Milano Attractions, Italy

Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente
The cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente, a cruciform basilica faced with white marble, is one of the world's largest and most magnificent churches. With a length of 157m/172yd and a facade 61.5m/67yd wide, it covers an area of 11,700 sq.m/13,993 sq.yd and can accommodate a congregation of 40,000. The dome rises to 68m/224ft, and its total height including the statue of the Virgin known as the "Madonnina" is 108.5m/358ft. The roof is adorned with 135 pinnacles, the exterior with 2,245 marble statues. Building, in Gothic style, began in 1386 but made slow progress (dome completed c. 1500, spire 1765-69, facade under Napoleon 1805-13). The imposing bronze doors are modern: the one to the left dates from 1840 and the large central door from 1908; the reliefs on two other doors were carried out between 1948-51, and the last one in 1965.

Brera Picture Gallery
On the first floor of the Palazzo di Brera is the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of Italy's finest picture galleries, which contains among many other exhibits futuristic paintings of the 20th century. The picture collection was founded as a didactic collection of the Art Academy and its principal exhibits were formed by pictures from churches and acquisition from Rome. Only some of the rooms of the Pinacoteca are open to the public. The chief strength of the Pinacoteca di Brera lies in the works by the north Italian masters.

Sant'Ambrogio
The church of Sant'Ambrogio east of the National Museum in Milan was founded in 386 by St Ambrose. The present church is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture (12th century; choir ninth century). Notable features of the interior are the pulpit, restored about 1200, with late Romanesque carving, and the casing (paliotto) of the high altar, a masterpiece of Carolingian art (made in 835 at either Milan or Rheims).

Castello Sforzesco (photo - left)
The Castello Sforzesco, held successively by the Viscontis and the Sforzas, was built in 1368, demolished by the people of Milan in 1447 and rebuilt from 1450 onwards. The Torre de Filarete, on the nearside (70m/231ft high), is a reproduction (1905) of the original gate-tower.

Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology
The Leonarda da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology is housed in a former Olivetan monastery. The museum, opened in 1953, illustrates the history of science and technology down to modern times. Of particular interest are the Leonardo da Vinci Gallery; the department of physics, with apparatus used by Galileo, Newton and Volta and the departments of optics, acoustics, telegraphy, transport, shipping, railroads, flying, metallurgy, motor vehicles, clocks and watches, and timber. There is also a library and reading room (film presentations).

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (photo - right)
On the north side of the Piazza del Duomo, giving access to the Piazza della Scala, is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, designed by Giuseppe Mengoni and built in 1865-77. It was then the largest shopping arcade in Europe (195m/215yd long, dome 48m/158ft high; restored in 1988-89). It is known to the inhabitants of Milan as "il salotto" (the salon).

Sant'Eustorgio
500m/550yd south the church of Sant'Eustorgio, a Romanesque basilica (12th-13th centuries) has a fine campanile (1297-1309) and a facade which was added in 1863. Beyond the choir is the Cappella Portinari (by Michelozzo, 1462-68), the earliest example of Renaissance architecture, with frescoes by Vincenzo Foppa. In the chapel is the marble tomb (1339) of St Peter Martyr, a Dominican monk murdered in 1250.

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