Day 24 - Getting to Know Milan
July 15, 2023: Our first day in Milan we started at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, the first Starbucks that was introduced to Milan. It opened in September 2016. It was a dream 35 years in the making. The Milan Roastery is considered the crown jewel of Starbucks global retail– a place where Italian customers and tourists from around the world can come to discover the art and science of coffee in a breath‐taking environment that is both an homage to the city of Milan and a celebration of everything Starbucks has learned about coffee in its 47‐year history. It is truly one of the coolest Starbucks I have been to, and I have been to MANY Starbucks stores around the world collecting mugs at each one I have visited. This one was truly amazing.
After enjoying our coffee and pastries, we met our tour guide Chiara in front of the Duomo of Milan. One of the most beautiful cathedrals I have seen in Italy. We were able to get tickets to go to the top terraces of the Duomo, so we were basically walking on the roof of the Duomo. Quite a spectacular view and we learned so many interesting things about the cathedral. The construction of the Duomo began in 1386 and ended in 1965. They say there are more statues on this gothic-style cathedral than any other building in the world. There are 3,400 statues, 135 gargoyles and 700 figures that decorate Milan Duomo! Near the main entrance you’ll see a sundial on the floor. A ray of sunlight from a hole on the opposite wall strikes the clock, shining the bronze tongue on June 21, the summer solstice, and the meridian on the winter solstice, December 21. Though ancient (it was placed in Milan Duomo in 1768 by astronomers from the Accademia di Brera) the sundial is surprisingly precise – even used to regulate clocks throughout the city!
Next up on our tour was the La Scala Theater. We walked through Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a shopping arcade in Milan which, in the form of a covered pedestrian street, connects Piazza Duomo to Piazza della Scala . It is nicknamed the "living room of Milan": built in the neo-Renaissance style , it is among the most famous examples of European iron architecture. Simply called "la Galleria" by the Milanese, it is often regarded as one of the first examples of mall in the world. At the end of la Galleria, we reached La Scala. Most of Italy's greatest operatic artists, and many of the finest singers from around the world, have appeared at La Scala. The theatre is regarded as one of the leading opera and ballet theatres globally. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the Nuovo Regio Ducale Teatro alla Scala (New Royal-Ducal Theatre alla Scala). It was heavily bombed in during WWII and only a few of the original boxes were able to be saved. They have kept the original design of those boxes while all of the others have been renovated. It would be a beautiful place to see a theatre production!
After La Scala, we walked through the Brera district toward the The Castello Sforzesco, a medieval fortification located in the city. It was built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, on the remnants of a 14th-century fortification. Later renovated and enlarged, in the 16th and 17th centuries it was one of the largest citadels in Europe. The Castle features a moat, three courtyards and four imposing towers at the corners. Leonardo da Vinci came to Milan in 1482 and would end up staying in the city until 1499. The Duke of Milan was a fervent art lover and gave multiple commissions to famous Renaissance artists in the city to decorate the castle’s interior. Leonardo created a fascinating fresco in 1498 on the ceiling of one of the rooms called the “Sala delle Asse“.
When we were finished touring the Castle, we bid farewell to Chiara and found our way to a restaurant (we cannot remember the name) where we had a simple margarita pizza, but they had a pepper olive oil to put on top. It is made especially for pizza. It added so much flavor to the pizza and just enough heat. I definitely need to find some when we get back to the States. After lunch it was back to the hotel to cool off for a few hours before meeting up with another tour guide for a Walking Food Tour through a company called FollowMi Around. Our guide’s name was Marco and he did an excellent job taking us on a culinary journal of Milan in less know places. First stop was All’antico Vinalo, which we already knew from Florence, but we tried Marco’s favorite sandwich and it was the best one we’ve had! I wish I would have known about it when we were in Florence. So good!! Stop 2 was a place called Guissepe Giusti where they make aged balsamic vinegars. We were able to do a tasting of five different kinds. We ended up buying some and having it shipped back home. Then for Stop 3 we walked across the street to a gelato shop called “Ciacco”. They make all natural gelato in many different unique flavors. So creamy and delicious 🤤. Stop 4 was “Intascoa” a street food restaurant where we tried three different kinds of typical Milan street foods. All fried, all yummy! Finally, Stop 5 was cannolis. We had half pistachio and half candied orange peel. I don’t normally like cannolis much, but these I really enjoyed.
At the end our tour we took the train back to Milan Centrale station via the underground railway and walked back to hotel. All in all, a fabulous day ♥️
Jimm’s rating for today: *****