The place for luxury shopping - Gallerie Vittorio Emanuele II
Tip - Keep an eye out for the tiled bull on the floor. Giuseppe Mengoni, the man who built the building fell to his death here shortly before it was completed. Spinning 3 times on the bull is supposed to bring you good luck!
Somewhere to get lost- Navigli
A short ride on the underground can get you here in around ten minutes from the duomo piazza and it's definitely worth the trip. The canals are lined with quirky little shops, bars and gelaterias. There's even a little market where you could easily while away the hours browsing for trinkets.
You just can't come to Italy and not sample some gelato. Gelaterias are absolutely everywhere and there are some great little finds in Navigli. it's a task in itself to stop your self from bobbing in to each one and treating yourself to a scoop. Of course I had to try the chocolati and it was just as good as it looks.
The must see- il Duomo
The duomo is definitely a must see whilst in Milan. It dominates the whole piazza and took nearly 6 centuries to complete. It's only about €15 to venture inside and you can even take a stroll on the roof terrace. There are a ton of stairs to climb (or you can take the lift) and the views over the piazza and Milan are amazing. We sat for a little bit and watched the world bustle by below.
The inside is just as beautiful. The size of the place is astounding, it can hold 40,000 worshippers and the stained glass windows are incredible. There's also an archaeological site and crypt to explore too. It's definitely worth picking up an audio guide as there's so much to see once you get in there and it points you in the direction of all the best bits.
There's also a museum that houses carvings, paintings and various other items related to the duomo. The collection is housed in a separate building but is definitely worth the stroll across so you can have a closer look at some of the carvings up close.
And don't worry if you get hungry. There are tons of little cafes and snack bars selling warm focaccia and pastries.
Tip-The queues can be on the long side so I'd recommend getting there as early as possible!
Somewhere to watch the world go by - Terrazza Aperol, Piazza del Duomo
Of course after a whole day of touristing hard we desperately needed somewhere to sit and take a rest. There are some great terrace bars overlooking the piazza and the duomo and they're the perfect place to sit and people watch, as well as take in the beautiful views. We both opted for Aperol- a traditional Italian aperitif - when in Milan and all that. The waitresses also come round with cones of crisps too in case you're feeling peckish. Tapas and snacks are also available if you're after something a bit more filling.
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