Page 130 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Milan & The Lakes

128  MILAN AREA B Y AREA

A Two-Hour Walk Around Milan’s Historic Past

Milan is a city that tends to keep its history largely buried
under a modern, business-orientated veneer. The following
walk seeks out the remnants of Roman, medieval and
Renaissance Milan while paying homage to the city’s most
famous adopted son, Leonardo da Vinci. The Renaissance
master has left a distinctive stamp on the city. Examples
of his genius are scattered all around town, from The Last
Supper fresco to models of his inventions in the Museo
della Scienza e della Tecnica, not to mention the surviving
canals that were once part of a vast and intricate waterway 4 Santa Maria delle Grazie, home to
system Leonardo helped plan. Leonardo’s famous Last Supper

From the Castello Sforzesco the Museo Archeologico 3 south through what is now
to Leonardo’s Last Supper (see p76) – its cloisters preserve a Piazza della Vetra and the
Begin at Milan’s splendid bit of the city’s Roman-era walls. Parco delle Basiliche 9.
15th-century castle 1 (see pp66– Keep moving west on Corso Head up Via Pio IV and turn VIA GADIO
PIAZZA
9), which houses archaeological Magenta to the church of Santa left on Corso di Porta Ticinese VIRGILIO Stazione
artifacts, paintings and sculp- Maria delle Grazie 4 (see p73), for the church of San Lorenzo 4 VIA CARADOSSO Milano Cadorna VIA PALEOCAPA
tures. From the front gate, head where you will find Leonardo’s alle Colonne 0 (see pp82–3). VIA ZENALE
towards Largo Cairoli and then Last Supper (see pp74– This magnificent PIAZZALE
turn right into Via San Giovanni 5). (Tickets to see 4th-century VIA DE GRASSI CORSO MAGENTA VIA VINCENZO MONTI CADORNA
sul Muro. At the junction with Via this fresco should church is preceded Cadorna 1
Meravigli turn right into Corso be booked at least by a set of free- VIA CARDUCCI
Magenta. Follow it west, and six weeks in advance.) standing Roman 6 VIA DE TOGNI
across from the Rococo Palazzo columns q, probably P I A Z Z A C A S T E L LO
Litta 2 (see p76), you will see Roman and the portico to a VIA S. VITTORE V I A C A R D U C C I V. TERRAGGIO F O R O B U O N A PA R T E
Medieval Milan Leonardo-designed 2nd-century pagan VIA ILLICA
Trace your steps back wooden model temple, dismantled S. Ambrogio VIA S. AGNESE C ORSO MAGENTA Cairoli
2
PIAZZA
along Corso Magenta and moved here S. AMBROGIO 3 LARGO
and turn right at Via Carducci. when the church was built. 5
At the bottom of this street is Continue south along Corso 7 VIA NIRONE V. SAN GIOVANNI S. MURO CAIROLI
the Pusterla di Sant’Ambrogio di Porta Ticinese and go VIA LUINI
5 (see p88), a remnant of the through the medieval Porta VIA SANTA VALERIA VIA MERAVIGLI
medieval city gates. Turn right Ticinese w (see p84), built as VIA NECCHI
into Via San Vittore for the part of the city’s 12th-century VIA L ANZONE
Museo della Scienza e della walls and modified in the VIA EDMONDO DE AMICIS
Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci 1860s. Keep following VIA S. PIO V
6 (see p90), which contains the road until you reach
models of Leonardo’s inventions Sant’Eustorgio
built to the master’s sketches. e (see p92), a VIA CAMINADELLA
Double back along Via San 4th-century
7 The cloistered entrance to the basilica Vittore to visit Sant’Ambrogio CORSO GENOVA PIAZZA
of Sant’Ambrogio 7 (see pp86–9), a 4th-century RESISTENZA 8
PARTIGIANA
V I A C . C O R R E N T I
basilica with Palaeochristian VIA C. SIMONETTA
mosaics, medieval carvings, VIA M. D’OGGIONO VIA G. G. MORA
Tips for Walkers and Renaissance frescoes. VIA ALESSI
VIA G. FERRARI
Starting point: Castello Sforzesco. Head down Via de VIA CONCA DEL NAVIGLIO q
Length: 4.9 km (3 miles). Amicis, angling left Porta Genova VIALE GORIZIA VIA RONZONI V.PIO IV
Getting there: Cairoli metro at Piazza Resistenza 250m (230 Yards) VIALE D’ANNUNZIO 0
station. Partigiana to w 9
Best time for walk: Morning. continue along i V I A A R E N A
Stopping-off points: Not far Via GG Mora 8. Naviglio Grande D a r s e n a CORSO DI PORTA TICINESE
from the Castello Sforzesco is This street curves RIPA DI PORTA TICENESE VIA MOLINO D. ARMI
the genteel Marchesi pastry slightly since it u PARCO
shop (see p184), or you can stop follows the track of the DELLE
at the Art Nouveau Bar Magenta interred Olona River. In t BASILICHE
in Via Carducci (see p184). The ancient times this stream joined y PZA.e
walk ends in Milan’s best district with the Nirone, Seveso and r SANT’EUSTORGIO VIA S. CROCE
for wine bars and eateries. Vetra rivers at Corso di Porta PIAZZA
XXIV
Ticinese. The Vetra used to run MAGGIO VIA SAMBUCO
For keys to symbols see back flap
128-129_EW_Milan.indd 128 20/10/16 3:20 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm