shopping.

neinver-deutschland.de

All items for sale are genuine and the price is very low. Irrelevant collections of past seasons are simply presented for sale. However, Milan is focused not on high fashion, but on pre-a-porter, that is, the differences will be only in the size of the lock on the bag or the slits of the skirt.

There are a lot of outlets around Milan, you can get to them in different ways. It is most convenient to use the services of the Zani Viaggi Agency. It specializes in outlets, it will provide all the relevant information and take you along the chosen route, you don’t have to wait long until the number of passengers sufficient for the trip is collected.

The office is located at Foro Bonaparte, house 76. It is easier to get there by metro to the Cairoli station along the M1 line (red).

The surroundings of Milan are not only a paradise for shopaholics, but also many picturesque medieval villages and alpine lakes. The easiest way to get to them is by train either from the Milano Centrale main station or from the Milano Porta Garibaldi station. The road takes from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the chosen lake, and it takes about half a day to get acquainted with the local color.

For an independent trip around the surroundings, you need a good guide in Russian, and a map of the surroundings of Milan usually remains unclaimed.

Video: sights of Milan in 1 day.

What do you need to know?

The most convenient way to get around in Milan is the metro. The subway scheme is extremely clear and understandable, and the names of the stations usually coincide with the names of squares or with the names of places of interest to tourists.

The metro fare is as follows:

• 1.5 euros - one-time trip;
• 10 euros - travel ticket for 10 trips;
• 4.5 euros - a card that gives the right to travel within 24 hours.

Hans Bastmeijer/flickr.com

Tickets must be punched at the entrance to the station, the fine for an unpaid trip is 100 euros.

The metro operates from 6:30 to 0:30, travel documents are sold almost everywhere, including at ATMs at any of the stations.