Jan. 26, 2025

152. Italy - Milan

Show Notes
Transcript

Join Johnny Mac as he explores Italy's dynamic fashion capital! From the stunning Gothic Duomo cathedral to world-class shopping at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, discover the perfect blend of history and modern sophistication. Get insider tips on seeing Da Vinci's Last Supper, experiencing authentic aperitivo culture in the Navigli district, and finding the best spots for Milanese cuisine. Whether you're a first-time visitor or returning traveler, this comprehensive guide helps you navigate Milan like a pro

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Calaroga Shark Media.

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Hey everyone, Johnny Mack here with Travelist Back. Today we're

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exploring Milan, Italy's dynamic powerhouse that perfectly blends historical grandeur

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with modern sophistication. Whether you're into art, architecture, fashion, food,

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or just soaking an amazing culture, Milan has something special

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waiting for you. So let's dive into this incredible city

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and discover everything you need to know for an unforgettable visit.

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Let's start with the absolute crown jewel of Milan, the

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Magnificent Duomo. This isn't just any cathedral. It's the third

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largest church in the world and took nearly six centuries

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to complete. We're talking about a massive Gothic masterpiece with

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one hundred and thirty five spires and over three four

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hundred statues. But here's what you really need to know

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about visiting. First, dress code matters. This is an active church,

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so shoulders and knees need to be covered. Don't worry

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if you forget. They sell disposable covers outside, but they're

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not cheap, so plan ahead. Now here's the insider tip

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that will make your Duomo visit extraordinary. Don't just get

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the basic entrance ticket spring for the rooftop access. You've

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got two options here, and take the stairs for a

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lower price, or grab the elevator ticket. Honestly, unless you're

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really looking for a workout, the elevator's worth the extra

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few euros. Up on the roof, you'll be walking among

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those incredible spires, getting close up views of the intricate

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Gothic architecture, and on clear days you can even see

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all the way to the Alps. For the best experience,

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try to time your visit for late afternoon. The lighting

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is perfect for photos and the crowds tend to thin

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out a bit. Speaking of timing, let's talk about when

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to visit Milan in general. The city sees massive crowds

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during fashion weeks in February or March and September or October.

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Unless you're specifically coming for these events, you might want

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to avoid these periods as hotel prices, skyrocket and restor

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need to be booked way in advance. The sweet spots

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are typically April or May, or October or November, when

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the weather is pleasant and the crowds are manageable. Right

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next to the Duomo, you'll find the Gallery of Vittorio

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in Manuela the Second and this place is something special.

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Built in the eighteen sixties, it's one of the world's

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oldest shopping malls, but calling it a mall really doesn't

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do it justice. We're talking about a four story double

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arcade with a stunning glass dome ceiling that would make

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any palace jealous. Sure, it's home to luxury brands like Prada,

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Louis Vuitton and Gucci. But even if shopping isn't your thing,

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you need to walk through here. The architecture is incredible,

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and there's this famous mosaic of a bull on the floor.

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Tradition says spinning your heel on it brings good luck.

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Just be prepared for crowds all trying to do the

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same thing. Now, let's talk about one of Milan's most

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famous attractions, and this one needs some serious advance planning.

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Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, located in the Church of

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Santa Maria dela Grazzi. This is one of the world's

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most famous paintings, but seeing it require strategy. Here's what

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you need to know. Tickets are strictly limited and often

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sell out months in advance. Each group gets exactly fifteen

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minutes in the room, and there's no flexibility on this book.

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As soon as you know your travel dates. You can

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do this through the official website or through various tour operators.

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If you find official tickets are sold out, don't give up.

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Many tour companies buy blocks of tickets, so you might

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still be able to get in through a guide to tour,

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though it'll cost more. For getting around Milan, the metro

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system is your best friend. It's clean, efficient and easy

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to navigate. You can buy tickets at any station, and

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there are options ranging from single rides to daily and

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weekly passes. If you're staying for several days and plan

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to use public transport a lot, consider getting a multi

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day pass and it'll save you both money and the

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hassle of buying individual tickets. Let's explore some neighborhoods now.

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The Brera district is Milan's artistic heart and it's absolutely charming.

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The streets are narrow and cobblestone lined with boutiques, cafes,

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and galleries. The star attraction here is the Pinacoteka Debrera,

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Milan's main public gallery. While everyone knows about the Last Supper,

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this museum is actually home to one of Italy's finest

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collections of paintings. You'll find works by artists like Rafael

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Caravaggio and Montaigne. The best part, it tends to be

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less crowded than many other Milan attractions. For a complete

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change of pace, head to the Navigli district. This neighborhood,

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built around Milan's historic canals, shows a totally different side

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of the city. During the day, you'll find antique shops,

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vintage stores and artists studios. But it's in the evening

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when this area really comes alive. And this brings us

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to one of Milan's best traditions. At perativo. Think of

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it as Italy's answer to happy hour, but so much better.

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Many bars and restaurants offer a complimentary buffet of food

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when you buy drinks between roughly six and nine pm.

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The quality and quantity can be impressive. You know, we're

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talking pasta, risotto, cured meats, cheeses and more. Some places

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charge a bit more for drinks during a parativo, but

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considering the food that comes with it, it's usually a

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great deal. Sports fans, especially soccer enthusiasts, should definitely try

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to catch a match at the Sansira Stadium, home to

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both AC Milan and Inter Milan. Even if there's no

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match during your visit, the stadium tours are fascinating. You

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get to see the locker rooms, walk through the player's tunnel,

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and visit the museum. Just remember the stadium is outside

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the city center. Take the metro line five to Sansio

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Stadio station. Now let's talk food, because Milan's culinary scene

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is incredible. Yes, you can find great pizza and pasta here,

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but don't miss out on local specialties. Risotto a la

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Milanaise is a must try. It's flavored with saffron, giving

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it a beautiful golden color and unique flavor. In winter,

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look for cassula, a hearty stew made with meat and

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cabbage that's pure comfort food. And for a quick lunch,

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tri panserati, which are like small fried calzones stuffed with

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tomato and mozzarella. For shopping, Milan is obviously one of

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the world's fashion capitals. The Quadrilatero de la Mota the

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Fashion Quadrilateral, is where you'll find all the luxury brands.

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Even if you're not planning to buy anything, who shopping

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here is an experience in itself. For more reasonable shopping,

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head to Corso Buenos Aires. It's one of Europe's longest

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shopping streets and has a mix of international brands and

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local boutiques. Another great option is Corso Vittorio Emanuel Second,

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which connects the Duomo to San Babila and has plenty

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of mid range stores. Let's take the break here and

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come back and look at some hidden gems. Let's talk

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about some hidden gems that many visitors miss. The Timitero

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Monumentale might sound like an unusual tourist attraction. It's a cemetery,

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after all, but it's also an incredible open air museum

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of art and architecture. The monuments and mausoleums here are stunning,

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and it's usually peaceful and uncrowded. Another lesser known spot

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is the Basilica of sant Ambrogio, one of Milan's oldest churches.

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While everyone flocks to the Duomo, this fourth century church

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offers a quieter but equally fascinating glimpse into Milan's religious

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history for art lovers. Besides the Last Supper in the Brera,

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don't miss the Castello s Fortzesco. This massive castle houses

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several museums and art collections, including Michelangelo's final sculpture, the

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Rondanini Pieta. The castle grounds are also home to Parco Sempione,

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Milan's largest park, and a perfect spot for picnic or

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a relaxing break from sight seeing. Modern architecture enthusiasts should

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head to the Porta Nuova district to see Milan's contemporary side.

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The Bosco verticale vertical forest is particularly impressive. These are

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residential towers covered in trees and plants, creating a vertical

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garden that's changing how we think about urban architecture. Nearby

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you'll find Piazza guy Aulenti, modern square with great shopping

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restaurants and some of Milan's best people watching. A quick

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word about coffee culture in Milan, as an all of Italy,

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there are some unwritten rules. Standing at the bar for

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your coffee is cheaper than sitting at a table. Cappuccino

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is considered a breakfast drink. Order it after eleven am

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and you might get some strange looks. Want to really

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blend in order a cafe espresso and drink it standing

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at the bar like the locals do. Weatherwise, Milan can

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be tricky. Summers are hot and humid, winters can be

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cold and foggy, and rain as possible year round, Always

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pack an umbrella, and in summer, plan indoor activities like

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museums for the hottest part of the day. The city

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can also get surprisingly cold in winter, so pack accordingly

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if you're visiting between November and February. And hey, if

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you're enjoying these travel guides and want to hear them

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without commercials, head over to Calaroga dot com slash plus.

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make your travels even better. We'll do a few more

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Italy episodes here and then get back to American road

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trips once the weather back home heats up. Until next time,

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I am Johnny Mack and travel is back.

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Mm hm

152. Italy - Milan

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