Milan/South
Southern Milan is chiefly a residential part of Milan. While you can find a couple of old landmarks in here, there aren't as much of them as in the Centro Storico, and this part of the city is more "local" and "ordinary". If you enjoy greenery, there are several small parks scattered around the area.
Likely the best known attraction here are the canals (navigli) that in former times were used for sailing in from the Lombardian countryside. It's quite popular to sit at the bars along the canals and enjoy a drink, and more watering holes are to be found further east around Porta Ticinese.
Get in
Metro lines and connect the area to the central parts but if you are visiting the area around Porta Ticinese and want to walk as little as possible, take the tram.
There's a railway station close to the Navigli; Porta Genovese station. It is only used for local trains from Mortara.
See
Historic monuments
La Rotonda della BesanaAn 18th-century Neoclassical complex. It is now an exhibition space.
Porta TicineseA 19th-century gate and the surrounding area is a very old-fashioned quarter nearly untouched by World War II bombings.
Porta RomanaThe southeastern city gate, the "gate towards Rome" is simpler built than Ticinese. However Milan has had a "Porta Romana" as a part of its city walls already when the city was part of the Roman Empire. It has given the name to the district it's in, and to the nearby Metro station.
Churches
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Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie al Naviglio
address: Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, 1-2This landmark at the northern bank of Naviglio Grande bears the same name as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Western part of the country. The church is just a little over a century old, built in Romanesque Revival style, and is the third church built on that place. -
Santa Maria al Paradiso
address: Corso di Porta Vigentina 2-18Built in the late 16th century for the Third Order of Saint Francis, much of its interior including decoration and paintings has been preserved. -
Santa Maria presso San Celso
address: Corso Italia 39A late 15th-century church and sanctuary with many works of Milanese Baroque and Renaissance artists.
Parks and gardens
Gardens of the GuastallaAmong Milan's oldest (founded in the 16th century), but quite small gardens, and are very close to the University district. The parks, however, were only opened to the public in the early 20th century. You can have a nice walk inside, and you also have a classical temple-like structure and also a sort of pond with a Baroque railing surrounding it. Reachable via Crocetta, P.ta Romana, Missori or even San Babila metro stations. It's also not that far from the Duomo.
Basilicas ParkNamed the Basilicas Park as it connects two basilicas: the Basilica of San Lorenzo and the Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio. Formerly a place for drug use and anti-social behavior, it has been cleaned up and redesigned and is now more pleasant. It was renamed after the late Pope John Paul II.
Parco Vittorio FormentanoA park with many different trees in the southeast of Milan at the location of a former market. The park also hosts the building of , where theater performances and concerts are held.
Other
- Navigli: Once the hubs of the city's commercial life (the industrial canals), after years of abandonment, these pretty and "quintessentially Milanese" places now host many night spots that are open until late. There is a nice mix of old-world ancient shops and cafes, and funky bars and fashion boutiques. I Navigli (or The Canals) consist of and . On the last Sunday of every month there is an antiques market along the Naviglio Grande.
Do
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address: Largo Gustav MahlerThe seat of the Verdi orchestra with a program of classical and modern music.
Buy
The other market in Milan is the Mercatone del Naviglio Grande. This takes place along the on the last Sunday of each month. Dedicated to antiques, the market has over 400 exhibitors, so you're certain to find something that catches your eye.
Eat
Budget
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phone: +39 02 5810-0216address: Via Pasquale Paoli 2At Osteria del Gnocco Fritto the €4.50 cover charge includes baskets of fried hand-size pastries (similar to sopapillas) accompanied by meats, cheeses, or jams (€8-11). The restaurant has a second location further southwest.
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address: Via G. Ripamonti, 19Very small place with great Italian-style burgers. Customized burgers available.
Aperitivo
A concentration of aperitivo bars are located in the area near the Colonne di san Lorenzo and Corso di porta Ticinese, or close by in the Navigli area (subway: Station). You can also take the #3 tram to "Piazza Ventiquattro Maggio" stop. From Porta Ticinese (the large archway), head west into the canal area of Navigli. There are great restaurants for aperitivo in this area, including:-
La Ringhiera
address: Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 5 -
Slice
address: Via Cardinale Ascanio Sforza, 9 -
Mas
address: Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 11
Mid-range
A concentration of pizzerie can be found at , on Brera.-
address: Via Orti 4For an artistic dining experience, try Lacerba on via dei Orti, 4, which serves dishes inspired by the early 20th-century art movement, Futurism.
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phone: +39 02 8940 9415address: Alzaia Naviglio Grande, 54The Osteria dei Formaggi on the Grand Canal serves all manner of excellent cheese dishes in an intimate dining room heavily decorated with cows.
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phone: +39 02 8940 2700address: Alzaia Naviglio Grande 14For a classic take on Milanese cooking, try Ill Brellin, where you can choose from homey classics such as rigatoni sautéed with pancetta, to modern interpretations on typical ingredients—a pumpkin tart as an appetizer. Outdoor seating makes this a perfect choice on a sunny day, although it is closed for dinner on Sundays.
Splurge
Drink
Another one is , on Wednesday it's packed with people in the piazza in front of a bar called "Momo".
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Rita
phone: +39 02 8372865address: Via Angelo Fumagalli, 1It is the perfect place for a cocktail and Edo, the barman and the owner together with the chief Luca, is the grandmaster. They have strict code for preparing cocktails: no syrups are admitted, only fresh fruit. It is also a perfect place to eat. -
address: Via Cicco Simonetta 16A bohemian pub hosting comics, musicians, and €3 beer on Mondays.
Gay and lesbian clubs
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address: Viale Umbria 118A former lesbian club.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
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phone: +39 02 583421address: Corso di Porta Romana 64The Romana Residence modern hotel of the historic centre of Milan, 250 metres away from the Duomo. All the 66 bedrooms of the Romana Residence Hotel, divided in double, twin, triple, family, junior suite and suite, come with private bath and modern facilities. Some also have a small kitchen, and many face the garden of the hotel.
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phone: +39 02 58313331address: Corso Lodi 4
Splurge
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phone: +39 02 89410530address: Via Angelo Fumagalli 4