When people think of vacation destinations in Italy, some of the most popular choices are Rome, Venice and Tuscany. But I would not overlook Milan as a vacation destination with its shopping, culture and culinary experiences.
I recently spent a few days in Milan and found it to be a cosmopolitan city that is less crowded and commercialized than Rome or Venice. It has something for everyone.
For cultural and religious aficionados, the top tourist attractions are the Duomo or Milan Cathedral, built in 1836 and Leonardo’s Last Supper painting, found in a dining room of the former Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. I previously visited Milan to these iconic treasures.
They are well worth visiting but you have to pay a fee and reserve tickets well in advance o enter these museums. Since they are top tourist attractions, be prepared for line ups.
A museum often overlooked is the Brera Museum, which houses one of the foremost collections of Italian paintings from the 13th to the 20th century. It should be noted both the Brera Museum and the Last Supper Museum are closed on Mondays.
However, you can always walk around the Duomo and take pictures of this architectural wonder for free, at any time day or night, as it is bustling with activity.
Adjacent to the Duomo is the oldest shopping mall in Italy, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which was bult in the late 19th century. It is a covered outdoor mall that is accessible 24 hours a day despite the shops are only open during normal business hours.
One fun tradition is to find a certain bull on the floor of the mall and to spin around three times with your heel on the private parts of the bull for good luck. Supposedly, the bull represents Turin, a rival city to Milan and at one time, the capital city of the newly unified Italy in the 19th century.
While at the mall, you can also stop by Comparino Bar, which opened in 1915 and whose owners invented Compari, an Italian liquor used in drinks a Negroni or a Compari Spritzer.
For nightlife, you need to check out the Navigli District, which is equivalent to our Yaletown district. It has many restaurants and bars that line two canals -- focal points of the district.
Many establishments offer aperitivo, which is similar to our happy hour, except they offer appetizers or even a buffet spread of food when you purchase drinks. I spent a delightful dinner on the outside patio of Vesuta Insignia people watching, having Italian cheeses, meats and pasta while sipping on a Compari Spritzer. La Dolca Vita!
While in Milan you should try two famous Milanese dishes: Cotoletta (Milanase breaded veal) and Milanese risotto, often paired with Osso Buco (veal shanks). I had a great Cotoletta that was large enough to feed 4 people at the Roof Milano but many places around the city serve these dishes. For more information about these dishes, see my video here.
Until next time, safe travels and happy eating!
Tony Kwan is a Richmond News columnist. Lawyer by day, and a food and wine lover by night. Kwan is an epicurean who writes about wine, food and enjoying all that life has to offer.
Got an opinion on this story or any others in Richmond? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected]. To stay updated on Richmond news, sign up for our daily headline newsletter. Words missing in article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
