Jamaica

Enter the charming neighborhood of Brera and you’ll soon forget all thoughts of the drab, industrialist Milan. Bohemian grit began to fill the cracks between the uneven cobblestone streets here after WWII, and by the 1960s, the local cafes and galleries brimmed with neorealist filmmakers and designers vying for the Compasso d’Oro award. Due north from Milan’s tourist-filled Duomo and past the storied La Scala, austere, modern palazzos make way for colorful residential buildings, their balconies overflowing with succulents, wisteria and honeysuckle. The name Brera comes from the Lombard word ‘Braida’ which means ‘green space.’ Once a fishing village where boats arrived on canals into Milan from the Northern lakes, today it is considered the most bourgeois neighborhood in Milan. To experience a hint of old-world Brera is to shop at the weekly outdoor mercato on Via San Marco, notable for its colorful, overflowing bouquets, ample fresh fish selection, multiple produce stands and Italian fashion staples such as leather gloves and cashmere sweaters. On the winding pedestrian streets, worthwhile boutiques and vintage shops are mixed with tourist-hungry restaurants (to be avoided – I recommend the old-school trattoria tucked away nearby). Brera freshly exhibits a new generation of designers and concept boutiques, and admiration of the supermodel-esque locals. Although more recently famous as a creative’s haven in the 1960s, Brera has for centuries attracted artists and designers who came to study at the art academy within the internationally celebrated museum Pinacoteca di Brera. Soon after it opened, Napoleon, the newly crowned King of Italy, is said to have intended the Pinacoteca to become the Louvre of Italy (Antonio Canova’s colossal marble statue of the monarch sits at the center of the palazzo courtyard today). To follow in the brushstrokes of the prestigious academy’s centuries of attendees is to shop at the historic art supply and print shop Ditta Crespi or flip through the engraved leather journal selection at Pettinaroli.

Have one day in Milan? This 24-hour itinerary is your key to discovering hot spots and must-see places in different neighborhoods to maximize your time and allow you to cover as much of the city as possible in one day. Feel free to mix and match recos in this itinerary based on preferences and go in any order you'd like! This is meant to spark ideas and help guide your visit, but can also be followed verbatim for an exciting and fulfilling day in Milan. Featuring: 🇮🇹 A directional walking tour with various stops that will take you eating, drinking, and sightseeing through different neighborhoods in Milan 🇮🇹 Selection of Milan tourist attractions and museums with links to purchase tickets 🇮🇹 Recommended timing needed at each museum so that you can properly prepare and plan the rest of your day 🇮🇹 A taste of the history and background on each landmark, neighborhood, and restaurant 🇮🇹 Multiple options for food and drink in the different areas so you can select which places are best for you 🇮🇹 Descriptions of each eatery and its atmosphere included in the details section 🇮🇹 Suggestions on what to order at each eatery based on personal experience and research 🇮🇹 Recommended timing for visiting each location to properly plan the day, keeping in mind beating the crowds at tourist locations and spacing out meals 🇮🇹 Ideas to help inspire your own DIY tour comprised of whatever places you'd like!