With only 6 hours in Milan we had to optimize our time and take in the sights pronto. The city streets radiate out from the heart center – the Duomo. We stayed close to the center and took in all we could in the few hours we had in this metropolitan city.
Duomo
First stop was the Duomo. The Duomo (cathedral) is the 5th largest church in the world and took nearly 6 centuries to build. It is a spectacular example of Gothic architecture with its flying buttresses. For a fee you can head to the roof to stroll the perimeter and see sights and sculptures you would otherwise miss. In the main body of the church called the nave, there are 40 columns that are 80 feet high; these, along with the exterior buttresses, support the nave. At the end of the nave is the apse which is 3 sided and has windows that are 68′ x 28′. The construction is brick faced with marble quarries donated in perpetuity to the cathedral by Gian Galeazzo Visconti. This is a spectacular church that is a must see when in Milan.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Just a few steps from the Duomo lies the Galleria. The Galleria connects the Piazza del Duomo and the Piazza del Scala with two glass vaulted arcades that meet in at an octagonal center. The streets are lined in gorgeous stone mosaics and covered with arched glass and cast iron roofs. Luxury retailers, restaurants, cafes and bars line the arcades and make this a very busy place. We recommend finding a seat and ordering a coffee just to sit for an hour to people watch. Trendy Italians and tourists mill about and provide hours of entertainment.
Obica
Mozzarella Bar, Pizza e Cucina with a VIEW! Just off the main square at Oblica – Duomo is the place to grab a bite. We can’t imagine anything better on a warm sunny day than this great restaurant which provides tasty food, a spectacular roof-top view of the Duomo, and a fun place where locals hang out. You won’t believe how close you are to the Duomo buttresses.
This was a great first stop on the trip from Milan to Ljubljana, next we head to Bergamo, Italy.
