Unique Places in Milan

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Via Brisa is a small street connected to Corso Magenta, and it is worth a short detour - here you can see some of the Roman ruins that are left from Mediolanum. These ruins were only discovered in 1949, after a bomb had been dropped here during the war six years earlier.

It is highly probable that the ruins once belonged to an imperial palace. Mediolanum was chosen as Imperial Residence by Emperor Maximianus in 286A.D. The palace was not one single building, but rather a big area of many connected buildings and dwellings. Today, it is still possible to see a part of the heating system.
Close to the palace, there was a huge circus which was connected to the palace itself, and where races and gladiator fights took place.
The court was transferred to Ravenna in 452A.D., but the palace was left intact for several centuries longer. It then fell into disrepair, and by the time of the early Middle Ages, there was almost nothing left of it.

Address: Via Brisa, access from Corso Magenta

Piazza Fontana is a small piazza in the Duomo area where we had a little break. I enjoyed it very much because it was a pleasant place that is not crowded at all - a relief when you come here from Piazza del Duomo or Piazza della Scala! There were not many tourists there, and we sat down on a bench in the shade. The piazza is a pretty place with its historical fountain, the trees and the surrounding buildings.

The fountain that gives the piazza its name was created in 1782. It was designed by Guiseppe Piermarini, the architect who designed the Teatro alla Scala.

On the 12th of December 1969, a bomb detonated on this piazza and killed seventeen people, it was an act of right-wing extremist terrorism.

Address: Piazza Fontana - access from Via Larga and Via San Clemente
Directions: Close to the Duomo

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Piazza Meda is a piazza north of the Duomo. There is a lot of traffic there, so it is not a nice place to sit down, but what is interesting is the work of contemporary art that was installed there. It is a big disc made of bronze. According to my guidebook it should rotate, but it didn't do that when we visited. The artwork was made in 1980 by Arnaldo Pomodoro from Milan. When I did some research about Pomodoro, I was surprised to see that another work of his can be seen in Cologne, namely at the adult education centre (VHS). Pomodoro mainly uses geometrical forms in his works.

Address: Piazza Meda - access from Via San Paolo and Via Catena
Directions: North of the Duomo

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I can't remember exactly where this was but I do remember the coffee only being 90 cents and that the waitress was stunningly beautiful (pics are in my private collection).

You know that you are "Off The Beaten Path" when the coffee becomes this inexpensive ;-)

Oh and I almost forgot about the pretty woman with the bicycle I passed on my way - pic #2

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Once I'd sort of gotten my bearings here in the city centre I felt quite happy just to wander and see where my feet would lead me - this is my favourite way of discovering a city.

This is where Milan opened up. I would just wander and be nosy and maybe end up places I shouldn't but Hey! That's me!

Half of the time I had no idea exactly where I was but I always knew there had to be a bar somewhere and I could always get directions - even if it did cost me the price of a beer ;-)

So here's a few pics:

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The Milano Clock Tower is located in Via Mercanti, alomost overlooking Piazza del Duomo. It is better known as Torre del Commune and is situated on the top of Palazzo dei Giureconsulti, home of the chamber of commerce. Torre del Commune was built here in 1272 by Napo Torriani who ruled over Milano until he was defeated by Ottone Visconti in 1277. This event heralded an era of rule by the powerful Visconti family over Milano, which would last until the mid 15th century.

In the central position of Piazza Cordusio, a very bussy Milano's square, stands the monument to Giuseppe Parini (1729-1799), a famous Italian poet and teacher. His talent for teaching made him professor of fine arts in the Brera. During the period when Bonaparte ruled the Cisalpine State, he made him a member of the municipal government.

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The monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi stands in the central position of Largo Carioli, the huge open space right in front of Castello Sforzesco. The monument was placed here in 1895 and is work of the sculptor Ettore Ximenes.
Giuseppe Garibaldi, 1807-1882, is the most significant person in the history of the Italian people. Known by his personal courage and tactical intelligence, he managed to defeat Bourbons and have unificated the peninsula in one state known today as Italy.