Maybe Milan Is More Special Than I Give It Credit For?

Milan is one of the cities that I might give a bit of short shrift to. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Italy. But, I tend to gravitate towards Venice, Rome or Sicily. There are so many great cities to visit in Italy and Milan really should rank higher on my list.

Clint Henderson makes that argument pretty convincingly in his article about the virtues of Milan. Clint talks about Milan beyond the Duomo, which is an obvious tourist attraction.

Whether it’s Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” or the Castillo Sforzesco, Clint outlines the path to enjoy a few days in Milan:

On the Last Supper:

Another highlights of Milan is the opportunity to visit Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper.” It’s painted inside an old convent that was partially destroyed in WWII, but has been totally restored. Be warned, though: It’s advisable to get tickets online, well before any visit. Tickets sell out quickly in advance. However, the good news is that even if you don’t buy ahead of time, you can usually see the painting as part of a tour group, even at the last minute. Just expect to pay a higher price for not booking early.

I can picture myself in Castillo Sforzesco:

Also, check out the Castello Sforzesco. It’s a giant citadel built in the 15th century on the remains of 14th century fortifications, and it holds several cool museums and exhibits. Among its treasures are works by Canaletto, da Vinci and Titian. It also has an armory you can explore on certain days. There’s also a gallery holding Michelangelo’s last sculpture, the “Rondanini Pietà.”

His description of the Duomo gives you the sense of what these structures meant (and still mean) to the vibrant cities they are a part of:

The Duomo is magnificent cathedral that dominates the heart of the city. It took nearly six centuries to complete, and it’s the biggest church in Italy. You can go inside and breathe in the history, but you can also climb to the top and look out on the city. It’s a powerful place.

The Final Two Pennies

Milan, like many cities in Italy, is a city that can be experienced in a short burst or for longer trips. Tiffany calls out the Excelsior Gallia as a hotel she absolutely would return to:

“I loved everything about this hotel, and would stay again in a heartbeat,” said Funk. “It’s one of the few hotels I’ve actively had a desire to return to (generally I just want to return to a city or region).”

That sounds like a great starting point for your next trip to Milan. While you won’t find a ton of flights from the US-based carriers to Milan, plenty of their alliance partners do.  United flies it from Newark and Delta flies it from Atlanta and JFK.  Plus, Emirates has a nonstop from JFK that occasionally has 2 for 1 tickets.  There are enough airlines flying into Milan such that if it’s on your bucket list, you’ll find an affordable fare or award flights if you keep looking.

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