Discover Milan and its attractions

The true emblem of the city, founded in the 14th century and dedicated to Saint Mary Nascent, its majestic marble presence towers over the piazza of the same name. In late Gothic style, this is the third major Catholic church in the world, after Saint Peter in Rome and the cathedral of Seville: it is 518 ft. long, 305 ft. wide and 354 ft. high (height of the main spire), with an internal area of over 126,000 sq. ft. Its decorations are absolutely amazing, with over 3,400 statues, mostly distributed among its 135 steeples. Besides the stained-glass windows, the monument to Gian Giacomo Medici is also of great value.

Together with the Duomo, this is among the most representative buildings of the city - an extensive, majestic stronghold dating to the Renaissance. On its grounds, you can visit the castle's Museums: Milan's collections of ancient arts, archaeology and numismatics, a picture gallery and Milan's applied arts collections. Of particular interest, Michelangelo Buonarroti's Rondanini Pietà marble statue.

Among the major Renaissance buildings of Milan, the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie boasts a dome by Bramante at his best. Left to the church, a wall of the ancient dining hall of the Dominican friary features the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, the famous fresco painted by the artist between 1495-97, when he worked at the court the Sforzas, then dukes of Milan.

25 miles from Milan, since the 18th century the Lake of Como has been an international tourist attraction, thanks to its amazingly beautiful landscape. On its shores stayed Napoleon, Franz Listz, Queen Victoria, John Kennedy, Alfred Hitchcock and many, many others. It boasts the highest density of historic villas on a lake in the world. Among them, Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo stands out: once owned by Princess Carlotta of Nassau and now turned into a botanic garden of extraordinary value, it also hosts Neoclassical works of art by Canova, Thorvaldsen and Hayez. Among the most renowned towns: Cernobbio, Lenno, Tremezzo, Cadenabbia, Menaggio and Bellagio on the Como bank, and Varenna on the Lecco bank.

Overlooking the square of the same name, this church is the major example of the Romanesque-Lombardy style. The basilica is preceded by a mystic rectangular portico with an arcade featuring decorated pillars and bands, overlooked by the imposing hut-style facade, displaying two orders of loggias. The church's interior boasts fine works, including pulpit, tabernacle, antependium and the golden altar.