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History & Evolution
Milan was originally founded by the Celts of Northern Italy around 600 BC. The Celts were later conquered by the Romans in 222 BC, who occupied the town and gave it the name ‘Mediolanum’ meaning ‘in the middle of the plain’.

The town became the capital of Western Roman Empire and an important site of religious significance after Emperor Constantine announced an edict in 313 AD. This all was done at the time of St. Ambrogio who became the first great figure in Milan's history as he not only became the Saint patron but was also the first in the long list of bishops who run the city's affairs.

After Romans, the city descended into centuries of chaos caused by waves of barbarian invasions. But Milan overcame everything and made a camelback forming a commune (town council) in 11th century that led the city into a period of rapid growth. During this period the city was governed by democratic laws, and built the Palazzo della Ragione as a seat for its political self-rule besides experiencing the birth and growth of several papal and church reform movements, such as the Peace and Truce of God and the Gregorian reforms.

The period of democracy ended when the old Milanese Visconti family seized power and became the lords of Milan from 1277 to 1447. However, the Viscontis gave the city a political and cultural supremacy, which brought international renown, and it is under their rule that the construction of the Duomo and of the Castle began.

After 1447 there were three brief years of republican rule. In 1450, Francesco Sforza, son-in-law of the last Visconti duke and captain of the Milanese army, took over command of the city. The Sforza’s rule coincided with the Renaissance years in Italy and among others, Donato Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci came to work for the city. It was during this period that the hospital, which is today's the State University with the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie were built.

In 1535, Milan came under Spanish rule and was given to Austria in 1713 as part of the Treaty of Utrecht. The Austrians provided a sound administration but the French Revolution and the Napoleon Wars the city was extended into the French satellite state of the Cisalpine Republic, which later became the Kingdom of Italy. After the second of the Wars of Italian Independence in 1859, the Kingdom of Sardinia, which transformed into the kingdom of Italy in 1861 ended the Austrian rule.

The city was the victim of continuous heavy aerial bombing in World War II as it was an important industrial center of Italy. The city was bombed even after Pietro Badoglio surrendered to the allied forces in 1943 which made Milan a part of Mussolini's Italian Social Republic puppet state and an important command center of the German Army stationed in Italy. After the war in 1945, the city was heavily damaged and was thus reconstructed and again became an important financial and industrial center of the nation.

The postwar industrial boom led by car manufacturing and access to northern Europe via new Alpine tunnels again led to sudden growth of Milan but life was not all roses for Milan. Growing gaps between the haves and have-nots and waves of migrants from southern Italy inflamed underlying social tensions, and the Red Brigades terrorized Milan and other centers of industry throughout the 1970s. However, nothing stopped the city from becoming one of the most rich, stylist and cultural capitals of the world.

In 2001, Milan's self-made big shot (and Italy's richest man), Silvio Berlusconi, was elected Italian prime minister who managed to hold the position until 2006 - the longest run of any Italian prime minister after World War II.

Site-Seeing
Even with its commercial and industrial nature, Milan holds many interesting and wonderful masterpieces in the core of its heart. Its not known to many people but the city has much to draw visitors especially its culture.

The city is studded with many museums and good selection of world-class art exhibitions and individual pieces. Some of the most precious art works like Da Vinci’s The Last Supper and Michelangelo’s last work, the extraordinary Pieta Rondanini are stored in Milan making it one of the largest cultural treasures.
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Duomo:
The third largest Gothic Church in the world, Duomo is quite an imposing structure, which is the symbol of Milan. The cathedral’s construction started in 1386 but irregularly until Napoleon ordered its completion in 1809. Today it stands celestially with its golden statue ‘La Madonnina, 3,400 statues, 135 spires and 96 gargoyles.

In the full sunshine, the interior of this splendid creation illuminates by the colorful mosaic of its stained glass windows. The church has five-aisles with seating space for 40,000 worshippers. Among the other treasures of the church is a massive cross that’s supposed to bear a nail from Christ’s crucifix. There is also the ‘Scurolo di San Carlo’, which is a crypt with a glass coffin in which are encased the mortal remains of the 16th century saint, St. Charles Borromeo wearing a crown of gold.

The Museo del Duomo across the piazza displays the treasures from the cathedral along with Museo d'Arte Contomporanea, showcasing a collection of Italian Futurist art.

Location: Piazza del Duomo

Theatre Museum at La Scala (Museo Teatrale alla Scala):

Residing on the site of the Church of Santa Maria alla Scala, the Theatre Museum at La Scala is the world famous opera house museum. It provides a wealth of mementos from the opera house, La Scala dedicated to the nation’s beloved composers and performers including Rossini, Puccini and Toscanini.

Two halls are entirely devoted to Milan's darling Verdi alone containing relics like the spinet on which he learnt to play, hand-written scores and the baton given to him after the momentous reception of Aida.

Location: Largo Ghiringhelli 1, Piazza Della Scala

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II:
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a four-storey, glass-domed shopping gallery that is entered from the Piazza in front of the Cathedral and extends to the Piazza della Scala. The arcade was built as a link to the opera house but soon became a fashionable place to hang out, sip coffee or take a stroll through its many exclusive shops.

The conservatory is famous amongst Milanese and visitors alike to escape the winter rains or to socialise after a busy working day.

Location: Piazza del Duomo


Leonardo Da Vinci National Science & Technology Museum:
Devoted to the history of science and technology, most of part the museum is dedicated to the creative and intuitive genius of Leonardo Da Vinci.

The Leonardo Gallery of the museum illustrates some of the most ingenious designs of war machines and architectural visions of Da Vinci.

Applied physics is the focus of another room in keeping with the museum’s tribute to the history of science.

Location: Via San Vittore

Museum of Historic Art of the Sforza Castle (Museo d'Arte Antica del Castello Sforzesco):
The Sforzesco Castle built in 15th century is one of the foremost monuments of Milan whose vast interior contains three museums, the most notable of which is Museum of Historic Art (Museo d'Arte Antica del Castello Sforzesco).

The most priced possession of the museum is the Michelangelo's last work, the unfinished Pieta Rondanina, depicting the ‘Virgin’ cradling the body of ‘Christ’. While the upstairs gallery of the museum also has an extensive display of paintings and sculptures of other renowned geniuses including Mantegna, Antonello da Messina, Bellini and Leonardo da Vinci.

Location: Piazza Castello