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Santa Maria delle Grazie

Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece "The Last Supper" is located next to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Cenacolo Vinciano. Although the great Italian genius lived in Milan for 15 years, this masterpiece is the only one preserved in the city. Also visit the small romantic vineyard, which was given to the master by the Duke of Milan, Ludovica Sforza in 1498. The grape variety is the same as that grown in Leonardo da Vinci's time.

The Last Supper was painted on the wall of the refectory of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Corso Magenta. Milan was not spared during the 2. World War II and the building was hit by several bombs, which resulted in the collapse of several walls and the roof. However, the wall with the Last Supper escaped the destruction and remained standing.

It is recommended to buy the tickets in advance, and remember that each visit is limited to 15 minutes, but it is worth it.

Castello Sforzesco

One of the great sights in Milan is the Renaissance palace 'Castello Sforzesco'. All the city's rulers have lived here since the 15th century and the castle is also one of the largest fortifications in Europe, built by Francesco Sfora.

Castello Sforzesco is a bit like night and day, with an ominous exterior protected by sinister towers and moats, but an impressive and beautiful interior with several museums and exhibitions. Also visit the ´Civiche Raccolte d´Arte Antica´, a collection of antiques and paintings.

Pinacoteca di Brera

The Pinacoteca di Brera houses Milan's unrivalled collection of art from the Renaissance and other periods and, together with the Doge's Palace in Venice, is one of the most important art museums in northern Italy. The many halls are filled with stunning paintings, from Tintoretto and Veronese to the romantic and very beautiful pictures of Francesco Hayez, one of the great Venetian painters of the 19th century.

Pinacoteca di Brera simply offers sublime art in a class of its own, and while art may be a lower priority, everyone visiting Milan owes it to themselves to visit the amazing Pinacoteca di Brera.

The area around Pinacoteca di Brera is filled with small art galleries and bars, so set aside an early afternoon to explore the neighbourhood.

The Pinacoteca di Brera is a large place that may seem a bit unwieldy. Therefore, before visiting, it might be a good idea to make a plan of action and find out if there are any preferences.

La Scala

Go on a city break in Europe and enjoy a cheap weekend in Milan, Italy. Find a cheap hotel stay at Risskov and get away on a city break filled with exciting experiences. Piazza della Scala is home to the very famous opera, La Scala, built in 1778 and the centre of the most exquisite singing experiences. It is the place where opera singers let their voices lead the audience in and out of fairy tales, with adultery, murder, heroes, anti-heroes and both sadness and joy. The words 'Just for pleasure' certainly apply here, and La Scala Opera has provided the backdrop for the premieres of Verdi's Otello and Puccini's Turandot, among others.

The Scala opera is very busy and it can be a bit of a hassle to get tickets, but try La Scala's website anyway and remember to do it well in advance or drop by the box office.

Also visit the small museum which contains a lot of history about the opera and many of the famous singers who have performed in the famous opera house. Find a cheap trip at Risskov and come on a wonderful summer holiday or winter holiday to Milan.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Shopping is an obvious activity when you go on a city break or weekend break in Milan. The main shopping street, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, is full of expensive boutiques and is a great place to browse and window shop. The arcade houses all the big brands, from Prada to Gucci, and is particularly remembered for terminating McDonald's lease when the burger chain didn't fit in with the surroundings. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was completed in 1865, and numerous shopping arcades around the world have tried to emulate its magnificent architecture. It's also where Milanese meet to be seen and perhaps flirt a little, and the many restaurants and great bars are always a good place to meet and experience hectic Milan up close.

Duomo di Milano

The Duomo di Milano is probably the most important Gothic building in all of Italy. At the same time, the size of the cathedral is also quite considerable, in fact it is the fourth largest church in the world. The cathedral was begun in 1386, but not completed until 1805. Be sure to take a brisk stroll around the church and experience the incredible decoration and some 2245 statues adorning the facades.

Buy access to an audio guide if you wish, and hear the whole exciting story of the cathedral while resting your eyes on the beautiful interior. Try a trip up to the roof of the church and see Milan from above, an incredible experience also to get up close to the many figures that adorn the beautiful Gothic cathedral in the centre of Milan.

Monza

From Milan it's just under half an hour to Monza, a smaller Italian suburb but famous for its Formula 1 race in September, and if you're visiting, a race visit to the historic Monza circuit will be a huge experience. Racing is held all year round with both cars and motorcycles. Also visit the bookshop, Libreria Acquati, which has thousands of book titles, posters and over 15,000 titles, posters and interesting small items related to motorsport.

During its long and bloody history, Monza has been besieged no less than 32 times, but only Porta d'Agrate bears witness to the original fortification structure. Also pass by the historic centre of the city which has, among others, the beautiful Santa Maria in Strada, a medieval church, from the end of the 14th century, with a very nice terracotta facade. The beautiful Duomo di Monza is the part of Monza's historic inner city that is also filled with shops, restaurants and cosy sidewalk cafes and a really lively and happy atmosphere.

Take a walk in Monza Park and the Royal Palace Gardens, one of the largest of its kind surrounded by a wall. The park is around 685 hectares in size and is located at the northern end of the city.

Gorgonzola

The main production of the famous blue cheese, Gorgonzola, has now moved to other regions such as Piedmont and Lombardy. However, some of the famous blue cheese is still produced in Gorgonzola and sold under a local food label. If culinary Italy is high on your wish list, gastronomic tourists owe their taste buds a visit to the cheese town of Gorgonzola.

Milan

In the middle of the fertile Poslette lies Milan, which is also Italy's second largest city. The vibrant city has everything expected of a major city, and more, in an alternating way that blends the new with the ancient without reservation. Milan offers vibrant life, plenty of culture and art, and architecture that never fails to impress.

Milan is also Italy's financial and fashion centre, which tends to die down pretty quickly. Get acquainted with Italian fashion icons in the impressive shopping street, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, where restaurants, bars and cafés mingle with the best of Italian clothing design and fashion in the beautiful arcades.

Feel the rush of history and power in Castello Sforzesco, the muses of art and Hayez's hot kiss, Il Bacio, in Pinacoteca di Brera, not forgetting Calaf's soaring and confident 'Nessun dorma' from La Scala opera. Milan is overwhelming, to say the least, in a pleasant and sometimes hectic way. But there is always a little green spot where visitors can rest their ears after the cultural bombardment. Milanese are proud of their city, historical heritage, and their football team, and rightly so, more than they should be.