Some say Milan is among Italy’s least attractive cities.
To those people I say, “Seriously?!”
Milan is known as a bustling city and a fashion capital, so perhaps people simply mean that it may not have as much tangible culture or history as cities like Florence or Rome. But this city is still full of awe-inspiring sites, including Il Duomo, or the Cathedral of Milan. Il Duomo started breaking ground in 1386 and was fully completed in 1965 (I’m glad we are able to see it in its splendor today and weren’t waiting around for 600 years!!) It is dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente (Saint Mary Nascent) and sits in the most central site of ancient Milan, or Mediolanum.
As you can imagine, the cathedral took on many disparate architectural styles during its long construction period and some scholars think the styles clash and are out of place. But I agree with Henry James who said “A structure not supremely interesting, not logical, not … commandingly beautiful, but grandly curious and superbly rich. … If it had no other distinction it would still have that of impressive, immeasurable achievement … a supreme embodiment of vigorous effort.†(Source)
Sadly, everyone needs a little sponsorship these days, including Il Duomo Milan!
I don’t know whether the leg is supposed to be brass or black, but I hope rubbing it still brought me luck (hmm or it may have brought me the cold/flu I’ve been nursing since then!)
Since Il Duomo is so conveniently located, one can appreciate the details of Il Duomo itself and then wander around the immediate area.
We loved eating on the top floor of La Rinascente which has a great view of Il Duomo. La Rinascente itself is a lovely department store with luxurious products in every department from the food hall (wow, these were the most gorgeous bottles of olive oil!) to the accessories area.
Any department store with chocolate shoes is fancy.
I also had the BEST. TOMATOES. EVER. It seems odd, but I really had the sweetest, most luscious cherry tomatoes with my burrata at Obika.
Indulge and enjoy friends! Just remember to spend an extra 30 minutes on the treadmill.
Note: Our hotel had a 10% discount card for the department store, but I also noticed that you can also download a coupon on the La Rinascente website as well.
The Galleria is also a glorious, open-air shopping arcade. It gets my vote for prettiest shopping mall.
I’ll share a few more pictures of the streets of Milan and Basel next week!
I adore Milan. So full of history and mystery;-)
I really have to visit here someday… it’s gorgeous. Beautiful photos — and that food looks amaaaazing.
Kate x
I am so envious of your travels – Milan is exquisite.
P.S. You can order China Glaze from Ulta. I sometimes buy it from eBay, as well. 🙂
Thanks for the tip dear! I’m totally stalking ulta for China Glaze now!
Your photos are magnificent, I would love to dive in and visit this glorious city myself. So full of wonderful architecture. The food looks amazing, love anything with tomatoes.
Thank you so much for your sweet comment Sam! Oh yes the food in Milan was just amazing!
Beautiful photos! I actually really like the architecture of the church. I’ve only been to Rome, but would love to travel to Milan one day 🙂
It is absolutely breathtaking!!! The architecture is gorgeous. There are so many details within it. Love that picture of you! Your hair is so pretty. I hope you feel better soon doll. I wish I had one of those chocolate shoes right now. It wouldn’t have a heel. HAHAHAHA Can’t wait to see your next post on this 😀
Oh Kim, you make me blush. Thank you for your sweet comment! If I go back, I’m definitely getting you a chocolate shoe!
The Duomo scares me a little, especially that little angel in the first picture. The chocolate shoes and shopping looks divine. One of my favorite things about Europe was seeing how different the shopping was. Lastly, the Galleria looks beautiful. That’s certainly one place I’d love to visit.
beautiful photos!! I like the chocolate shoes 🙂 so cute!
xo
MOSAMUSE
http://www.MOSAMUSE.com
Oh how I love Milan. And those chocolate shoes are both darling and to die for! It looks like you are having a wonderful time! Such chic travels 🙂
Aren’t the chocolate shoes(and purse!) divine? I love finding unexpected little things on my travels!
love these pics! i went there once in 00 I think? and cannot find the pics. so glad to see milan again
Oh that must have been fun! I hope you get back to Europe soon!
Milan is my hometown. I was born and raised there. I guess you visited Corso Como, and that is where I grew up. I miss milan so much! And it’s true, it’s considered the less attractive city, but it’s just different, I guess. surely it is the one that has undergone a lot of changes during the last hundred years, and many of them weren’t for the better. But it is still a beautiful, vibrant city. But I live near a lake now, and I don’t think I’ll go back, even if I would love to buy a little apartment in my old neighborhood one. I’m looking forward to your other pictures of my city. I’m glad I found you!
Great photos, I love Italy – especially Milan. What’s not to love? Was there a bull painting on the floor of the gallery shopping place? I seem to recall my mom and I spun around on its um…privates…it’s supposed to bring you luck or some such thing. But it could have been a different shopping area in Milan, who knows. It was about 17 yrs ago so I guess it’s a wee hazy. If you can, try to track down a little town called Ivrea – you won’t regret it!
It’s hard to imagine moder day life just overtaking these beautiful, amazing, centuries old structures. It’s also hard to imagine if that was just your average shopping mall. It really puts everything in the US to shame, our pitiful attempts at architecture, everything just designed to be torn down. And then there is Italy. Gorgeous, even in the ugly parts.
[…] a leisurely walking tour at Il Duomo (I wrote about Il Duomo and the la Rinascente department store here) to take in glorious views, great food, and beautiful pieces of history. One of the things I […]