One day in Milan...
 

I will be traveling to Milan on business, and I have one free day. My co-worker wants to see the Duomo (cathedral) and I would like to see the Last Supper. We'll probably stop quickly at the Galleria to check out the building itself, and pick up gifts for our spouses. There are a couple museums, but I'm not sure which one to check out, and we want some time to just hang out at a cafe and watch people. Any suggestions? We have one full day to do whatever...<BR>Thanks!

Duomo, Last Supper, Sforza Castle, Brera Galleries, Galleria<BR><BR>OR<BR><BR>skip the whole thing and get out of town, and take a day trip to Bergamo or Pavia or some other smaller city

I agree with the first part of Carol's reply. The Duomo and Last Supper were amazing IMHO. I actually preferred the Duomo in Milan to that in Florence...esp. the top. You must make reservations for The Last Supper.<BR>Also, lunch or dinner at Nabucco!<BR>Enjoy,<BR>Jan

The Galleria is a good place to people watch and have a drink. There is also an outdoor cafe across from the Duomo where I could sit all day and just stare at it. It is the most amazing structure.

With a little hurry you can do it all. Since you have only one day I would stick to the center of the city. You must book in advance for the "Cenacolo" (Last Supper in Italian), and you can do it on the telephone at +39.02.89421146. If you can, try to visit it early in the morning, The walk back to the center of the city is longish but nice. Than visit the Duomo. The best way is not to look at the facade (it is scaffolded anyhow, right now!(. Approach it from behind if you can, the clerestory is the most beautiful part of the building, and enter it from the transept door (on the right of the nave). Also, do not forget to visit its depths: both the crypt and the archeological excavations beneath the cathedral are great. As for museums I would rather go for Museo Poldi Pezzoli, wich is in my opinion the best museum of the city, with a bit of everything. you can find lots of costly shops for gifts in the so called " quadrilatero della moda", including via montenapoleone and via della Spiga, also near the center of Milano. In there you will also find good cafes, although maybe the most interesting available is Cova, but if you realy want Milanese people in heir own element, you should really go for a happy hour aperitvo. My favorite place is off the center, in Piazza Susa, and it is called Blender Bar. For 4-5 euro you can have a great cocktail (both alcoolic and non alcoolic) and eat as much as you want from their buffet. Be there at 7 pm.

Last Supper is closed Monday. So if your day will be on Monday, that will make a difference. Brera is a nice museum. If you will be there on business, you can go to the Galleria and Duomo after work, though I can't remember how late the stores stayed open. There are plenty of other shops in the town. Duomo and Galleria are right next to each other.

I meant to add though that I second the idea of taking a day trip out of town. Especially if you are going to be there on business. You will have your fill of Milan.

If you stay in Milan on your free day, the Last Supper and Sforza Castle seem logical.<BR><BR>The cafes in the Galleria are pricey. It's not difficult to find more "local" places as you walk.<BR><BR>An alternative: Head to Lake Como! (approx 1 hour by train). Have lunch at Villa d'Este or Villa Serbelloni and tour Villa Balbianello in the middle of the lake. Fascinating story and worldly artifacts.

Thanks for all of the responses! I think that we will probably stay in the city center. My co-worker hasn't been to Europe since she was a little kid, and we won't see much during our business trip because we will be locked in a room for 12 hours a day working some things out. I think that our Italian people can help arrange tickets for the Last Supper, and we'll play the rest by ear. By the way, the day will be Wednesday, so I don't think anything will be closed. Thanks again...