We had an interesting three-day trip to Milan. We arrived on Saturday night and went to Turin the next day, just an hour away by fast train from Milan. It costs about 70 euros for two people, or you can take the slower train, which is around one-third the cost but takes two hours. We decided to get off at Torino Porta Susa, a station before the end destination (Torino Porta Nuova). We walked from the station to the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians, a church built by Don Bosco that contains his shrine. A very nicely done cathedral and chapel in his honour, and where his mortal remains are also kept. There was a brief, touching moment when the old couple and their son exchanged signs of peace with us, but the young man failed to wish me. The father quickly pointed out the cane and his inability to see.
After praying at the shrine, we tried to reach the center of Turin. We got a bit lost as the tram made a detour, but eventually made it. We visited the radio and television museum and walked toward the Turin Cathedral, where the Shroud is kept. I mean, there are mysteries about the shroud, but the reality is it's revered as well. However, on the way to the Cathedral, we were inundated with crowds like we'd never seen before. The Turin Auto Show showcased cars globally, but likely not American ones. The event featured Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Pininfarinas, Lotus, Dongfeng, Tesla, and BYD, attracting large crowds who were taking photos. Some luxury cars were off-limits, and there were antique cars on display. Overall, it was quite an interesting experience. Turin, as a lot of people know, is the headquarters of Fiat.
Post-Turin, we then headed for Lake Como the next day. We actually took a train from Milan to Varenna and stopped over. From Varenna, we took a ferry to Bellagio and back. On the train track to Varenna, there was a boulder, so we had to get off at Lecco, take a bus, and again connect with another train, which took us to Varenna. Trenitalia arranged everything, and although it was inconvenient and took longer, we still made it there. We had to take the same route back. Lake Como is a beautiful destination, with Bellagio, where it converges with Lake Lecco and is part of the unique ecosystem in the southern Alps. On the other side, you have Interlaken, etc. Although a picturesque place, Bellagio is really a small town; well, I would even say it's a village with some high-end villas, and is more famous for its cousin in Las Vegas. Small town, you get nice food, some good gelato, walked around the town a bit, took some photographs, and then back to Milan.
On the final day in Milan, it happened that the Milan Fashion Show was going on, but obviously we did not see it and chose to see the church where Leonardo Da Vinci's painting "The Last Supper" but we could not get access. It is housed in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie ). Tickets are usually booked well ahead in advance, and we took a chance. There were no tickets for that day. The Last Supper has changed significantly over time. The original painting has not lasted well and is housed in the refectory, while the chapel is open to the public. Just next to it, within walking distance, is Sforza Castle, which is very well known and was the base of the former Duke of Milan. We bought a museum ticket to see Michelangelo's Rondanini Pietà, which also allowed us access to the entire museum. The castle had 30-plus rooms with a huge collection that you would expect in a large museum. It can get to be a bit tiring. We were a little pushed for time, so we didn't go through everything. We did go through a lot of the rooms and even got to the top of the castle to get a view down and around the surrounding area.
We took the subway to the Milan Duomo, where there were long lines to go up and to enter the church. The Dumo seems uncannily similar to the Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona. The Sagrada Familia has more detail, I guess, but the look and feel is the same. We also walked through the Galleria Vittorio, which is also famous for its glass dome ceilings and is again copied in Las Vegas. After that, we had a meal at a lovely Chinese restaurant in Milan, and then headed back to London.
Some notes
Contactless cards work everywhere, including subways, trains etc.
Keep you passports with you at all times, as there could be checks (we were asked at Milano Centrale).
Be prepared to walk distances.
There are other options for visitors ex Milan such as Portofino, Venice, Florence, Verona, etc, which are 2/3 hours away by train.
Bellagio view from the ferry
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