A metropolitan city in northern Italy, find out what’s the story behind Milan. Shopping center, icon of fashion, antiquated churches…and the local snack bar standing for more than two centuries.

As I have written on my previous post, I was on a 3-days budget trip across Milan, Venice and Verona- in that order. I’m going to list everything I did on my first day of the trip in Milan: what I eat, where I went, everything! Milan is not only the luxurious-shopping-center it’s known to be, there’s more to discover.

The bus arrived in Milano Lampugnano exactly at 6:40, from which I then took the Metro 1 to Metro Stop Cairoli Castello. A single metro ticket cost 1,5 Euros, while a day ticket cost 4,5. I opted for the single ticket, since I planned my itinerary in such a way that I wouldn’t need to travel by metro the entire day.

First stop, the Castello Sforzesco, right above the metro stop Cairoli. Sforza castle was built in the 15th century and now houses a number of museums and art exhibitions. Since I was trying to press down budget, I sadly didn’t buy the ticket to enter and view the collections inside. But fret not, since you can enjoy walking leisurely in the park (Parco Sempione) within the castle walls and admire the structure of the castle, for free! I was there early in the morning but at noon, there are many visitors even having picnics by the beautiful garden.

The next stop was San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, 10 minutes walking distance from Castello Sforzesco. I was particularly smitten with the interiors of the church, full of mural paintings instead of plain walls. It’s a cycle of frescoes, depicting the life of San Maurizio, work of Bernardino Luini. Don’t skip this place, oh and did I mention entrance is free?

After San Maurizio, I would recommend you visit Sant’Ambrogio and San Lorenzo before reaching the Duomo. They are in the same line, so you’ll pass by the two churches on your way anyway, and it’s such a shame to not stop by!

Sant’Ambrogio and San Lorenzo are two of the oldest churches in Milan, built in the late 4th century. While I prefer the interiors of San Maurizio, these two churches are larger in size and look gorgeous from the outside!

Along the way, I stopped by in a supermarket to buy some water and chocolate bread for breakfast. It cost me around 1,5 Euros and was quite filling, not to mention that it actually tasted good.

Now, the Duomo. Milan’s most famous landmark. Even though I was in a budget, skipping the chance to view everything this church has to offer would be a sin. I even went ahead and buy the ticket for the entrance, via lift. Entrance to only the church cost 3 Euros, while going to the terrace cost you an additional 13 Euros. You can, however, buy the 16 Euros Pass A, which include entrance to the church, the terrace, the archeological area and the duomo museum.

I didn’t book the ticket in advance, but then again, I was there quite early, so admission was relatively still empty. At noon, though, I saw long lines coming out the ticket offices. Definitely recommend you to book them online and skip the queue!

There was quite a tight security check to enter both the Duomo and the Terrace. Some tourists are wearing shorts, but they were let in anyway. Polite clothes are required, however, when you want to join the holy mass in the Duomo.

I figured to go to the terrace first before the church, since I thought it would get very crowded as the day proceed (which it did!). It was around 10 am and I stood in line for about 20 minutes before finally entering the lift. (One ascend is filled with about 5 people, plus the man in charge)

The lift was definitely a good option for me, since I was on a packed 3 days trip and tiring myself out during my first day is really a bad choice. If you chose to ascend with the stairs (250 steps), the ticket cost 4 Euros less.

As I reached the terrace, I honestly can’t believe how awestruck I was. Seeing those towers with such precise details on its carvings is truly a feat. The terrace is actually quite a big, open space. I took just about a thousand pictures here, posing here and there, kept gasping as I walk on and find more and more there is to this place. It was all monochrome, all grey stones, and yet it’s most ‘colourful’, with small minuscule structures carved in such perfection; as if telling its own story.

I proceed directly with the interior of the church, and although it was grand and striking, my heart has been won over by the terrace.

My ticket include admission to the archeological site below the Duomo, Battistero Paleocristiano. This place might at first seem as if it has nothing much to offer, but it actually offer a historical insight to baptistry sites that once were there.

After the duomo, I, of course, went to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest still active shopping mall located directly across the Duomo. To be honest, it is beautiful, but I didn’t feel anything special towards this place. It might have been different if I’m someone who loves shopping, but since I’m not, I just simply pass by this place.

By that time, my stomach was asking for lunch, and I was waiting for that moment. Why? Because, I was dying to try the famous Luini. 

Luini is 200 metres away from the Duomo, and is known to serve one of the best Panzerotti, since 1888. It’s not only a tourist hot spot since locals are also known to love this folded slice of pizza, resembling a smaller calzone, but fried.

Based on my own experience, I don’t normally like calzone. However, I fell in love with these Panzerottis. Luini was packed with people but it didn’t take long for me to get my order. After long thoughts on I-want-to-buy-all-of-them, I finally chose the pomodoro e mozarella. This is known to be the ‘classic’, and it surely didn’t disappoint.

The big demand ensures that you’ll always get freshly cooked, piping hot Panzerotti. Honestly, you take a bite and could taste the crispy bread and delicious tomato sauce and that oozing cheese- all at once! One of these delicious fried snacks cost only 2,7 Euros!

Anyway, after Luini, there wasn’t any other big highlight throughout my day in Milan. We went to both Opera ad Teatro alla Scala and Pinacoteca di Brera, which looked amazing from the outside- but I didn’t get to see the inside since reviews told me they were not that special.

This was my second time in Milan, and the first time I was there, I saw the Last Supper painting already. I don’t have that keen of an eye for arts and while I admit that it’s magnificent, I didn’t go and visit it a second time.

To end the Milan trip, I took the metro 1 once more to Lampugnano bus station, ready to board to Venice. Wait for my next post about the floating city!

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