Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan

Brera is one of the most exclusive and fashionable places in Milan, that has an atmosphere vaguely reminiscent of Paris, with its artists, open-air coffee shops and sophisticated boutiques - full of wares for the home and handmade dresses that seem to be creations of sculptors and not dressmakers. This area, that could be described as “luxury Bohemian” includes Via Brera, Via Solferino, Via Pontaccio, Corso Garibaldi and Corso Como. Alongside it there are many eighteenth century palaces including Palazzo Brera at number 28 Corso Como that houses the famous Pinacoteca.

Milan's excellent Pinacotheca di Brera is a wonderful collection of art, though don't expect the kind of names you'd see in Florence or Rome. The highlight of the collection is "The Marriage of the Virgin" by Raphael, one of his early masterpeices. I also liked the lovely Sforze Alterpeice by a Milanese master.

The first thing that will run through your thoughts is this: "What a lovely and big museum!".

This museum is indeed impressive.

If you're an art lover (like - ahem - me!), then head straight to the PINACOTECA BRERA or Academy of Fine Arts Milan. This Academy was founded in 1809 and is housed in the beautiful Palazzo Brera. It contains some of Italy's finest art treasures from the 15th century onwards. The most famous paintings are Raphael's "Marriage of the Virgin" and Mantegna's "The Dead Christ." The surroundings are elegant and refined as are many of the paintings including some of the finest works ever produced by artists such as Rembrandt, Van Dyck and El Greco. Please give yourself a few hours to go through all the different artworks. No point rushing just to prove to your friends back home that "I was here". ;-)

Er... for Gallery opening times and advice on how to purchase tickets, please check with your hotel concierge or refer to one of many reliable guidebooks on Milan.

Located in the Brera district of Milan this museum is terrific housing a great collection of artwork ranging from the 13th to the 20th century. In addition the museum that houses the collection is a great example of Italian architecture. I would suggest exploring all areas of this museum as the collection involves such a large range of artwork, including pieces by Tintoretto, Mantegna, Raphael and Caravaggio.
Open 9am-5:30m Tue-Sat and 9am-12:30pm Sun.

PHOTO : PINACOTECA...THE BRERA ART GALLERY.


One kilometer North of Duomo, located The Brera Art Gallery where it displays a dazzling collections of mainly Italian art by Veronese, Guardi, Raphael ( I like very much ), Rembrandt, Goya ( Masterpeice, great idea) and few others. This gallary is one of the best known and most highly admired gallaries.

From Santa Maria delle Grazie we walked via the Foro Bonoparte to the Brera. Distances in Milan are sometimes longer than one thinks. This gallery is housed on the top floor of the Palazzo and the climb up the stairs can be long.

I find that now I always approach art galleries with definite objectives are one finds oneself wandering and taking nothing in. Here there can be no choice for it has Pierro della Francesca's painting of the Madonna & Child with saints that was intended to hang above the Duke's tomb in Urbino.

To reach it in Room 24 one passes through rooms with lesser and greater masterpieces like Mantegna's Dead Christ, which is shocking in its eerily deathly colouration and the perspective of Christ with the feet in the foreground.

The Piero seems, at first, dimly lit and dully coloured, but the eye takes time to adjust. The suspended egg, centre to the original composition takes, now, a position just a little lower than the upper third.

The coral around the Christ-child's neck is duller than in some reproductions as is the blue of John the Baptist's cloak.

The eyes are haunting, as they seem to stare away from contact with everyone (except one, who challengingly stares straight out). Even the Virgin's gaze is averted from the child, which looks set to tumble off her lap. Montefeltro kneels, praying, his hands bare but still wearing armour and his armoured gloves are by his knees, ready to pick up at any moment.

A beautiful picture.

Go to the Brera Museum.
You'll find one the best art collection you can find in the world. The musem is not very well configured and some rooms are too small for the paintings that contains, but it surely worth a visit.

Have a tour of Brera. A very romantic and exciting place in the heart of Milan.
In summer nights all the Brera alleys host a massive crowd of vendors, fortune tellers, walking and partying people.
Brera is, with Navigli area one of the most lively areas of Milan
It's a walking area where engines are prohibited.

Museum fans must go to the Pinacoteca di Brera.
Impressive paintings collection.
Our favorites are Mantegna's 'Cristo morto'(Dead Christ) and Hayez's 'Bacio'(Kiss).