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MILAN
(MILANO)
Beginning again from the Cathedral Square, but following
via Torino instead, you come across the Church of S. Maria
presso S. Satiro, one of the greatest masterpieces of Renaissance
architecture, projected by Bramante and being famous for its
profound perspective, optical effect.
From the Cathedral Square, across via dei Mercanti,
you come to the Piazza Mercanti (Merchants Square), that is,
the only surviving urbanized part of Medieval Milan, the centre
of old communal life, where the old Regional Palace of 1233
can be found.
Once again, beginning from the Cathedral Square, you can cross
over to the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, constructed between
1865 and’77: a covered walk, characterized by a bold
structure in iron and glass, typical of the new architecture
at the end of the 19th Century: the walk takes you to the
Scala Theatre – the name derives from the old Church
of S. Maria della Scala, which once stood on that very spot.
Projected in 1778 by Piermarini (and recently structurally
modernized, as well as having various new installation systems,
thanks to a meticulous restoration) and considered to be the
worldwide temple for lyrical music, still enjoying the presence
today of the most important conductors and interpreters of
music on its stage.
Just outside this first urban wall, you can find other masterpieces
of extreme importance: on the Corso Magenta, there’s
the S. Maria delle Grazie, masterpiece of Bramante, which
preserves the fresco of The Last Supper by Leonardo, in its
refectory; close by in via Carducci, there’s the Roman
masterpiece of the Basilica of S. Ambrogio, solemn, yet simple,
and which still shows an intact structure, typical of a Medieval
church; at the Porta Ticinese, there’s the Basilica
of S. Lorenzo Maggiore, which preserves testimonies from the
Paleo-Christian times.
Milan and culture, are an inseparable binomial:
art exhibitions, also held in private foundations, for example,
the Fondazione Mazzotta, theatrical activities – noteworthy,
the Piccolo Teatro and Teatro Strheler – important museums,
rich in masterpieces like the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana (Art Gallery)
– with works by Caravaggio, Ghirlandaio, Botticelli
– and the Pinacoteca di Brera, in which internally,
you can feast your eyes on works by Raffaello, De Chirico,
Piero della Francesca,Caravaggio and Morandi, and towards
the end of Italian 19th Century, see abundance and quality
in its many collections.
There is also a Milan geared to shopping and fashion, and
the first cinematography which has its fundamental points
in via Montenapoleone, via Spiga, Piazza S. Babila, via S.
Andrea, via Manzoni and in Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
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