Milan, Italy is a very large city in northern Italy, noted today as a fashion center. However, it is of great interest to the tourist because of its Duomo, one of the largest and most beautiful churches in the world, its opera house, La Scala, perhaps the premier venue of its kind in the world, and for Da Vinci’s Last Supper, his famous painting housed in the Santa Maria delle Grazie church.
The Duomo is located in a huge piazza, near La Scala. It is impressive because of it size, but, more importantly, for its glorious exterior decoration. It has 135 spires and numerous statues and gargoyles. The interior is equally imposing with huge supporting columns and beautiful stained glass windows.
Gary’s Gem:
Just 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of the city is the enchanting and lovely medieval, hilltop village of Bergamo Alta. It is accessible via funicular from its modern sister, Bergamo Basso. Wander the avenues stopping especially at the splendid Piazza Vecchia which is ringed by elegant and interesting architecture, such as the Torre Civico and the Palazzo della Ragione, and the Piazza del Duomo. In the latter, notice the 15th century marble façade of the Cappella Colleoni which is flanked by the Duomo (its fairly drab exterior belies the Baroque interior) and the octagonal Baptistry.