This comprehensive tour starts at the Castello Sforzesco, opposite the Filaret tower. It then passes through the strikingly huge army courtyard to the Ducal court, a residential area built in the time of Louis Il Moro. Then you will see the ponte delle Sirenette and going to the Triennale Museum and the Branca tower, offering you a unique insight into the history of Milan. You can experience the amazing skyline of Milan with a ride on the Branca Tower Elevator, presenting a unique perspective of the city's modern facade, including the Cathedral, stadium and Pirelli skyscraper. The main points do not stop there. The Mercanti square, the gilded statue of the Madonna, the statue of the poet and writer of the XIX century Alessandro Manzoni and the back facade of the city hall of Milan are still preserved. The tour ends with a trip to the Piazza della Scala, where you will find the famous Opera house, before returning to the Filaret tower.The Castello Sforzesco is located in the Sempione Park, in the heart of Milan. Currently, this giant structure is known all over the world. Many Russian tourists at the first sight of it notice its striking resemblance to the Moscow Kremlin. And this is not surprising, because the project was created by famous architects from Milan, and they naturally made drawings, taking the Castello Sforzesco as the basis. Take a closer look at the shape of the towers and the edging of the walls in the form of a crown, and you will also notice this similarity.The bridge of the mermaids- ponte delle Sirene -is located within the Sempione Park; this place has a long and interesting history. This is the first metal bridge in Italy, which was built in honor of the Austrian Emperor Ferdinand I and opened in 1842 by Archduke Ranieri. The four sensuous sirens that adorn the bridge were appreciated by the Milanese and became the characters of many urban legends. The " Gisini sisters "("Le sorelle Ghisini"), as the mermaids were affectionately called by the locals, became a meeting place for couples in love and romantic "pranks". In 1930, the mermaid bridge was shortened and moved from the Navigli zone to the Sempione Park.The Triennale is an exhibition space and at the same time a cultural Institute that presents a panorama of contemporary decorative and design art in Italy. It originally existed in the form of regular exhibitions (every three years-hence the name). The first was held in 1923 in Monza (Monza) and was a display of decorative art. And in 1929, this international exhibition was called the Triennale. Since 1933, it has been based in Milan.The Branca tower, located in the heart of the city, is often called the “Eiffel tower of Milan”. It was built on the personal order of the head of the Italian government, Benito Mussolini, in 1933. The construction was timed to coincide with the opening ceremony of the fifth anniversary exhibition in the Palazzo del Arte (Triennale Museum), in the beautiful old Park "Sempione". The tower was originally named Torre Littoria, and next to it is another landmark of Milan – the famous Sforza castle.It is small and it is quite possible to accidentally miss it while looking around the city. Until the second half of the XIX century. it was surrounded by buildings that had been built in different eras and preserved their architectural styles. The Mercanti square seemed to form a courtyard, separating from its more famous neighbor, the Piazza Duomo.
It is worth remembering that this small place was dedicated to the conduct of important events in the lives of citizens: here justice was administered and meetings of the merchants ' Guild were held. The main arches were located, as were the six main city gates. Subsequently, to facilitate the passage of citizens from the Cathedral to the Sforza castle, two arches were demolished.The square began to look spacious, but lost some of the charm of the middle Ages. On Mercanti square, you should pay special attention to the so-called Palace of Lawyers. This beautiful building, built in the Renaissance style, harmoniously entered the complex of several earlier structures. But the main architectural masterpiece can be easily recognized by the large portico. This is the Palazzo della Ragione or, as it is often called by locals – Broletto Nuovo. The word “broletto “is Latin for”fenced yard". The building was built during the middle Ages and was intended for court sessions.Surprisingly, Piazza della Scala is a relatively recent addition to the look of Milan. Yes, it is the Palazzo Marino, built in the XVI century, but the square itself is the result, as we would say now, of an urban development project or even renovation. In fact, it was thanks to the Palazzo Marino that it appeared. Once the Palace of a Genoese merchant, over time the building went to the Treasury, and in 1861 it was decided to turn into the city hall. At that time, the front facade of the Palace faced the other side, and the theater was facing the street. There were buildings on the site of the current square. The city authorities demolished them to create a beautiful architectural ensemble near the town hall.
