Cathedral - This marvel of white marble, both colossal and ethereal, bristling with belfries, gables, pinnacles and statues, stands at one end of a great paved esplanade.

The cathedral was begun in 1386 on the orders of Gian Galeazzo Visconti and building continued in the 15th and 16th centuries under the direction of Italian, French and German master masons. The facade was finished only between 1805 and 1X09 by order of Napoleon. Design is the work of a French architect, Nicolas de Bonaventure. Four aisles are separated by more than fifty pillars of tremendous height; the transepts have three aisles.

In the crypt, the tomb of St. Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan who died in 1584, was the gift of Phillip II of Spain.

The building is adorned with 135 pinnacles and numerous white marble statues full of grace and elegance. On top of the highest pinnacle is the venerated small gilded statue of the Madonnina.

Via and Piazza Mercanti - In the Via Mercanti stands the Palace of Jurisconsults, built In 1564 with a facade adorned with statues of the saints.

La Scala (Teatro alla Scala), the most famous opera house in the world, was built from 1776 to 1778 on the site of the Church of Santa Maria della Scala. The auditorium houses the statues of Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi. The Scala Museum is rich in theatrical mementos.

Brera Palace and Picture Gallery - The palace is 17th century.

This picture gallery is rich in the works of Lombard and Northern Italian artists. Paintings of the 15-16C Lombard school are well preserved and include works by Piero della Francesca, Signorelli, EI Greco, Caravaggio, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Tiepolo, Canaletto and Guardi.

Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco). This building is a huge brick quadrilateral of rather crushing majesty built in the 15th century for Francesco Sforza on the site of a former Visconti castle and considerably restored in the 19C. The plan is a square with sides 240 meters long, the enclosing walls are nearly 36 meters thick, the great court, Piazza d'Armi measures 90x170 mts. the right facade is a graceful loggia built for Ludovico il Moro and attributed to Bramante. The ducal court, on the Sempione Park side, is dominated by an impressive brick wall.

The Museum of Antique Art - the castle contains a museum full of admirable sculptures, among them the 14th century tomb of Barnabo Visconti and the Pietà Rondanini by Michelangelo.

Church of St. Mary of Grace (Santa Maria delle Grazie) - a Renaissance building erected for the Dominicans from 1465 to 1490 by Bramante.

To the left of the church, in what used to be the monastery refectory (Cenacolo), is the world famous "Last Supper" painted by Leonardo da Vinci from 1495 to 1497. The fresco has been restored several times. It depicts with dramatic expressiveness the moment when Jesus says: "One of you will betray me".

St. Ambrose Basilica (Sant'Ambrogio)- the Basilica was founded at the end of the IVth century by St. Ambrose, nobleman from Germany who became Bishop of Milan, and baptized St. Augustine in it. The present building is in the ll-12C Lombard Romanesque style with a fine atrium. In the crypt lie the remains of St. Ambrose.

Poldi Pezzoli Museum. The valuable exhibits are well presented in a mansion furnished and decorated with taste.

There are collections of ancient arms and amour, Persian carpets and a huge collection of Renaissance paintings. Mention should also be made of the National Museum of Science and Technology, one the most important in the world. We recommend an excursion to the Chiaravalle Abbey, X111 century construction, the Charterhouse of Pavia, the Villa Reale of Monza, as well as this city's lovely 2.000 acre park with Its famous motor-racing track.