DK Travel : Milan and the Lakes

Milan is Italy’s economic powerhouse, a bustling city of finance and industry, media empires and fashion houses, backed up by an impressive cultural heritage of important art galleries and ancient churches. Yet a 40-minute train ride takes you to the azure pools of “the lakes”, lined with fishing villages, villas and laid-back resorts.

Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

This cultural study centre founded in the 17th century contains works by Leonardo, Botticelli, Raphael and Caravaggio.
Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

Art-loving Cardinal Frederico Borromeo gave the city one of its greatest treasures when he bequeathed his private collection of works by Leonardo, Titian, Caravaggio and others, including the original cartoon for Raphael’s famed School of Athens .
Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Milan

This formidable mix of Old Masters was started by Cardinal Frederico Borromeo as an adjunct to the Ambrosiana Library. Famously, the library is home to the Codex Atlantico , which contains the lion’s share of Leonardo’s drawings and sketches – photocopied pages from it are displayed in the Pinacoteca. Elsewhere, you’ll find paintings by Botticelli, Titian and Caravaggio, as well as Raphael’s giant preparatory sketch for the School of Athens .
Pinacoteca di Brera

In Northern Italy, Milan’s painting gallery is second only to Venice’s Accademia (though for sheer variety the Brera wins). Since Napoleon inaugurated the collection, it has been housed in the Jesuit’s Palazzo di Brera. It’s one of the regions’ main Top 10, and for more on the collection – which includes works by Piero della Francesca, Raphael, Bellini, Mantegna and Caravaggio.
Pinacoteca di Brera

Northern Italy’s greatest painting gallery displays masterpieces by Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini, Piero della Francesca, Raphael and Caravaggio.
Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan

Lombardy’s most important painting gallery, displaying works by Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini, Piero della Francesca, Caravaggio, Tintoretto, Veronese, Coreggio, Lotto, Carpaccio, Tiepolo, El Greco and Rembrandt.
Pirelli Tower

Its reign as the world’s tallest concrete skyscraper lasted less than a decade, but this wedge rising on the site of Pirelli’s first tyre factory remains a symbol of Lombardy’s robust economy.
Pirelli Tower

Milan once had a rule about structures rising no higher than the golden Madonnina atop the Duomo (see La Madonnina). The 127.1-m (417-ft) Pirelli Tower – designed in 1955–60 by a team headed by Gio Ponti and including Pier Luigi Nervi – broke that tradition, but placed a replica of the Madonnina on its own roof so she would still have the highest vantage point in Milan. It now houses Lombardy’s regional government and in 2002 survived being struck by a small plane.
Pironi, Cannobio

The wedge-shaped 15th-century building has a frescoed loggia and splashing fountain. Rooms exude antique charm.
Pizzeria Grand’Italia

Ask a discerning Milanese to take you to the best pizzeria in town, and you’ll probably end up enjoying a huge, thick slice (no full pies) here.

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Hotel price categories

For a standard, double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes and extra charges.
- under €110
- €110-€160
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- over €270
Restaurant price categories

For a three-course meal for one with half a bottle of wine (or equivalent meal), taxes and extra charges.
- under €20
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