Start your exploration of Milan in the heart of the city on Piazza del Duomo. From here, the site of an equestrian statue of the first king of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, you have a view of the shining white façade of the Duomo di Santa Maria. Begun in 1386, the façade extravagantly decorated with gables, turrents and statues, it was not completed until 1810, and was freshly renovated for the Expo Milano 2015. Inside the world’s third-largest Catholic church, 52 richly adorned pillars and huge stained-glass windows make a strong impression.
An absolute highlight is a walk on the roof terraces, which you reach by walking or more conveniently by taking a lift on the north side. A stroll through this landscape of turrets, arches, columns and statues leads almost up to the Madonnina, a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary almost four metres high, and provides a clear view of the whole city, in good weather as far as the Alps.

Opposite the arcade, the Palazzo Reale was seat of the government of Milan for a long time. Today it houses the Museo del Duomo, where high-calibre exhibitions are held. Next to it the Museo del Novecento presents masterpieces of Italian Cubism and Futurism.

After eating ice cream at Gelateria Odeon (Piazza del Duomo 2), stroll on to Piazza dei Mercanti, the medieval square of traders and artisans. On a hot summer day you will find a shady spot here, even if the outside seating of McDonalds spoils the scene a little. On this rectangular piazza, traders once sold their wares and artisans offered their services, while in the open loggia of the late Romanesque Palazzo della Ragione assemblies were held, and the ground floor was a court of law.

Round off the day’s sightseeing with literature and art. The Palazzo dell´Ambrosiana, named after one of the fathers of the Church, Ambrose of Milan (died 379), is home to the famous Ambrosiana, where medieval manuscripts and documents, including drawings, prints and charters, are kept. The famous paintings in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana include Leonardo da Vinci’s Portrait of a Musician, Caravaggio’s Basket of Fruit and the only surviving cartoon of Raphael´s School of Athens.

Allow some time for Castello Sforzesco, which was built for Francesco Sforza from 1450. The entrance to this square complex with massive corner towers is the Torre del Filarete, the almost 70-metre-high gate tower with a clock that bears the name of the man who constructed it, the architect and sculptor Antonio Averlino, known as Filarete. Through this gate you reach Piazza d’Armi, the parade and drill yard, and the wings grouped around courtyards, the Rocchetta to the west and the Corte Ducale, the ducal residence, to the north.

To relax, take a walk in the extensive palace park, Parco Sempione, with its mature trees. At its edge the Triennale Design Museum occupies an imposing building from the 1930s that holds a permanent exhibition about Italian design and interesting temporary exhibitions. Depending on the weather, you can take a break in the park café or the Triennale Design Café while enjoying views of the park.

In the afternoon you can shop and stroll to your heart’s content – because in Milan, city of fashion and design, shopping is an essential part of the experience. Everywhere you will find small shops and boutiques where you can browse, try things on and make purchases. The truly high-class district is the Quadrilatero della Moda, the “fashion block”, around Via Monte Napoleone above the cathedral square, where the world’s best couturiers present their creations. A further well-known shopping area is around Corso Vittorio Emanuele II between the cathedral and San Babila. You will find youthful international fashion brands around Via Torino and on Corso Buenos Aires between Porta Venezia and Piazzale Loreto. The best-known department store is La Rinascente on Piazza del Duomo, where many designer labels are of offer on eight floors. If you prefer something quieter, walk through the lanes of the Brera quarter, where there are many small boutiques and galleries. It is also worth making a trip to the Navigli quarter, where artists and designers have set up in the streets around the canal and many small shops await discovery. Here Giorgio Armani has built a museum to exhibit his fashion, drawings and photos (Via Bergognone 40)

 Part of the programme for the last day is a visit to the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of the leading Italian art collections. Here you can admire many masterpieces, from Rubens’ Last Supper and Bellini’s Virgin and Child to Caravaggio´s Christ in Emmaeus and Raphael´s Marriage of the Virgin. The foundations of the collection were laid by Napoleon, who is honoured with a bronze statue of Mars the Peacemaker by Antonio Canova in the courtyard. For a rest afterwards, go to the Orto Botanico south of the palazzo. It was founded in 1774 by Maria Theresa, empress of Austria (Via Brera, 28).

Before travelling to Milan, you can book a guided tour of the Pinacoteca di Brera.