Milan Off The Beaten Path
Milan draws its name from the Romans (Mediolanum) who in turn adapted it from the Celts they had defeated (Midt-land), signifying 'land in the middle'. It is located in the middle of a plain, entirely surrounded by mountains but to the east (a bowl of sorts), and distant from the Po river. Rare are such major centers not located directly off major waterways to ensure its development.
Milan has a circuit of monuments which traces its history, with special focus on being a capital of the Roman Empire.
The oldest sections of Milan are in the Porta Ticinese area. Basilica di S. Eustorgio raised on the location of a Christian cemetery leads up the street (or through the park at the back) to structures dating back to the III  century A.D. - Basilica di S. Lorenzo and the (other) icon of Milan Colonne San Lorenzo.
Towards the center, near the Duomo, in piazza S. Sepolcro are remains of an edge of the Forum, whose place was gradually taken over by other constructions, including the church of San Sepolcro.
Off of corso Magenta, three Roman monuments. In the archeological museum, is the Torre delle Mura Massimiano the last remains of the Roman fortifications. Foundations of the Circus are incorporated to the structure at via Vigna, 1 and other remains were found and uncovered at the start of via Circo.
(On corso Magenta, stops at S. Maurizio, S. Maria delle Grazie (home of da Vinci's Last Supper) and the Museum of La Scala are worthwhile stops)
Tourist guides generally send you to:
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Il Duomo
Galleria (& Corso) Vittorio Emmanuele II
Teatro alla Scala
Castello Sforzesco
Palazzo Reale
The fashion hub (via Montenapoleone, via Manzoni) |
Due south from corso Magenta are the piazza and Basilica S. Ambrogio. The piazza was the burial ground for the first Christian martys, motivating Milan's patron saint (S. Ambrogio) to erect this basilica. It is Milan's most impressive medieval construction. The Basilica S. Vittore al Corpo is another nearby structure of paleochristian origins.
Two final structures dating back to the IV century are Basilica di S. Simpliciano found on corso Garibaldi (near castello Sforzesco) and Basilica S. Nazaro on corso di Porta Romana.
Three other points of interest include Museo Poldi Pezzoli on via Manzoni (the collector's home transformed into a museum), Villa Reale (a XVIIth century neoclassic building which houses the Gallery of Modern Art) and the Rotonda in via Bessana (a structure with a varied history, which now houses cultural and artistic exhibits).
Finally, closer to contemporary times, the effects of Allied bombing can still be found in the heart of Milan. While the eastern part of the city was ravaged and thus allowed to rebuild wide avenues and modern structures, the southwest quadrant of the historical center, in particular, maintains its narrow streets which impede any consideration of having sidewalks. Around via Gorani you will find numerous structures that have not been touched since their damage of 1943-44.
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