Core of Centro Storico Walking Tour

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1 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 - Core of Centro Storico Walking Tour Milan is a city that boasts both historic and modern architecture. It is also a strategic economic center for Italy and is home to the country's stock exchange. Thousands of tourists are attracted to the city's striking historic sites like the La Scala opera house and the famous Duomo, as well as designer shops and other great places to explore. Guide Location: Italy» Milan # of Attractions: 15 Tour Duration: 2 hour(s) Travel Distance: 3.0 km Please note: This walk is also featured in the ios app "Milan Map and Walks" on itunes App Store and the Android app "Milan Map and Walks" on Google Play. The apps provide GPS navigation to guide you from one tour stop to the next, so you will never be lost. The apps offer additional walking tours in Milan. Check them out! GPSmyCity offers self-guided walking tours in over 1,000 city around the world. Please visit gpsmycity.com for more walking tour offers. List of attractions included in this self-guided walking tour: A) Milan Cathedral B) Royal Palace of Milan C) Museum del Duomo D) San Gottardo in Corte E) San Gottardo Bell Tower F) Santa Maria Presso San Satiro G) San Sepolcro H) Biblioteca Ambrosiana I) Pasticceria Giovanni Galli J) Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II K) The Palazzo Clerici L) La Scala M) San Fedele N) Manzoni Museum O) Museum Poldi Pezzoli Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 -

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3 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 - A) Milan Cathedral (must see) Milan Cathedral, also called Duomo, is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan and the largest cathedral in Italy (fifth largest in the world) covering an area of 12,000 square meters and weighting 325,000 tons. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Mary Nascent and has been a central part of the city's life since Its foundation was laid by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, who died in 1402, when only half of the cathedral was completed, upon which the construction came to a standstill for almost 80 years due to the lack of both funds and ideas how to finish it. It resumed in 1500 and by 1510 the octagonal dome was completed and embellished with four series of 15 statues representing different characters from the Bible. In 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte forced completion of the façade which overall took another seven years. In honor of his efforts, a statue of Napoleon was erected at the top of one of the spires. Later, Duomo also saw his crowning ceremony. The Cathedral was fully completed only in the 20th century. Inaugurated on January 6, 1965, the completion of the last gate marked the very end of the centuries-long process. A visit to the roof and the Paleo Christian baptistery beneath the west end are part of the Duomo attraction. The rooftop offers a closer look at the intricate details of the spires and the gargoyles which adorn it. You have to climb a huge 201 stairs to reach the top. However, those who wish to avoid the stairs can use an elevator. The view from the top, about 70 meters high, is spectacular with myriads of statues, pinnacles, tracery and flying buttresses. Climbing all the way up through Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 -

4 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 4 - winding narrow passageways is rewarded with a wonderful and breathtaking panorama of the city! Address: Piazza del Duomo, Milan, Italy Image Courtesy of Flickr and deepakhere.mypixels B) Royal Palace of Milan The Royal Palace of Milan, a historical building in Milan, had been the seat of government of the city for centuries. Afterwards it became the residence of the Spanish and of the Austrian governors. Charles III of Bourbon became Palazzo Reale's first permanent resident. The present day appearance of the palace is the work of the architect Giuseppe Piermarini who transformed it during 1771 to Bombings of World War II resulted in losing its marvelous neoclassical interiors. Of many splendid halls, only the most beautiful the Sala delle Cariatidi were left and that too was half destroyed. This hall today serves as a grave reminder of the aftermaths of war. This remarkable hall often becomes a part of the great exhibitions that are set up in this palace. Thirty rooms of the palace, on the second floor, have been restored to their original splendid 18th and 19th century decor with the same glory. One of the masterpieces of art known as Pièce de résistance is also housed here. It is a skillfully crafted centerpiece made of onyx, marble, semiprecious stones and gold plated bronze. It is a miniature of a Roman hippodrome with temples, columns and statues and is the main attraction of the palace. The palace's highlights include the Court Theatre, the Room of the Ambassadors, the Great Captain's Room, Flemish Hall, Hercules Hall, the Palatine Chapel and the largest library in southern Italy, the Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III. Royal Palace features one of the most beautiful architectures of the 18th century Milanese. It is also home to the City Council s Contemporary Art Museum. Today, it a cultural center and serves as one of the biggest and most elegant place for housing various expositions and exhibitions. Address: Plaza del Duomo, Milan, Italy Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Goldmund100. Sight description based on wikipedia Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 4 -

5 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 - C) Museum del Duomo (must see) The Museum del Duomo preserves artifacts and works of art that used to be located in the cathedral itself. Many items in the collections need special preservation and restoration. The 20 rooms in the museum exhibit the items in chronological order with accompanying information plaques. Operation hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10 am - 6 pm. Address: Piazza del Duomo, 12, Milan, Italy Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Stefano Stabile D) San Gottardo in Corte San Gottardo is a church in Milan dedicated to Virgin Mary, designed by Francesco Pecorari from Cremona. In 1330, Azzone Visconti started the construction of the church which took six years to complete. After Azzone got sick with gout, the dedication was changed to St. Gotthard of Hildesheim who was the benefactor of gout sufferers. The church has octagonal bell tower and the first public clock was placed there. In the 14th century Europe, when the mechanical clock was invented, tower clock building was at its climax. These clocks struck the bell multiple times to count out the hours. A clock known as the clock of the Beata Vergine was built around Later known as the clock of San Gottardo, it was one of the earliest clocks that struck the hours. That clock became famous with man of every age. In 1335, Galvano Fiamma wrote that wonderful clock has a huge clapper which strikes a bell 24 times according to the 24 hours of the day and night which is of great use to man of every degree. Giocondo Albertolli restored the interior in the Neoclassical style. A section of the Giottesque Crucifixion, a canvas with St. Charles Borromeo, and the tomb of Azzone Visconti are still present from the original church. San Gottardo in Corte is absolutely wonderful and is packed with heritage information about the city's past. Your visit to the church will enlarge your vision of Milan s spectacular churches and cathedrals. Address: Via Francesco Pecorari, MIlan, Italy Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 -

6 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 6 - Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and hugovk. Sight description based on wikipedia E) San Gottardo Bell Tower San Gottardo is a church in Milan dedicated to Virgin Mary, designed by Francesco Pecorari from Cremona. In 1330, Azzone Visconti started the construction of the church which took six years to complete. After Azzone got sick with gout, the dedication was changed to St. Gotthard of Hildesheim who was the benefactor of gout sufferers. The church has octagonal bell tower and the first public clock was placed there. In the 14th century Europe, when the mechanical clock was invented, tower clock building was at its climax. These clocks struck the bell multiple times to count out the hours. A clock known as the clock of the Beata Vergine was built around Later known as the clock of San Gottardo, it was one of the earliest clocks that struck the hours. That clock became famous with man of every age. In 1335, Galvano Fiamma wrote that wonderful clock has a huge clapper which strikes a bell 24 times according to the 24 hours of the day and night which is of great use to man of every degree. Giocondo Albertolli restored the interior in the Neoclassical style. A section of the Giottesque Crucifixion, a canvas with St. Charles Borromeo, and the tomb of Azzone Visconti are still present from the original church. San Gottardo in Corte is absolutely wonderful and is packed with heritage information about the city's past. Your visit to the church will enlarge your vision of Milan s spectacular churches and cathedrals. Address: Via Palazzo Reale street, Milan, Italy Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Geobia F) Santa Maria Presso San Satiro (must see) Santa Maria presso San Satiro, commonly known as San Satiro, is a church in Milan that lies on the location of an ancient worship place. Duke Galeazzo Maria Sforza commissioned the construction of the present day church. Construction started in 1472 and took nearly 10 years to complete. Santa Maria Presso di San Satiro is just south of the Duomo in Milan. Dating Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 6 -

7 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 7 - back to the 800s, the church was renovated in the second half of the 1400s by Bramante. Donato Bramante was a man of talent. In 1472 Duke Galeazzo Maria Sforza of Milan commissioned a new church for his city. He wanted to build a huge church but the location available to him very small due to the presence of a busy street. The choir, the space behind the altar, had to be reduced, making the church awkwardly short. Many famous architects and painters participated in designing a church in such a way that a big church can fit on a tiny plot. In order to solve this problem, Bramante devised an ingenious solution by painting an optical illusion. Though architectural optical illusion was popular in late Renaissance and Baroque, Bramante gave it an entirely new dimension. If you stand at the entrance of the edifice you will have an impression of a much deeper space giving the illusion of the altar far behind than is physically possible. Special lightings inside the church were used to help built this optical illusion. The illusion, however, quickly disappears when you step aside from the main axis of the church. The magic reappears when you step back. Seeing Bramante's Santa Maria presso San Satiro church is all about perspective and faith! Address: Via Speronari 3, Milan, Italy Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Marco Bonavoglia.. Sight description based on wikipedia G) San Sepolcro Founded shortly after the thousand years by Benedict Ronzone and rebuilt in 1100 by his grandson with the shapes of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. The church represents a mix of styles, the two towers were added in the 12th century, the facade was remodeled and the interior was radically renovated in the Baroque key by Frederick Borromeo. The last renovation in 19th century, was to rebuild the entire facade in Romanesque-Lombard. Address: Piazza San Sepolcro, 2, Milan, Italy Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Giovanni Dall'Orto Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 7 -

8 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 8 - H) Biblioteca Ambrosiana (must see) Biblioteca Ambrosiana is a historic library in Milan. Named after Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan, it kept and organized the great databases of European culture. Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, the Ambrosian art gallery is also present in this library. Cardinal Federico Borromeo founded the library and his representatives collected books and manuscripts from Western Europe, Greece and Syria. Some major collections include the manuscripts of the Benedictine monastery of Bobbio and the library of Paduan Vincenzo Pinelli. It has more than 800 manuscripts and was kept in 70 cases when they were being sent to Milan. For the first time, the books were housed in cases ranged along the walls. Before that the books were chained to reading tables. A printing press was also attached to the library along with a school for teaching the classical languages. In 1603, a building was constructed to house the Cardinal's 15,000 manuscripts and printed books who gave his collection of paintings and drawings to the library. After his death, the Biblioteca Ambrosiana acquired 12 manuscripts of Leonardo da Vinci. It now houses nearly 12,000 drawings by European artists from the 14th through the 19th centuries. These drawings were obtained from the collections of art dealers, patrons, collectors, artists, academicians and architects. Prized manuscripts were taken over by the French during the Napoleon regime and only partly returned after It also houses Christian and Islamic Arabic manuscripts, 11th-century diwan of poets and the oldest copy of the Kitab Sibawahaihi. The Library was damaged in World War II but was restored in The building underwent major restorations in Today Biblioteca Ambrosiana contains the richest collection of Cardinal s books, drawings and paintings. A visit to the library is necessary if you want to truly appreciate the magnificent art work of one of the best artists in the history. Address: Piazza Pio XI, 2, Milan, Italy Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Elekhh I) Pasticceria Giovanni Galli Have you ever thought of combining tomatoes with chocolate and liqueur? Well, no matter how far-fetched it sounds, Pasticceria Giovanni Galli has combined these ingredients into a simply delicious product. Its clients say that "heaven can be purchased and it comes in a pack of 6". Come and try Pasticceria Giovanni Galli's variety of candied chestnuts as well. Address: Via Victor Hugo 2, Milan, Italy Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 8 -

9 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 9 - Image Courtesy of Flickr and avlxyz J) Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (must see) Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a fashionable five-storey mall covered in curved glass, topped with iron roof and lavishly decorated with patriotic mosaics and statues - legacy of the chaotic era of Italian unification, manifesting the country's newly-acquired self-confidence. It was built between 1865 and 1877 by architect Giuseppe Mengoni also credited with the monumental design of the whole area between the Milan Cathedral and La Scala Opera and is named after Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of unified Italy. Officially inaugurated on September 15, 1867, the Galleria's completion took another ten years of continuous work. Tragically, just a day before it was complete, in December 1877, Giuseppe Mengoni died in accident, falling down from the top of the triumphal arch. Formed like a Latin cross, the gallery comprises two glass-vaulted covered passages with a longer one being 196 meters and the shorter meters long crossing in an octagonal central piazza below an impressive 47 meter high, 36 meter wide glass dome. Incorporating iron and arching glass, the Galleria's architectural design proved ground breaking for the creation of enclosed shopping malls in the 19th century. The use of iron structure inspired the Eiffel Tower in Paris. An interesting feature of the gallery is the floor featuring rare marble mosaic depicting emblems of main Italian cities. Spinning on the picture of the bull with the heel of a right foot is supposed to bring good luck. Milanese duly observe this tradition thanks to which there's now a hole in the pavement. Address: Piazza del Duomo, Milan, Italy Image Courtesy of Flickr and diego zingano K) The Palazzo Clerici The Palazzo Clerici is located in the heart of old Milan. The palace which rose in an urban fact of small houses, belonged to one of the oldest historic houses in Milan, the Visconti family. Despite being one of the most prestigious historic buildings in Milan and has played a crucial role in the events of art and history of this city, Palazzo Clerici is still little known to the general public. Address: Via Clerici, 5, Milan, Italy Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 9 -

10 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 10 - Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Eugenio Menescardi L) La Scala (must see) La Scala, originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala, is a world renowned opera house in Milan. Inaugurated on 3 August 1778, it has witnessed the performance of the greatest artists and singers not only of Italy but also of other nations. In 1776, a fire completely destroyed the Royal Ducal Theatre. Empress Maria Theresa of Austria established the Teatro alla Scala to replace its demolished structure. Since then, it had been the home of opera in Milan. Today, the theatre is still recognized as one of the leading opera and ballet theatres in the world and is home to the La Scala Theatre Chorus, Ballet and Orchestra. It also has an academy which provides specialized training in dance, stage craft and management, and music. La Scala soon became the finest meeting place for dignified and affluent Milanese. Traditionally the main floor had no chairs and spectators used to watch the shows standing up. La Scala has always had a gallery above, known as loggione, where the less well off can watch the performances. Originally hundreds of oil lamps were used to illuminate La Scala. Water buckets were kept in several rooms to avoid the risks of fire. Gradually, oil lamps were replaced with gas lamps, which in 1883 were substituted by electric lights. After the renovation of the original structure in 1907, the theater was given a new layout with 2,800 seats. During World War II bombing, La Scala was badly damaged. After renovation, it was reopened in To mark the occasion, Arturo Toscanini arranged an unforgettable concert in La Scala with a sensational solo performance by Renata Tebaldi. In the theatre underwent another major renovation. La Scala Orchestra, with 135 musicians, is considered to be one of the world s best orchestra for opera productions. The main characteristic of the Orchestra is its ability to obtain a uniform and distinguished sound. The theater has also attained an impressive international position for its symphony activity. Theater s collection is today one of the richest and most envied collections Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 10 -

11 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 11 - in the world. You will surely cherish your visit to the theater. Address: Via Filodrammatici 2, Milan, Italy Image Courtesy of Flickr and JohnPickenPhoto M) San Fedele The title is a canon of the church Santa Maria della Scala in San Fedele. After a decade near the church was built a great college that until 1763 was the main house of Lombardy of the Jesuits. Here stands the old image once called Madonna of the dancers and singers. The particular advance of the Baroque of the first altar on the right flanked by two angels who gracefully detach from their capitals and columns hold up the slant, giving an impression of fragility and lightness. Address: Piazza San Fedele, Milan, Italy Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Lino M N) Manzoni Museum Situated in the heart of Milan, Casa del Manzoni (Manzoni Museum) is a magnificently elaborated ex-residence of an Italian author and poet Alessandro Manzoni. Born in 1785, he was second in Italian literature only to Dante. Manzoni died a tragic death when he fell down the steps of San Fedele in Inside the house where Manzoni once lived, everything seems to be frozen in time. There is an evocative atmosphere inside the rooms. All Italian schoolchildren study I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed) and Il Cinque Maggio. Author s desk is still present in the very room where the author wrote some of the most significant works in Italian literature and where Manzoni met Garibaldi in 1862 and Verdi in Pictures, prints and souvenirs donated by collectors such as Pietro Brambilla are on display here. Many important people visited Manzoni house including Garibaldi, Verdi and author Tommaso Grossi. The interior of the house is very well preserved. National Centre for Manzoni Studies has been opened here along with a large library including over 40,000 books and the complete work of Manzoni. The building also hosts the National Manzoni Studies Centre and Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 11 -

12 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 12 - the Manzoni Museum. Manzoni s hobbies included botany and gardening and the presence of beautiful gardens here was one of the reasons of him buying the house. Tommaso Grossi also had a studio in the Manzoni home and he lived happily there for a long time. Casa del Manzoni is not just an outdoor museum; rather it is a masterpiece of architecture. Alive and stunning, it is an integral part of the monumental wealth of the city and treasure chest of great artistic significance. Operation hours: Tuesday - Friday 9 am - 12 pm, 2 pm - 4 pm. Address: Via Gerolamo Morone, 1, Milan, Italy Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Giovanni Dall'Orto O) Museum Poldi Pezzoli (must see) Founded in 1881, the Poldi Pezzoli Museum was originally a private collection of Poldi Pezzoli and his mother, Rosa Trivulzio, and featured 19th century Northern Italian and Flemish paintings along with a number of decorative art pieces including textiles, porcelain, glass, clocks, jewelry and metal works. In 1818, Poldi Pezzoli inherited great wealth from his uncle Giuseppe Pezzoli which included the beautiful palace and the garden filled with statues and fountains. He then spent his entire life decorating the house with paintings (spanning the 14th through 18th centuries) and eventually garnered 3,000 pieces of art. During WWII, heavy bombings in one night destroyed all the main Milan museums. The Poldi Pezzoli palace was also severely damaged, yet the works of art - previously moved to a safer place - remained unharmed. From the 1950s onwards, the Association of Friends of the Museum and private Milanese donators replenished the collection further, making it one of the finest in Europe. Operation hours: Wednesday - Monday 10 am - 6 pm. Address: Via Manzoni 12, Milan 20121, Italy Image Courtesy of Flickr and Nathan Hughes Hamilton Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 12 -