The Many Unusual Experiences on Offer in Milan

The church of S. Bernardino alle Ossa is not far from the cathedral and dates back to the 17th century. It has been named the original church of human bones. The church itself is of Baroque style, the shape and the main apse are very dignified and elegant. Its unique feature is the ossuary, built to house the bones of children who died in the plague.

The ossuary is found along a passage to the right after the entrance. There is a signpost marked “Ossa” at the door. The room is not very big, and its four walls are plastered with human skulls and arm bones. It’s not for the faint of heart, you may look, but refrain from taking selfies with the human bones to show some respect.

If you like riding a bike, you should definitely enjoy Milan’s cycling culture, especially in spring and autumn, which are the best times. The city has well built bike lanes, and city-wide BikeMe rental network spots, along with some superb bike-themed cafés.

Bicycle rental fees generally include a registration fee and an hourly fee, with the option to hire by the day. If you want to arrange a one-day bicycle trip. From the cathedral, you can visit the surrounding attractions, then sunbathe in Sempione Park, go to the Navigli District and Brera in the afternoon, and experience the nightlife in the fashionable Corso Como in the evening.

Fondazione Hangar Bicocca is located in Milan’s newer part. The interior of the silver building is industrial matte black. It’s all very futuristic, with a variety of new and interesting contemporary art on show inside. It is all very powerful, and most of the key exhibitions are still free!

Apart from exhibitions, there is also a coffee shop, a bookshop and a restaurant. If you like contemporary architecture or want to get deeper into Milan’s art scene, don’t miss this place! However, the whole building including the restaurant area is open to dogs, so if you are afraid of dogs, it’s not for you.

10 Corso Como is definitely the most famous boutique concept store in this fashion capital. The name of the store is taken from the house number. Its creator Carla Sozzani is the former editor of the Italian editions of ELLE and VOGUE, and her vision and experience is what keeps this store chic. Passing through the green vines at the entrance, the store combines fashion, music, film and design, with a café and book area on the first floor.

This head office in Milan is more low-key and casual than its branches in Tokyo, Seoul or Shanghai. It not only has a coffee shop and a roof garden, but also has the world's most compact “3 Rooms” design hotel. If you like design you can find a variety of limited edition clothes, shoes, records, magazines and perfumes here, as well as designer toys made to captivate your inner child.

Since the 19th century the tram has been Milan’s main means of urban transport, and today it is still one of the symbols of the city of Milan The hop-on hop-off tram cars retain their retro design dating back over a hundred years, with wooden seats, glass lampshades, special doors and windows and iron wheels. Sit back and enjoy a leisurely look at the city.

Today, there are 17 tram lines in Milan still running. The main line is Line 1 whose route takes you past many sights, including nearly 10 of Milan’s landmarks, such the Cathedral, La Scala Opera House, Sforza Castle, etc.

In addition to hop-on hop-on trams, Milan’s public transport operator ATM has launched a tram restaurant converted from an old-fashioned tram. This mobile restaurant sets out every night from the Sforzesco Castle and runs along downtown, a beautiful scenic route of the Milan nightscape.

The Monza Circuit is located in the Royal Park near Monza city, 30 km northeast of Milan, and is known as the fastest race track. As the home of F1's famous Ferrari team, it welcomes hundreds of thousands of fans every September. It will also hold various themed events and celebrations, which are worth the experience.

You are advised to buy a single day ticket for the races, or a weekend ticket which includes practice sessions on line in advance. A total of 26 stands and a number of grass areas are set up on the track. The recommended stands are the main stand area and the Parabolica stands, while the best value for money is the Ascari stand.