Milan is the most important center of Italian and world culture, which contains unique monuments of art, history and architecture, the main of which are concentrated in the central areas of the city:

Castello (Castello) – Castello Square and Castello Sforzesco – the legendary fortress, one of the symbols of Milan, the residence of the Dukes of the Milan Sforza rulers, built in the XIV century. Leonardo de Vinci took part in decorating the castle, but only a pergola and a manuscript with literary experiments have survived from his work. Now the castle houses several museums, including a wonderful art gallery with a collection of works by old masters.

Duomo (Dome Square with Cathedral)– another symbol and the historical core of Milan. The Cathedral (Duomo) is a world-famous grandiose monument of Italian Gothic, towering on the beautiful Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo). The fourth largest church in the world is dedicated to Santa Maria Nashente. The majestic white-stone cathedral with a height of 109 m and an area of ​​12,000 m2 can accommodate up to 40 thousand people, it is crowned with 145 spiers directed to the sky, and the main spire is decorated with a 4-meter gilded statue of the Madonna. The unique facade and interior decoration of the Milan Cathedral is decorated with more than 3,000 sculptures, amazing stained glass windows, elegant carvings and stucco. The history of the construction of the Dome Cathedral is no less unique than its appearance and interiors. Construction lasted almost five centuries – starting from the year 400, when St. Ambrose erected the chapel “Basilica Nova” and ending in the year 1858, when the cathedral has its appearance, preserved to this day.

On the Dome Square there is another famous Milan attraction – Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele) is an architectural structure of amazing beauty, founded by King Vittorio Emmanuel II and built between 1864 and 1878. designed by the architect Giuseppe Mengoni. The central part of the building is built in the shape of a cross and topped with a glass and iron dome. The gallery is often referred to as “Il salotto di Milano” – “The Living Room of Milan”, as it has been the city’s most popular meeting place for more than a century. Gourmet restaurants, cafes, elegant boutiques and bookstores are located here.

Also on the square is the Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale)– the former possession of the Visconti and Sforza families, and then the residence of the Spanish and Austrian governors. In 1788, the palace was rebuilt by the architect Giuseppe Piermarini, who also designed the La Scala Theatre. Today the Royal Palace houses the Museum of Modern Art.
Scala (La Scala Theatre)– The world-famous La Scala Theater needs no introduction. The magnificent neoclassical theater building was designed by the architect Giuseppe Piermarini in 1776-1778. on the site of the church of Santa Maria della Scala, which gave the theater its name. On August 3, 1778, the theater was opened with a production of Antonio Salieri’s opera Recognized Europe. The history of the La Scala theater is associated with a galaxy of great names: G. Rossini, G. Donizetti, V. Bellini, G. Verdi, G. Puccini and many others. La Scala is not only a recognized standard of operatic art, but also a theater where guests of the city and the Milanese themselves aspire to get. No wonder Stendhal wrote: “This theater breathes with grandeur and luxury… The Skala Theater is a salon where the whole city is…”

Brera (Brera)– an ancient area, translated from ancient German means “meadows”. Here is the Brera Art Gallery (Pinacoteca di Brera) – the former residence of the Jesuit Order, a museum founded in the 18th century. and one of the richest collections of paintings in Northern Italy. Also in the Brera area is the 15th-century church of Santa Maria del Carmine.
Sant’Ambrogio (Basilica of St. Ambrose) – the basilica, named after the patron saint of Milan – St. Ambrose and built by him in 379 – 386. at the burial place of early Christian martyrs in Milan. The basilica is a magnificent example of Romanesque architecture of that period. The interior of the basilica is adorned with a gilded main altar and pulpit dating from the 12th century. The basilica houses a museum. Also located nearby The Museum of Science and Technology (Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia) is one of the best and largest in Milan, while the Science Museum is housed in a Renaissance monastery, decorated with amazing frescoes and stucco of San Vittore.
Santa Maria delle Grazie (Santa Maria delle Grazie) is a strict and not very conspicuous-looking church of a Dominican monastery, located in the western part of Milan, famous all over the world for the fact that the legendary “Last Supper” is located in the refectory of the temple – the famous to the whole world a fresco by Leonardo de Vinci, created by the great artist during his 18-year stay in Milan at the court of Ludovico il Moro. It should be noted that in 1980 the entire monastery complex was declared the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Italy.