Location: Centro Storico
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What to do and see in Centro Storico, Lombardy: The Best Churches & Cathedrals
One of the world’s fashion capitals, Milan offers endless opportunities for chic shopping. Hit the artsy neighborhood of Brera for leather goods and Via Monte Napoleone for exclusive, expensive boutiques. The enchanting mosaics and glass vaults of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II make shoppers feel like they’re wandering inside a painting. Take break from your spree to gape at the iconic Duomo, then grab tickets to a performance at La Scala. Post-opera, the Navigli district pulses with late-night activity.
Restaurants in Milan
1. Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4,483 reviews
Reviewed By NusratChe - London, United Kingdom
The exterior façade covered in grey stone is somewhat understated by Italian standards and one is not prepared for what lays in its interior. Once inside, your senses are filled with vibrant colours of paintings and frescoes everywhere. Walls are covered by spectacular frescoes from the 16th century while above, the vaulted ceiling is painted in glorious biblical scenes. This was a church attached to a nunnery and indeed there is a separate large room called 'Hall of Nuns'. A marvellous place to spend an hour or two, very close to Santa Maria delle Grazie that houses The Last Supper. No entrance fee but a small donation would show a visitor's appreciative decorum. On the vault of the hall of the nuns is depicted a starry sky, with God, the Evangelists, and angels. In the end there is the painting Ecce Homo. Organ In the hall of Nuns there is an organ of 1554 by Giovan Giacomo Antegnati entirely by mechanical transmission, consisting of a keyboard of 50 notes and a pedal 20, constantly united to the keyboard.
2. Santa Maria delle Grazie
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,314 reviews
One of the world's most famous paintings, Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" (1495-97), is displayed here.
Reviewed By SammyLuli
This beautiful church built 1497, by the same architect designed the St Peter's Basilica in Rome, commissioned what would become one of the greatest artists of humanity, paint a fresco, that would in turn become the most coped image of the last 5 centuries of Western civilization and a defining image of Christianity. Inside the church itself is beautiful detail, gorgeous craftsmanship without being ostentatious, the grounds are lovely as well. I would recommend getting a tour, wealth of information and puts into perspective the 600 year history of what you're looking and allows access to lovely gardened grounds, especially that this almsot all disappeared in WW2.
3. Duomo di Milano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 56,586 reviews
The Duomo, symbol of Milan in the world, is one of the largest cathedrals in Italy and Europe. Patrimony of Milanese people and humanity, over the centuries it has been expressing, with its magnificence, the devotion of humanity toward the Divine, involving future generations in an endless commitment. The Milan Cathedral, besides being an artistic monument, is a privileged place of prayer, deeply linked to the memory and teachings of the Bishops who succeeded on St. Ambrose's chair, and to the history of the millions of worshippers who, every year, gather in this place to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries. The Cathedral is the mother Church of the Diocese, having a symbolic role of exemplarity both in the life of the city worship, and in relation with the Diocese activity.
Reviewed By ibrett23 - Derby, United Kingdom
I come here every year, past 8 years for a long weekend break. Duomo is a fantastic work of art, great views of Milan from the rooftop, the inside and the museum are also worth the visit, €28 euros for a skip the line tour of all three is a bargain too
4. Chiesa di Santa Maria presso San Satiro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,776 reviews
Just south of the world-famous Duomo in Milan, this historic church was built in the 9th century. More commonly known as “San Satiro,” it houses Byzantine frescoes and other works of art.
Reviewed By 214evaf - Bloomington, United States
Visit and admire the amazing depth perception of the altar arches and columns. It is so deceiving! Ingenious.
5. Basilica San Lorenzo Maggiore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 563 reviews
Reviewed By alessandrofL127YD - Milan, Italy
Beautiful church built the firsts years of 300 so 1700 years ago. Marvelous the churchyard with beautiful Roman columns , a copy of the statue of Emperor Costantino and a beautiful and scenographic facade of the basilica. Inside you can admire the 4th century mosaic of Christ the Lawgiver, frescoes depicting the Last Supper, frescoes over and behind the main altar. Behind the church a very nice park connect the Basilica of Saint Lawrence to Basilica of Saint Eustorgio
6. Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,869 reviews
Reviewed By giacomina17 - Brisbane, Australia
You can't miss this place as it is huge. Amazing to think it is so old. Milan's second most important church after the Duomo. Good signage throughout means you get to appreciate its history and the art work, especially in the side chapels.
7. Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 825 reviews
Reviewed By paupenise - Verona, Italy
The ossuary is outwordly. The small sanctuary with high walls coverded with human bones takes you somewhere else. It is cold and there is a unique light smell in it. I was deffinetly not prepared for that experience. Worth the visit.
8. Basilica di San Vittore al Corpo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 103 reviews
9. Chiesa di San Fedele
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 209 reviews
Reviewed By Justicia-Themis - Hilton Head, United States
Brilliant baroque Jesuit church built in 1569, with Pellegrino Tibaldi as architect. Tibaldi studied under Michelangelo who was busy at that time with the Sistine Chapel. In many aspects San Fedele (Saint Fidelis) is similar to the Gesu in Rome. The outside is a simple facade because the thought in the architecture was that the profane was on the outside and the heavenly on the inside. There are 7 steps to enter the church signifying the 7 days of creation. When you step inside, you are transported to an elaborate vision of "paradise" with lots of gold (baroque style), the purest element on earth, used extensively to represent the perfection of Heaven. On the ceiling we see a painting of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and it seems to open the roof of the Church so we feel transported to Heaven - that we have entered into the realm. The windows and dome above the altar also serves to give this feeling. The Jesuit influence - they are the Society of Jesus - is also seen in the many dedications to Jesus: the beautiful cross depicting a tortured Christ on the main altar; Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist in the baptistry; the painting of crucified Jesus caressed by the women after being taken down from the cross and underneath the painting, the marble depiction of Jesus lying in the tomb; and of course, the painting of St. Ignatius considering the personal cross he must carry to walk in the footsteps of Our Lord. We see the Host, or communion bread, with the Latin IHS and gold beams radiating from it, again signifying Christ risen and surrounded by angels - a depiction similar to that in the Gesu in Rome. One immediate example of the fact that the Church was built to counter criticisms levied on the Catholic Church during the reformation is that there is a single nave with no interior columns (unlike the Duomo, its 52 interior columns, and its gothic architecture). The criticism was that the Catholic Church was not transparent and therefore, needed to take the obstructions away, both figuratively and actively; hence, no columns but a clear view to the altar. In addition, the pulpit was put in the middle of the nave and not in the apse; this was again in response to a well-deserved criticism during the reformation. At that point in time, many Catholic priests were not educated and therefore were not allowed to preach. The Jesuits were well-educated and in fact, countered this criticism by placing the teaching of the Gospel at the center of spiritual community; Jesuits often had priests in the pulpit to preach throughout the day. As for modern attempts to reach out to the congregation and society at large, the Jesuits have also created a museum itinerary to reflect on how faith and its interpretation changes with time, and provides examples of the fruitful interaction between art and spirituality. The cost is minimal for the museum and itinerary. I hope you enjoy this beautiful Church that is a lovely example of the many ways the Jesuits continue to provide spiritual inspiration and an intellectual renaissance!
10. Chiesa di Sant'Alessandro in Zebedia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 110 reviews
Reviewed By alessandrofL127YD - Milan, Italy
Beautiful church built in 1601 on previous church built by Barnabiti of 9th century. The scenographic facade dominated the small square with two superbe bell towers and several statues and bas-reliefs. The internal is made on shape of Greek Cross with central dome . Several beautiful paintings can be seen on altars made by Lombard artist like Procaccini , Crespi and Ossana
