Verdi is the cultural starting point to discover Milan by visiting the places that marked his life and art. A perfect opportunity to get up close and personal with a Milan that thrives on music, design, fashion and literature. And to capture the energy and lifestyle of a city that still welcomes and inspires young talents today.
Teatro alla Scala: where opera becomes reality
Teatro alla Scala Municipality of Milan
The young Giuseppe Verdi moved to Milan in 1832 and made his debut at La Scala. After a few years, he found success. From that moment on, he began his extraordinary career as a composer, which would lead him to write immortal masterpieces such as Nabucco, Rigoletto and La Traviata. No trip to Milan can fail to see the Teatro alla Scala and its spectacular productions, a theatre that contributes to making the city one of the world capitals of lyric opera, which has welcomed composers, musicians, librettists, singers... that have marked the history of this musical genre. Attending an opera, ballet or concert in Milan, seated in the hall or in one of the elegant balconies, is an experience to be lived at least once in a lifetime. Also not to be missed is the La Scala Theatre Museum, where you can admire sumptuous costumes, documents and relics: an opportunity to discover legendary anecdotes and take a look behind the scenes.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Duomo of Milan
Leaving the theatre, we walk through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a magnificent covered passage between the Duomo and the Teatro alla Scala; The perfect place to make an appointment for an aperitif, an all-Milanese ritual that is hard to resist, or to dine after the opera. Among the mosaics, stained-glass windows and balconies, here you will find some of the most luxurious shops in Milan, as well as Via Montenapoleone or Via della Spiga, but also pastry shops, restaurants by Michelin-starred chefs and emblematic places such as the Camparino, where you can meet for a drink. Stepping out into the square, the view of the Duomo of Milan is incomparable, but the secret is not to stop outside and to go up to the terraces of the Cathedral, from where you can enjoy one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the city, framed by the spires.
Duomo Municipality of Milan
Archivio Storico Ricordi: lyrical and artistic treasures inside Palazzo Brera
The Verdian itinerary is further enriched when exploring Palazzo Brera. The rooms of this building in the heart of Brera, Milan's bohemian district that can be reached in a few minutes' walk from the Duomo, are in fact home to the Archivio Storico Ricordi, one of the world's leading private music collections, which preserves the original librettos of many of Verdi's masterpieces. The archives are accessible by appointment only for researchers, but some manuscripts can be consulted on a digital library. To visit in the same palace: the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of the most beautiful museums in Milan, which exhibits a collection of masterpieces unique in the world, including Hayez's famous Kiss, but also compositions by illustrious painters such as Caravaggio and Mantegna. Before you leave the neighborhood, don't hesitate to have a chic breakfast at Café Fernanda, a must-see.
Pinacoteca di Brera Municipality of Milan
Church of San Marco: harmonies in the heart of Brera
Continuing into the heart of Brera, the Church of San Marco is where Verdi conducted the epic Requiem in honor of Alessandro Manzoni a year after his death. Today, the small square in front of the church is a charming corner. There are terraces and bars: perfect for aperitif time, but also to start the day in complete relaxation with a coffee.
Church of San Marco Municipality of Milan
Grand Hotel and Milan: Verdi's Last Symphony
Teatro Filodrammatici Municipality of Milan
The "Quadrilateral of Fashion", the network of streets framed by Via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga and Corso Venezia, which has now become the symbol of elegance made in Italy, where the greatest Houses want to have at least one shop window, is not far away.
This is where the Grand Hotel et de Milan is located, where Verdi spent the last thirty years of his life, busy creating his masterpieces and overseeing the construction of Casa Verdi, a retirement home for musicians. The hotel was an example of elegance and innovation, typically Milanese – it was the talk of the town at the time for its telegraph, telephone and one of the city's first hydraulic elevators. The building has retained its aura of prestige to this day and remains today a charming address to stay a few steps from the historic centre.
Suite - Grand Hotel di Milan, Municipality of Milan
Milan and other literary itineraries
This itinerary is part of the "Promote and Live Milan" project, supported by the Municipality of Milan with the support of the European Union and the Ministry of Tourism, to transform a tourist stay in Milan into a literary journey, accompanying visitors to the places described in the pages of novels, stories and poems. A different way to discover the city.
On the YesMilano website (https://www.yesmilano.it/en/literary-itineraries), several thematic itineraries are available.
Teatro alla Scala: Via Filodrammatici, 2, 20121 Milan.
Archivio Storico Ricordi: Via Brera, 28, 20121 Milan. Pinacoteca di Brera: Via Brera, 28, 20121 Milan.
Church of San Marco: Piazza S. Marco, 2, 20121 Milan.
Grand Hotel and Milan: Via Alessandro Manzoni, 29, 20121 Milan.
Also read: Visit Milan in 2 days: our itinerary and our best addresses in the Lombard capital