The most romantic spot in Milano

Take the underground (Line 1 - Red) to Palestro.

Walk out of the tube and go down via Palestro, until you find a green kiosk.
Buy two glasses of cold Prosecco. Use plastic glasses and take them away. Don't drink yet.
Continue along via Palestro until you get to Villa Belgiojoso.
A few meters before the main entrance, you will find the access to the park.
Enter the park, regardless of the sign saying "Access to this park is reserved to children up to 12 years accompanied by adults". The custodians will not stop you, unless you linger too long in the garden. Show them your two glasses of Prosecco and take your companion by the hand. They will understand.
Inside the park, keep left; let the sound of the waterfall guide you.
Follow the path climbing behind the waterfall.

When you get to the top of the path, over the waterfall, stop, lean on the wooden fence, look and admire the elegant front of the villa, and enjoy the wine.

Welcome to Italy.

P.S. The romantic garden of Villa Belgiojoso closes at 7 pm, but the kiosk closes at 5.30 pm. You can find other bars on the nearby corso Venezia. 

Free admission to the municipal museums

Ludovico il Moro (Piero della Francesca)

From April 7th to 14th, during the week of the Salone Internazionale del Mobile (Design Week), admission to all the municipal museums in Milan will be free.

The range of choices is wide, so here are our tips for your visit:
- spend some time in the Ansperto tower inside the Museo Archeologico, decorated with misterious XIV century frescoes.
- meet the first dinosaur found in Italy, nicknamed Ciro, at the Museo di Storia Naturale: one of the most important findings in the history of paleontology, since it still has traces of its liver and intestine.
- in the Sforza Castle, visit the rooms where Ludovico il Moro spent 15 days mourning his beloved wife, the beautiful Beatrice d'Este.
- discover Palazzo Morando and its collection of historical dress.
- enjoy the recently restored Acquario civico, housed in an elegant Art Nouveau building.
- admire the masterpieces of Galleria d’Arte Moderna and the magnificent rooms where they are on dispay. Don't forget to go for a stroll in the English landscape gardens of the museum.
- discover the history of Italy's struggle to conquer independence at the Museo del Risorgimento.

Concerts in the Sforza Castle

The Sala della Balla is one of the most famous halls in the Castello Sforzesco. It houses the magnificent Trivulzio tapestries and some rare pieces of the Museum of Musical Instruments.
In March the huge hall will also host two concerts of Baroque music, on Friday 15th and Saturday 23rd, at 4 pm. Admission to the concerts is included in the ticket to the museum, which costs a mere 3 euros.
It is a perfect chance to enjoy the beauty and athmosphere of the inner rooms of the castle, and the surprising richness of the museums that transformed what once was a military citadel in a center of culture and history.
Inside the Sforza fortress you will find, among the others:
- the Pinacoteca, with works by Mantegna, Antonello da Messina, Foppa,
- the Museum of Decorative Arts and Musical Instruments, with a rich collection of ceramics, antique furniture and ivories,
- the Museum of Ancient Art, which is home to the last masterpiece of Michelangelo, the dramatic Pietà Rondanini.

And, if the wheather is fine, don't forget to have a walk in the park and look for the Ponte delle Sirenette (Mermaids' Bridge), which once crossed one of the city canals: it is Milano lovers' bridge par excellence.

Here's to you, 2013

No doubt Romans were bon vivants. This exquisite, finely engraved glass cup (photograph by Giovanni Dall'Orto - WikiCommons) was created in Northern Italy in the IV century. The letters carved on its surface read Bibe vivas multis annis, meaning "Drink and you will live for many years".
So, what better way to celebrate the newly born year!
The correct name of this amazing piece of artisanal handicraft is diatretum, or cage cup. It is on display at the Archeological Museum, and it is the only example in the world which has suffered no damage.
But the Archeological Museum not only contains treasures that testimony the rich historical past of Milano: its very location is quite surprising. Right in the middle of its courtyard, the remnants of a Roman domus lie next to the only standing tower left of the late Roman walls. In the Middle Ages, the tower became part of a monastery and its inside walls were elegantly painted.
The visit may last a few minutes, just to get a glimpse at the accurate wooden model of the city of Milano in the IV century - and to the diatretum, of course - or about one hour, if you also want to explore the sections dedicated to the Early Middle Ages, and to the Etruscan and Greek art.

Enjoy!
After the visit, go back to corso Magenta. Turn left and walk for 3-4 minutes to Bar Magenta. This one century old bar is a favourite with the students of the nearby Università Cattolica. Have a Negroni Sbagliato - a popular Milanese long drink - and you will live for many years!