Whether you’re looking for an apartment, hotel, house, youth hostel, a bed & breakfast, a house exchange — we have it. If you’re the adventurous type looking for something a little different, check Cozy Milan rentals.

1. Take a selfie with the middle finger

This ubiquitous symbol of human mockery stands right in front of Milan’s stock exchange headquarters in Piazza Affari. The provocative Italian sculptor Maurizio Cattelan created it in 2010 and it was initially supposed to be a temporary installation. However, clearly seeing the humor in the statue, the local government decided to leave it there permanently. Cattelan never commented on the meaning of the sculpture, so you’re free to interpret it as you wish.

The Middle Finger in Milan | Photo: Joyce S. Lee

2. Discover the Navigli antique shops

Milan’s version of Venice is a small quarter with a few canals, a few boats and some floating restaurants (but no gondolas, sorry). Bustling with bohemian energy, Navigli is known for its flea markets and creative atmosphere. Unlike the city’s famous shopping malls and boutiques, which offer the latest crazes (at the highest prices), here you can find retro fashion treasures to impress even the strictest hipsters. Stepping inside the antique stores along the Ripa di Porta Ticinese is like entering into a past reality, one where you can find 50-year-old Chanel bags among collections of original clothes from a range of iconic brands.

Navigli’s Canals, Milan | Photo © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

3. Catch a glimpse of the Horned Madonna

If you dare to see Mary and Jesus with devil’s horns, follow the streets after Porta Ticinese to Sant’Eustorgio Basilica. Once there, enter the Portinari Chapel and hear the strange story behind the unusual fresco of Mary and Jesus with horns. The chapel is dedicated to the Dominican priest Pietro di Verona, who had been converting followers of the Catharism heresy movement back to Catholicism. Once, he attended a Catharist gathering where it was said that the Madonna was seen. Pietro di Verona did see the Madonna, but he also saw that she had horns on her head, leading him to believe that she was the Devil in disguise. When Pietro offered the Devil a piece of sacramental bread, he ran away. A group of nobles, however, didn’t approve of Pietro’s preaching and sent two assassins to kill him. Thus Pietro di Verona is usually depicted with an ax in his head, a reference to his grisly death.

The Horned Madonna in Milan

4. Witness the future of eco-tech at Bosco Verticale – the green vertical forest towers

The forest towers project had gone viral even before it started. Bosco Verticale, meaning Vertical Forest, consists of two residential towers (26 and 18 floors respectively) designed by Boeri Studio, featuring hundreds of trees and shrubs planted all over the edifices to absorb the notorious Milan smog and to produce oxygen. The forest is located quite far from the main tourist area, but you can reach it easily by subway (get off at Garibaldi FS or Isola stations).

Bosco Verticale in Milan

5. Indulge in aperitivo at Leonardo’s Vineyard

You’ve already marveled at Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, now it’s time to cross the street and visit Leonardo’s Vineyard. Back in 1498, Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, gave a vineyard to Leonardo. Sforza was hoping to turn the Basilica Santa Maria Delle Grazie (which houses the Last Supper) into his family mausoleum and he wanted to create a neighborhood surrounded by his most loyal supporters, Leonardo among them. After almost two decades under French rule, Leonardo won back the vineyard a little before his death. The area was completely forgotten until 1919, when it was identified by architects and historians, still almost entirely intact. Unfortunately, a massive fire and new urban plans destroyed what had been preserved for centuries. In 2015, the vineyard was restored using the original vine in its original rows. Now in the vineyard’s cafe you can sip coffee or join the Saturday aperitivo at 5:45 pm (reservation required).

Note: You should book your ticket well in advance. Visitor information here.

6. Smell basil and thyme in the Botanical Garden

There’s a little-known garden, just a street away from the popular Pinacoteca di Brera, where you can stroll among rows of spices and actually rub their leaves between your fingers to release their aroma. The Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico di Brera) is free, and it also offers free walking tours on Saturdays (a reservation is required).

Read more about the Botanical Garden here.

Orto Botanico di Brera (Botanical Garden) in Milan | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

7. Discover a copy of the Last Supper by one of Leonardo’s apprentices

Basilica of San Lorenzo is one of those buildings that looks like just another church until you learn that it holds a fascinating secret inside. Besides being one of the oldest churches in Milan (originally built in Roman times), it is home to a perfect copy of Leonardo’s Last Supper, painted by one of his apprentices. Some parts of this version are better preserved than the original, so you can take a close look at some of the mysteries of the famous mural – all the saints and Jesus have halos except Judas or the feminine face of John, for example.

The Last Supper copy at San Lorenzo church, Milan

8. Dine while riding a retro tram

Trams produced in Milan were exported all over the world, as far afield as San Francisco. They are an integral part of the city life, but one of them, a dark green, respectable retro machine, is more than just a means of transport. The ATMosphera tram is a traveling restaurant, serving your dinner at 8 pm while you zigzag between the main attractions of Milan. Indulge in a set menu and enjoy your complimentary wine, but remember to book your seat in advance. More information here.

ARTmosfera Tram in Milan

Bonus secret place:

The human skulls church – Santuario di San Bernardino Alle Ossa

Italy seems to have some strange idea of what to do with human skulls and you can stumble upon bone structures across the country, the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo probably being the most popular. Milan doesn’t lag behind with the small ossuary of the San Bernardino Alle Ossa church. The reason why it all started was that in 1210 the nearby graveyard ran out for space and a respectful space for the bones had to found. They stored them in a special building next to the church decorating the niches and doors with bones and skulls too. It’s a 5-minute walk from Duomo. When King Joao V of Portugal saw the church, he built a similar structure in Evora, Portugal.

Address: 4, Via Carlo Giuseppe Merlo. Opening times: 7:30 am – 6 pm (there’s a break 12 am – 1 pm).

READ MORE:

8 SECRET LOCATIONS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH ITALY (+ map)

12 UNUSUAL THINGS TO DO IN FLORENCE (+ map)

Here’s a map of all the places mentioned to plan your route in Milan:

Pin it for later:

Searching for luggage storage in Milan? Whether you’re discovering the hidden gems in Milan, catching a football match at San Siro Stadium or taking a tour of the Duomo Cathedral, you need both hands to embrace everything Milan has to offer.

So, why not drop your bag off instead of dragging it around? From luggage lockers to manned left luggage offices, Stasher has got you covered. Find Milan luggage storage with Stasher and make the most of your time in the city!

Read more about ITALY.

The post 8 unusual things to do in Milan – a secret places guide appeared first on 203Challenges.

Unlike many other iconic works of art, The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci has never been part of a private collection… mainly because it was painted on the wall of a small church in Milan, which made it too hard to move (or steal). But just like many other iconic works of art, it’s quite tricky to visit.

Thousands of tourists arrive and leave Milan without having glimpsed the famous painting, because you need to reserve your ticket, sometimes months in advance. Here’s how to break the Da Vinci Code and organize a smooth visit.

Where is the Last Supper painted?

Few people know that this famous work by Da Vinci was painted on the wall of the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria Delle Grazie in 1498. It was commissioned by Ludovico Sforza, the patron of Leonardo Da Vinci. It measures 4.80 x 8.80 m (15.75 x 28.9 ft) and its name in Italian (if you’re looking for signs to follow) is Cenacolo Vinciano.

Why are so few people allowed to see the Last Supper?

Because of the techniques and materials Leonardo used for painting, the work started crumbling as early as 1517. It has suffered from damage several times through the centuries, most recently during the WWII bombardments. From 1978 until 1999 the refectory was rebuilt as a sealed, temperature and humidity-controlled room in place of its original design. Visitors enter the refectory after they have passed through a humidity-controlling transfer room, in groups of no more than 30 people. They are allowed to remain inside for no more than 15 minutes.

How can you buy a ticket for The Last Supper?

You need to buy your ticket in advance – you can do it online from the official ticketing website here. You can buy a ticket three months in advance and the new tickets are released online around the 10th of the month (but dates vary so check online). Tickets cost 10 euro per person (5 euro for EU citizens between 18 and 25 years old) + 2 euro booking fee.

Why are there so few tickets available?

It may seem that there are very few tickets available when you look at the monthly chart. The reason for that is that travel agencies buy many of the tickets for their tourist groups or resell them later (and add various fees to the price, of course). Some agencies claim that it’s impossible to buy a ticket for The Last Supper individually and try to make you pay for a guide, or package your visit with tours to other attractions in Milan. Don’t fall for this – it’s not true.

What else should I know?

There is no written information in the hall where The Last Supper is displayed, so find some information about the painting in advance or get an audio guide (you can book it together with your ticket or get it when you arrive). Your ticket will have a fixed date and time printed on it, and you should arrive 20 minutes before the start of your session.

What if I can’t find tickets? Is there another way to see it?

Not really. Unless you count the little-known fact that there’s a copy of The Last Supper painted by one of Leonardo’s apprentices and it’s completely free to visit at Basilica di San Lorenzo. One amazing fact: some parts of this copy are better preserved than the original!

>>> Discover more Secret places and unusual things to do in Milan

How can I get to the Convent of Santa Maria Delle Grazie and The Last Supper?

Trams 18-24 stop at Corso Magenta – Santa Maria delle Grazie. Subway MM1’s stations Conciliazone and Cadorna will get you close, as well as MM2’s Cadorna station.

The post The Last Supper in Milan: 7 best tips and secrets how to visit it appeared first on 203Challenges.