To help you get the most out of an Italy trip to the city, here is our guide to the very best art galleries and museums to visit in Milan…
The city’s most famous museum, Brera Pinacoteca, contains one of the best collections of Renaissance art in Italy. The museum also boasts over 500 works of art, dating from the 14th to the 20th century including artwork from Piero della Francesca, Raphael, Mantegna, Bellini, and Veronese. The museum’s building is a work of art in its own right, dating back to the 17th century.
The third oldest aquarium in Europe, and located in a beautiful Art Nouvea building, the Acquario Civico di Milano sits on the edge of Parco Sempione, Milan’s largest public park. The aquarium is full of lovely friezes and hand-painted tiles, and there are plenty of sea creatures on display here, too.
On an Italian vacation to Milan, be sure to check out Armani Silos. This is Giorgio Armani’s personal museum, and it’s full of his fashion designs dating back over 40 years. Situated in a fashionable district of Milan, Tortona, in what was once a granary building owned by Nestle, Armani Silos spreads out over 4 floors. There are exhibition spaces to explore, a digital archive, a café, and a gift shop, too.
Gallerie d’Italia Piazza Scala contains a number of exhibitions that celebrate the history of the city of Milan. The museum is housed within three historic buildings: Anguissola, Beltrami, and Bretani. Designed by leading Italian architects between the 18th and 20th century, this museum is a wonderful example of Italian art and culture. The artwork on display is split between two eras, the 19th century exhibition, and the 20th century exhibition.
Located in an area of Milan once dominated by industrial factories, HangarBicocca is now a space for modern art. The main attraction for visitors to this museum is ‘The Seven Heavenly Palaces’, a piece created by German artist, Anselm Kieffer. This site-specific piece consists of seven concrete towers, each one of a different height, filling up the cavernous exhibition space. HangarBiocca, alongside its permanent exhibitions, regularly hosts temporary ones, too.
Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia is Italy’s largest museum of science and technology, and one of the most important in the world. It contains a large collection of Leonardo da Vinci’s work, and there’s even a real submarine that you can explore. There are steam trains you can climb aboard, alongside a full-scale reconstruction of the bridge and ballroom of cruise ship. All of these exhibitions are hosted in a building that dates back to the early 16th century.
As you can see, Milan is rich in museums and galleries. And there’s plenty more to see, too. To get the most out of a visit to the city, why not book one of the many escorted tours on offer?
