Milan is universally recognised as the economic capital of Italy, but it is also a city of art. Historical buildings, villas, monuments, modern-architectural buildings, churches and abbeys all offer a variety of styles and striking details that are well worth getting to know. This is a monumental richness amongst the most treasured in Italy, blended in an urban context and enjoyed daily by citizens and tourists alike.
It’s not an outdoor museum; rather it is an architectural, urban wealth, alive and vivid, enhanced and emphasised in the daily life of the city. The Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle), Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Palazzo Reale, Arco della Pace (Arch of Peace), Liberty-style buildings and other architectural masterpieces and monuments are all part of this wealth.
The beauty of Milan is subtle and leaves the visitor free to discover the wonders of the city. It is enough to push open a gate or a door or to stroll along a small street in the centre to find oneself in front of extraordinary masterpieces. The buildings conceal their charm behind sober facades and the churches are a splendour that unfolds in front of the curious visitor, like the cathedral, considered the symbol of the city and an absolute masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Other religious edifices also offer a heritage of rare beauty, from the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio to the Basilica di Sant’Eustorgio, both treasure chests of great artistic significance. On the other hand, the churches that are camouflaged in the narrow streets of the city reveal their treasures only to the attentive visitor.
