Milan Sights: Museums

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Milan offers the visitor a large variety of art museums, mainly of Italian Renaissance and Baroque.

• Pinacoteca di Brera, Via Brera www.brera.beniculturali.it. Reach by subway MM2 Lanza - Piccolo Teatro Station, MM3 Montenapoleone Station, streetcar lines 1, 4, 8, 12, 14, 27 or buses 61 and 97. One of Italy's most important art collections and one of the foremost collections of Italian paintings.

• Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Piazza Pio XI, 2, 02 80692 1, ( mailto:info@ambrosiana.it, Fax: 02 80692 210) www.ambrosiana.it. Historical library that also houses the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana art gallery.

• Poldi Pezzoli Museum, Manzoni St www.museopoldipezzoli.it. Reach by subway, MM3 Montenapoleone Station, or with many buses and streetcars. One of the world's richest private art collections.

• Bagatti Valsecchi Museum www.museobagattivalsecchi.org — A late 19th century aristocratic mansion with Italian Renaissance art collections located in via Gesù 5, between via della Spiga and via Montenapoleone; subway MM3 Montenapoleone Station, MM1 San Babila Station, streetcar lines 1 and 2, Montenapoleone stop.

• Societa' per le Belle Arti ed Esposizione Permanente, +39 02 6599803 ( mailto:info@lapermanente-milano.it, Fax: +39 02 6590840) www.lapermanente-milano.it. Changing exhibitions of contemporary art. Walking distance to MM1 and MM2 Cadorna Station.

• The Sforzesco Castle www.milanocastello.it — Reach by subway, MM1 Cairoli - Castello Station and MM2 Lanza - Piccolo Teatro Station, or with many buses and streetcars. Houses several of the city's musuems and art gallery collections. Home to the museums of applied arts, ancient art, historical musical instruments, prehistory, Egyptian art and fine arts.

• Civico Museo Archeologico — Roman antiques from Milan and the surrounding area.

• Contemporary Arts Pavillion (PAC), Palestro Street near Porta Venezia Gardens, www.pac-milano.org/main.htm. Reachable by subway, line MM1, Palestro Station, or with many buses and streetcars.

• Museo del Duomo (Museum of the Cathedral) www.duomomilano.it. Subway: MM1 and MM3 Duomo Station. Displays the 700 year old history of construction of the cathedral, with impressive walk-in wooden models, façade designs originating from several centuries, sculptures and more.

• Museo d'Arte Paolo Pini www.mapp-arca.it — Contemporary art gallery collection.

• Galleria d'Arte Moderna — Mainly features 19th Century Italian art.

Other Museums:

• Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology, S.Vittore Street, www.museoscienza.org. Reachable by bus or subway, line MM2 Sant'Ambrogio Station.

• Natural Science Museum, at 55, Corso Venezia, inside Porta Venezia Gardens. Subway: Line MM1, Porta Venezia or Palestro Stations. Has reduced and free entry (depends on person) after 4:30PM most days or 2:30PM Fridays.

• The Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) www.comune.milano.it/palazzoreale/index.html — Located opposite the South side of Duomo, always hosts many exhibitions, usually very interesting. Subway: MM1 and MM3 Duomo Station.

• Triennale di Milano, Alemagna St www.triennale.it. Museum of Design and Architecture, always has 4-6 exhibits on the subject of design, photography or modern art, at least 1-2 of which are always free entry. Reach by bus 61 or subway, line MM2 Cadorna-Triennale Station, or by walking through Parco Sempione from Castello Sforzesco.

• Museo Teatrale alla Scala www.teatroallascala.org — A museum dedicated to the world's most famous opera house. Subway: MM1 and MM3 Duomo Station.