Milan is not only the fashion capital of Europe, but also is the capital of museums. If you’re a history buff, or would simply want to backtrack to how things were, a visit to the city’s top three museums would have you leaving Milan a little dazed with wonder and awe. Indeed, you’ve never been to Milan unless you’ve been to its museums.
Museo Cenacolo Vinciano
Probably the most popular is the Museo Cenacolo Vinciano, which can be found at Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie nr. 2, in Corso Magenta. This is where the famous painter and inventor, Leonardo da Vinci, showcases “The Last Supper†on the inside back walls of the Santa Maria Delle Grazie Church.
He painted it for three years, from 1495 to 1497, and tourists who have actually been in its presence have said that it exudes a rather humbling aura.
The museum is closed on Mondays but is open all day from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 am to 7:00 pm with only up to 25 people admitted every 15 minutes. Tickets are free for European citizens under 18 years old and over 65. The regular price is € 6.50, with an additional booking fee of €1.50, which is reduced by 50% for all European citizens who are 18 years old to 25 years old.
Museo Civico Archeologico
Museo Civico Archeologico, also known as the The Civic Archaeological Museum of Bologna, is located at Corso Magento 15. The museum is inside Palazzo Galvani, near Piazza Maggiore and San Petronio Church. You can reach the museum by taking the bus that goes to Piazza Maggiore, or you can also take the train and then a cab.
The museum opens from Tuesdays to Fridays and from 9am to 1pm only. The regular price of the each ticket is € 4.00 but it will be reduced to € 2.00 for persons aged over 60, teenagers between 15 and 18 years of age, ISIC-card owners, Club Carisbo associates, Carta Giovani owners, Italian Touring Club associates, and foreign and Italian students with a valid ID.
Visitors that are 14 years old and below are free of charge. It’s also free for the Town Council members, Tourist guides, interpreters, journalists, and ICOM members.
La Scala Theater Museum
It is also known as Teatro Alla Scala and was created and designed by Giuseppe Piermarini in 1913. It is located at Largo Ghiringhelli 1, Piazza della Scala. Upon entering the museum, the visitors are welcomed by several rare musical instruments, including lyre-guitars, a few psalteries, lute, and the like.
As you go along, you will find a room called “The Commedia Dell’Arteâ€, which contains a beautiful collection of theatre-related, as well as music-related, porcelain figures that came from famous porcelain factories, such as Doccia, Meissen, Capodimonte, Sevres, Chelsea, and the like. The regular price for a full fare ticket is €5.00.