What to do in Milan - 3 attractions not to be missed

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With dynamic, elegant and fashionable features, Milan is not only the economic capital of Italy or the city of the aperitif, and above all, if known more in depth, it is not the gray and uninteresting city that many believe.

Suffice it to say that in 2011 the New York Times mentioned it as one of the world’s must-visit cities, earning a commendable fifth place in the ranking.

In fact, Milan, although perhaps not of the caliber of Rome or Venice, offers much more than that Madunina.
It is here that you can find the right mix of art, history, fashion and entertainment, reserving for tourists and also for its inhabitants, new surprises that without a shadow of a doubt reevaluate its image, making this great metropolis an alternative and ‘avant-garde.

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Museum of the Twentieth Century

Opened in 2010, the Museo del Novecento is a museum of modern and contemporary art set up in the splendid Palazzo dell’Arengario, which overlooks Piazza Duomo.
The collection boasts works by Picasso, Matisse, Kandinsky, Fontana, Balla.
The museum collects works which, since CIMAC was closed in 1998, have been temporarily exhibited for years at Permanente Palace it’s at Royal Palace.
It was in 2000 that the decision was made to give life to what is today the Museo del Novecento, an artistic circuit that traces the most significant works of the great artists, especially Italian, of the 20th century and which has given Milan back a prominent role in the European cultural and artistic panorama.
Thanks to the splendid view that can be enjoyed from the top floor, where Fontana’s work is exhibited, this museum has not only given the city a touch of refined art but also a different and evocative vision of its most famous square.

Always check the calendar of temporary exhibitions, at the moment there is an exhibition of works by Andy Warhol, and cultural events in progress.

Entrance fee and opening hours

Full ticket: €5
Reduced ticket: €3
Free entry starting two hours before closing.
Free Fridays starting from 3.30pm

Opening time
Open on Mondays from 2.30pm to 7.30pm
Tue/Wed/Fri/Sunday 9.30 am to 7.30 pm
Thursday/Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30pm

Boat cruise to the Navigli

Apart from the revaluation of recent years which has made the Navigli a meeting place and entertainment place for the Milanese, what characterizes this area of the city is that it “does not seem like a city”.

The canals boast a centuries-old history of great importance for world engineering. Important engineers, among whom the name of stands out Leonardo da Vinci who developed the lock system, worked on their construction.

Yet they were neglected until 1977 and were then revamped in the 1980s and became the neighborhood of the city we know today.
From yesterday’s working-class area, it is now one of the most fashionable areas where ancient shops and clubs from high-class Milan coexist harmoniously, and where penniless students such as actors or models meet indiscriminately.

The excursion along the Milanese canals by boat offers the possibility of discovering a different, romantic and evocative Milan by following the route of the Conche Line which passes through unusual city landscapes such as the Ticino Park Oasis, the Southern Milan Agricultural Park, abbeys, villas and historic homes.
An original and relaxing way to experience Milan from a privileged point of view and away from metropolitan traffic.

Cost and times

Full ticket: €10
Boats operating every day, except Saturdays, from 10.25am to 6.15pm
Cruise duration: approximately 55 minutes

Musica Jazz al Blue Note

The day comes to an end but Milan doesn’t go to sleep, not without a few hours of author music.
The place par excellence in which to listen to high quality jazz music is the renowned Blue Notewhere fans of the genre and others are fascinated not only by the concerts but also by the style and elegance of the exclusive ristoclub.

This year the venue celebrated 10 years and did so by offering a great program hosting artists of the caliber of Kust EllingChick Corea, Steve Lukather, Gino PaoliDanilo Rea, Bill Evans, Tom Kennedy and many more.
An intimate and elegant environment in which warm and passionate notes echo that only jazz can provide.

Although this is also a restaurant it is not mandatory to dine or consume, so if the only thing you really want is excellent quality music this is the right place.

Costs and Times

Concert tickets starting from €28 if purchased in advance online.

Open from September to May.
From Tuesday to Saturday the shows start at 9pm
Double show on the weekend (at 9pm and 11pm)
Sunday show at 1pm for Sunday Brunch.

Are you still convinced that Milan doesn’t have much to offer or that it cannot be considered an important cultural destination even on a tourist level?