CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF WHERE - Where Milan

Museums & AttractionsGuidelinesThis directory, grouped by category, is a listof establishments recommended by theeditors of Where Magazine and includes regularadvertisers.MAP LOCATIONSNote that references in BOLD at the end ofeach listing (A1, B5 etc) refer to the coordinateson the street maps on pages 62-63.INFORMATIONPlaces like the Duomo or the Last Supper aresymbols of Milan, hence our decision to list themunder a separate category.Museums displaying the red symbol arethose entitling AmaMi Card holderseither to free entrance or a discount onexhibitions. More information aboutAmaMi Card (where to buy it, how to useit and advantages) can be found on page 77 under“Essentials”.GALLERIA – Sometimes known as “the living-roomof the Milanese”, this elegant, four-storey arcade,housing luxury cafés and famous designer shops,is covered by a glass barrel vault and a beautifulglass cupola and measures 196 metres in length.Tradition has it that placing your right heel onthe bull, depicted in the mosaic on the floor, andthen spinning around inside it, will bring goodluck. Piazza Duomo-Piazza della Scala. M1-M3Duomo. Map F5GIUSEPPE MEAZZA STADIUM (also known as SanSiro) – The famous Milan football stadium, hometo Inter and AC Milan, was inaugurated in 1926. Itwas completely renovated in 1990. For stadiumevents, see section on “Entertainment”. www.sansiro.net. Via dei Piccolomini, 5. T: 02 4042432.M1 Lotto. Off MapNAVIGLI – The “Navigli” are artificial canals built800 years ago to ferry people and merchandiseto Milan, to irrigate the fields and to defend thecity. The network of canals was perfected in 1457by Leonardo da Vinci. Today, the area, burstingwith trendy dining and nightlife spots, is one ofthe main hubs of the Milanese movida. M2 PortaGenova FS. Map D7-E7SCALA (LA) – The world’s premier opera house,built at the behest of Empress Maria Teresaof Austria and designed by Piermarini, itwas inaugurated in 1778 with an opera byAntonio Salieri. For more information, also see“Entertainment”. www.teatroallascala.org. Piazzadella Scala. T: 02 72003744. Open daily 9am-6pm.Closed on November 1. M1-M3 Duomo; M3Montenapoleone. Map F4STAZIONE CENTRALE – The Central RailwayStation, the largest rail hub in Italy, is also animpressive work of architecture. Inaugurated in1931, it is characterized by an imposing whitestone facade. Platform 21 has a commemorativeplaque testifying to the deportation of the Jewsbetween 1943-44. Piazza Duca d’Aosta. M2-M3Centrale FS. Map H1MuseumsACQUARIO DI MILANO –Housed in a splendid Liberty-style building, it isone of the largest and oldest of its kind in Italy.Established in 1906 and restructured in 2006, ithosts 36 gigantic pools filled with more than 100species of fish, living in recreated environmentsranging from the Amazon to the Mediterranean.The main focus of the pools is more towardsnative Italian fish, both fresh and saltwater, andplenty of exotic sea life from other continents.The aquarium hosts events whole suitable for thefamily and the library is one of the most importantresources for marine biology and oceanic studiesin Italy. Open Tues-Sun 9am-1pm/2pm-5.30pm.www.acquariocivicomilano.eu. Viale G. Gadio, 2.T: 02 88465750. M2 Lanza. Map E4AMBROSIANA PICTURE GALLERY – The“Ambrosiana” contains several exquisite worksSPOTLIGHTof art from the 15th through 17th centuries andincludes “The musician”, attributed to Leonardo,Raphael’s cartoon for the “School of Athens”fresco and Caravaggio’s “Basket of fruit”. TheAmbrosiana will be exhibiting Leonardo’s entire“Codice Atlantico” (Atlantic Codex) until 2015, 44or 45 pages at a time for three months at a stretch– the longest the International archival norms willallow such documents to be exposed to light.Open Tues-Sun 9am-7pm. Admission fee €15, €10for the adjacent Bramante Sacristy, €20 for grouptickets. www.ambrosiana.it. Piazza Pio XI, 2.T: 02 806921. M1-M3 Duomo. Map F5BOSCHI DI STEFANO HOUSE MUSEUM – Onceinhabited by the married couple Antonio Boschiand Marieda Di Stefano, the Boschi Di StefanoHouse Museum has been open to the publicsince February 2003. The collection–paintings,sculptures and drawings – is an extraordinarytestimony to the history of Twentieth CenturyItalian art. Open Tues-Sun 10am-6pm. Freeadmission. www.fondazioneboschidistefano.it.Via G. Jan, 15. T: 02 74281000. M1 Lima. Off MapCIVIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM –Found in the cloister of an old monastery – theMonastero Maggiore di San Maurizio – datingback to the 8th century A.D., it houses Greek,Etruscan, Roman and medieval works of art(the Dark Ages section is temporarily closed).Conversely, prehistoric and Egyptian art arehoused in the Castello Sforzesco. Open Tues-Sun 9am-1pm/2pm-5.30pm. Full price ticket €2.www.comune.milano.it. Corso Magenta, 15. T: 0286450011. M1-M2 Cadorna FN, M1 Cairoli. Map E5CONTEMPORARY HISTORY MUSEUM – Heir to theformer “War Museum”, it exhibits material relatedto the two World Wars: paintings and sculpturesbut also memorabilia, banners, weapons, official“PIRELLONE” – Designed by the famous architect,Gio Ponti, it was inaugurated in 1960. Standing127.10 metres tall, until a few years ago, the Pirelli“skyscraper” was the highest building in Milan.Although today, even higher buildings are goingup, the “Pirellone” (i.e. “big Pirelli”) still remainsone of the symbols of the city. Open to visitson Saturday. Booking required. www.regione.lombardia.it. Piazza Duca d’Aosta. T: 02 45487400.M2-M3 Centrale FS. Map F1.SANT’AMBROGIO – One of the most ancientchurches in Milan, it was built by St Ambrose(patron of the city) in 379-386 A.D., in an areawhere numerous martyrs had been buried. Thechurch is a wonderful example of Romanesquestyle. Open daily 9.30am-12.30am/2.30pm-6pm (Sun 3pm-pm). Admission free. www.santambrogio-basilica.it. Piazza Sant’Ambrogio,15. T: 02 86450895 (10am-noon/4pm-6 pm).M2 Sant’Ambrogio. Map D5The Last SupperOne of the most famous attractions in the world, “L’UltimaCena” or “Cenacolo” by Leonardo da Vinci is a large 15th centurymural painting representing the scene of the last supper ofJesus narrated in the Gospel. It can be found in the church ofSanta Maria delle Grazie. Booking required: ask your concierge.www.cenacolovinciano.net.www.wheretraveler.com 57