Milan, located in northern Italy, is one of the less-visited cities in Italy. It lacks the magnificent ruins of Rome, dreamlike quality of watery Venice, and innumerable Renaissance charms of Florence that attract the big tourist crowds. But the charm of Milan comes from the varied qualities of the city: hidden architectural gems, chic shopping districts, and an excellent soccer team. And since tourists are rarer, so are the too-bright gelaterie and restaurants selling mediocre gelato and pasta for exorbitant prices. If you go just a few steps beyond the Duomo, you’ll be able to find authentic gelaterie that have been in Milan for decades, boutiques selling a myriad of items (like new Prada loafers), and restaurants filled with locals.

While much of Milan was destroyed in World War II leaving behind little in the way of art and architecture, what was left behind is among the best in Italy and the city has rebuilt so that it looks nothing like any other city in Italy. Many choose to visit Milan to see one painting: Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper. The painting is housed in a church called Santa Maria delle Grazie and you’ll need to book tickets months in advance. Despite the ragtag state of the painting (it has been heavily damaged over the centuries), it is a true masterpiece by one of the best artists to come out of the Italian Renaissance.

Milan’s Duomo is a massive gothic cathedral with large and small spires pointing towards the sky. To get a better sense of the size of the cathedral and for a scenic view of Milan, you can climb up into some of the spires. The Museo del Duomo tells the story of how the cathedral was constructed and includes art works (mainly sculpture) that have been displayed in the cathedral and nearby locales in Milan.

Milan is a fast-paced, high-powered city known for fashion. It is the financial capital of Italy, but also the unofficial shopping capital, at least for fashionistas. The Gucci and Armani flagship stores are located in Milan as are many boutiques from other major Italian designers like Prada and Dolce e Gabana.

Little boutiques pop up as if from nowhere throughout Milan. Some are new, but others are Milan institutions. Krizia, for example, has sold swanky clothes for trendsetters since the 1960s. On the opposite end of the spectrum, department stores like La Rinascente offer a little bit of everything. The La Rinascente location in Piazza del Duomo even has a wine bar and hair stylist in addition to clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, and gourmet food departments.

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