One of the most modern theatres in Milan, founded in 1947 as Milan's first folk theatre. Piccolo Teatro gained European acclaim under the brilliant director/actor Giorgio Strehler. Some of the best known and loved performances at the Piccolo include the plays of Brecht, as well as Strehler in his amazing interpretation of Faust.

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Features an exhibition of modern masters.

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At the end of the 19th century, two rich barons and lawyers, Fausto and Giuseppe Bagatti Valsecchi, sons of a sketcher and miniaturist, decided to turn their home into a neo-Mannerist-style "palace." They succeeded brilliantly in recreating the style of an authentic 16th-century palazzo. In the museum, authentic works (collected throughout Lombardy and elsewhere) are mixed with ornaments and decorations that are simply reproductions of the original. The Bagatti Valsecchi home is a fascinating document of Milanese 19th-century artistic taste, as well as of 16th-century Lombard art. Across the street from the Hotel.
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Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli opened his private collection to the public in 1881. This interesting collection includes paintings dating from the 14th century, as well as fine artisan displays of gold work, enamel work, Murano glass, ceramics, furnishings, textiles, lace, tapestries, clocks, arms and armour. A red velvet altar cover is just one example of the high quality materials and workmanship of the textiles used for church decorations and clothes of the noble classes during the Renaissance.
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Museum of contemporary art.

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Ask the Concierge about show schedule and tickets.
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Ask the Concierge about show schedule and tickets.
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Ask the Concierge about show schedule and tickets.
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Known as the heart of Milan, this magnificent gothic building is the only one of its kind in Italy. The vast dimensions of the building are superseded only by those of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. Work on the Duomo began in 1386 and continued for about 300 years. It has a double-aisled nave and 52 columns which are 48 metres (157 feet) high.
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Rotating exhibitions of modern and contemporary painters.

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This 19th-century mall, filled with a number of prestigous cafés, stores and restaurants, was designed by Giuseppe Mengoni in 1865. The Galleria connects the Duomo with the famous opera house La Scala. It is a magnificent structure, with high ceilings and a beautiful marbled walkway.

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Inaugurated in 1913, this museum is a very crowded place, with lots of objects packed into just a few rooms. It is a genuine place of worship for opera lovers; in addition to busts and portraits of Italian and foreign musicians and singers from the 19th century to the present day, it features masks, costumes, scores, autographed letters and drawings of stage sets. Giuseppe Verdi is, of course, the museum's strong point. The museum originated from private collections and remains a private institution. Its material is often exhibited in foreign countries, and it also organizes a series of temporary exhibitions. The Museo Teatrale is of particular interest to scholars of the history of opera and entertainment. The library of the museum is endowed with more than 45,000 volumes collected by playwright and theatre critic Renato Simoni. A collection of antique musical instruments belonging to the Museo Teatrale and housed in the Palazzo dei Giureconsulti can also be visited with the same ticket.

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Located to the south of the Duomo, this 13th-century town hall and royal palace was rebuilt in 1772–78 and altered again in the 19th century. It now belongs to the municipality. The Palazzo Reale also houses the Duomo Museum, featuring works of art and sculptures that are part of the Duomo itself. In the courtyard of the Palazzo Reale is the Civic Museo di Arte Contemporanea. Opened in 1984 but still under construction, it houses important works by Boccioni, Balla and Severini.

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An important state-funded museum in Milan. The impressive baroque Brera Palace, once a Jesuit college, now houses the Academy of Fine Arts, the Picture Gallery, the Brera Libary and the Astronomical Observatory, not to mention the Botanical Gardens. The gallery occupies 38 showrooms with more than 560 pictures, mostly from the Venetian school of the 15th to the 17th centuries. There are works by Mantegna, Piero della Francesca, Bellini (Pietà), Raffaello and Caravaggio.

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The most famous opera house in the world, La Scala was built by Giuseppe Piermarini between 1776 and 1778. The opera house stands upon the ruins of the old church of Santa Maria della Scala, its namesake. Set in Piazza alla Scala and circled by greenery, La Scala’s neoclassical architecture is complemented by a monument to Leonardo da Vinci. The theatre is closed for a four-year renovation, and will re-open in December 2004. Meanwhile, all performances will take place at Teatro degli Arcimboldi, which is located about 7 kilometres (4.5 miles) from the Hotel.
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Via Brera, in the older part of the city, has become an area bustling with activity. The Pinacoteca di Brera is located in this prestigious district, as well as numerous bars and restaurants. The district stretches as far north as the famous Disco Hollywood on Corso Como. A stroll down Via Porta Vetero, through Via Mercato and Corso Garibaldi, is a good way to become familiar with some of the small, quaint shops of Milan. Take a walk down Via Fiori Chiari and Piazza Carmine to get to know the "real" Milan.

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Originally constructed in austere Gothic style in 1490, the church and its adjoining convent are now a symbol of the glory of Renaissance Milan. In his quest to turn Milan into a beautiful rival of Florence, Ludovico il Moro directed the architect Bramante (Donato di Pascuccio) to reconstruct the apse and lantern of his favourite church, St. Mary of Grace. Leonardo da Vinci was commissioned to paint the frescos, the most famous of which – the Cenacolo or Last Supper – graces the far wall of the adjacent Dominican dining hall. (Advance reservations required).

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This castle, built in 1368 by Galeazzo Visconti II, was one of the most opulent courts in Italy. Restored in the 19th century by Luca Beltrami, it features imposing square brick strongholds with corner keeps and is surrounded by a moat. Inside are two permanent collections of Egyptian and prehistoric artefacts. The castle and surrounding park are a must-see for any vistor to Milan.
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Home to the famous Orchestra Milenese Giuseppe Verdi, as well as other important classical music events.
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The Fondazione Mazzotta belongs to the Mazzotta family and is known for its unique exhibitions of the most avant-garde artists of their time, as well as objects from Antonio Mazzotta's vast private collection. There are exhibitions dedicated to the most important themes of this century and a multimedia system for information on the exhibits.

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This gallery exhibits contemporary photography and other works.

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The basilica of San Lorenzo dates from the end of the 4th century, when it was constructed near the city's Roman Circus and Amphitheatre. It has since undergone various modifications, but the Early Christian chapels and the late-16th-century columns are almost intact. The basilica is flanked by a large park.

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This trade fair has been active since 1920. It hosts 80 exhibitions each year, with 31,000 exhibitors and 2.5 million vistors. Three new buildings were recently completed, making the Fiera di Milano one of the most modern complexes in the world. There are 15,000 parking spaces, as well as parabolic hook-ups, restaurants, bars and currency exchange counters.

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Horse-racing track.
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On the outskirts of the city, the picturesque Navigli district is located on two canals. The area has an interesting and dynamic social mixture, with both traditional dwellings and newly renovated penthouses. It is well known for its pubs, restaurants and music clubs.

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This soccer stadium is the home of Inter FC and Milan AC. Ask the Concierge for a calendar of activities.
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For three seasons, from January 2002 until December 2004, Teatro alla Scala will be transferring its activities to the new Teatro degli Arcimboldi. With it's unique construction, as well as innovative acoustic and visual features, Teatro degli Arcimboldi will continue La Scala's tradition of artistic excellence and quality productions. It offers about 500 more tickets than La Scala for each performance, due to its larger capacity, with about 2,400 seats arranged in two levels of stalls and two rows of galleries. Teatro degli Arcimboldi is also the first theatre in Italy to be equipped with a multilingual text-display system, which can be used at the discretion of the individual spectator.
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The abbey was founded in 1135 by San Bernardo, a Cistercian abbot from Claivaux. Its French-Gothic style also has some elements of Lombard architecture. The majestic building is noted for its Gothic cloister, refectory, chapter house and spectacular tower. Guided tours can be arranged through the Tourist Office or the Concierge.
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This basketball and volleyball arena is also a venue for international tennis tournaments. As well, it is the biggest concert venue in Milan.

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Formula One car racing track. Other events and activities include car and motorcycle rallies, competitions for the handicapped, slaloms, safe-driving schools and tests by the Traffic Control Authority and the Milan Technical University. The autodrome is also an important centre for leisure and non-motorized sports, including the annual non-competitive "Formula One" foot race; a multi-sport Festival, featuring a wide variety of sports; model-car races; cycling races; automobile auctions; and a big show of new car models, called Motormonza, with the chance of testing the cars on the track. When the track is not being used for practice or racing, people can use it in their own cars or motorcycles, or cover a couple of laps on their bikes, on foot, on roller skates or roller-skis. The Olympic-sized swimming pool and the campground are also popular attractions.
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The beautiful city of Bergamo is divided into two very different sections. Bergamo Bassa, the lower city, was laid out in the first decades of the 20th century. The wide vias and pleasant squares give the town a feeling of spaciousness. Here, in the heart of the city, are the monumental Piazza Matteotti and its gardens, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Torre dei Caduti and the arcades. The train station, most of the hotels and the principal shops are also located in Bergamo Bassa. Bergamo Alta is the antique, walled area of the city, dating from the 12th century. Its narrow streets feature attractive shops, as well as various important and interesting historical sites. Visit Piazza Vecchia, with its lovely fountain, or the small Piazza del Duomo. Other points of interest are the romanesque church Santa Maria Maggiore (built by Fredo in 1137) and Via Porta Dipinta. Located 52 kilometres (32 miles) northeast of Milan, on autostrada A4.

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Construction on this magnificent building began in 1488, based on designs by Christoforo Rocchi and Giovanni Antonio Amadeo (later modified by Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci). The immense cupola was added in 1884–85 and the facade was completed in 1933. The rest of the exterior remains unfinished. This historic site is a pleasant stop along the way to the Ligurian sea and Portofino.

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Situated north of Milan on the southwest shore of Lake Como, the town of Como still preserves its Roman street plan. In the heart of the town is the 14th-century cathedral Santa Maria Maggiore. Built entirely of marble, it is a mixture of Renaissance and Gothic architecture. Piazza Cavour, on the lake front, has many cafés and hotels. Visitors can tour the lake on a boat or hydrofoil. The quaint town of Bellagio is just a short ride from Como, and the lakeside village of Cernobbio also merits a visit for lunch or a walk in the park.

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The towns of Crema and Lodi are located on fertile plains near the confluence of the Po and Adda Rivers. Originally of Gallic origin, Crema became a Roman colony in 218 BC. After the fall of the Empire, it was subject to barbarian invasions before becoming a free municipality in the 11th century. The town was often at war with the other Lombard towns, and it fell to Visconti rule in the 14th century. From then on, for brief intervals, Crema (or Cremona) formed part of the Duchy of Milan. After the Lombard-Venetia period, it was involved in the Italian Risorgimento. A number of monuments in Crema and nearby Lodi are worth seeing: .Duomo (12th-14th century) .Torrazzo (13th century; at 111 metres/364 feet high, it is the highest bell tower in Italy) .Palazzo del Comune (13th century) .Loggia dei Militi (13th century) .Palazzo Foari (Renaissance) .Chiesa di Sant'Agostino (14th century) .Palazzo Affaitati (1561)

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Vigevano, the birthplace of Ludovico il Moro, is an industrial town that is an important centre in the shoe industry. The town is home to many historic sites, including the Castle Sforzesca.

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