curiosity

Milan, a City That Never Ceases to Amaze

Milan is a city of a thousand shades. Do not stop at its most glamorous image—the Navigli, high fashion, and luxury shopping—but venture beyond the surface. Step into the heart of the city, breathe in its history, and let yourself be surprised by its hidden wonders and secret stories.

The Statues of Duomo

An undisputed symbol of the city, the Duomo is a cathedral of superlatives: the largest Gothic church in Europe and the building with the highest number of statues in the world—3,500 in total, plus 135 gargoyles.
Amid saints and religious figures, some unexpected characters hide in plain sight: Napoleon, Mussolini, the boxer Primo Carnera… and even a statue strikingly similar to the Statue of Liberty. Curiously, the Duomo’s version was created in 1810—nearly seventy years before the American one. Coincidence or inspiration?

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The Architect

The magnificent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan’s “drawing room,” carries a tragic legend. Its architect, Giuseppe Mengoni, died the night before the inauguration, falling from the central dome. Was it an accident or a deliberate act? To this day, the circumstances of his death remain shrouded in mystery.

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The Church Made of Bones

A few steps from the Duomo stands the Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa, a place unlike any other. Its chapel is entirely decorated with skulls and human bones from the adjacent cemetery: an experience both fascinating and unsettling.

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The Devil’s Column

Next to the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio stands a Roman column marked by two mysterious holes. Legend has it that Milan’s patron saint confronted the Devil himself here, striking him with a kick so powerful that it left the imprint of his horns embedded in the stone.

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The Tomb of the 3 Wise Men

The Church of Sant’Eustorgio houses the relics of the Magi—or rather, what remains of them. Brought from Constantinople by Bishop Eustorgio, they were later stolen by Frederick Barbarossa. Only in 1904 did some fragments return to Milan, where they still rest today.

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The Temple of Night

In the gardens of Villa Finzi, in Gorla, lies an enigmatic site: a circular underground temple with a dome and an oculus that lets light pour in from above. It is considered the only example of Masonic architecture in Milan.

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The Siren Bridge

At the heart of Parco Sempione, a romantic cast-iron footbridge is guarded by four sirens. In the past, young Milanese touched the statues’ bosoms for good luck before a romantic rendezvous. Today, the bridge symbolizes eternal love: kissing here is said to ward off jealousy and betrayal.

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The Wall of Dolls

On Via De Amicis, the Wall of Dolls is a moving installation created by Jo Squillo to denounce violence against women. Dolls, photographs, and messages fill the metal grid of the wall, giving voice to those who can no longer speak.

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The Missing Street

Milan may be the only city in Italy without a “Via Roma.” There is only Corso di Porta Romana, which during the Fascist era was renamed “Corso Roma,” only to regain its original name after the war.

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Madonnine of Milan

The famous Madonnina of the Duomo has watched over the city since 1774. For centuries, no building was allowed to surpass her in height. Today, out of tradition and superstition, copies of the Madonnina crown the Pirellone, Palazzo Lombardia, and the Isozaki Tower, ensuring Milan always remains under her benevolent gaze.

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The Iron Cat

At number 43 in Corso Monforte lives a cat—made of wrought iron. It is an artwork that intrigues passersby and the curious. Once, a small metal mouse sat beside it, but it mysteriously disappeared.

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The Semilanuta Sow

According to legend, Milan was founded where a “semilanuta” sow—a creature half-covered in bristles—revealed the right place to the Celtic leader Belloveso. Today, the strange animal can still be admired carved into several historic buildings.

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The Biscione

Emblem of the Visconti dynasty and symbol of Milan, the Biscione is a serpent devouring a man. Its origins blur between history and myth, but it remains one of the city’s most powerful and recognizable icons.

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The Devil’s House

Palazzo Acerbi, on Corso Porta Romana, owes its sinister fame to its owner, Ludovico Acerbi, who seemed immune to the plague of 1630. The parties he continued to host inside the residence fueled the legend that he was protected by the Devil himself.

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The Igloo Houses

In the Maggiolina district stand curious round houses inspired by Eskimo igloos. Built after the war by engineer Mario Cavallè, eight survive today: a surreal corner of pop architecture in the heart of Milan.

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House 770

In the Via Poerio neighborhood stands an exact replica of a townhouse from Brooklyn, duplicated in 11 other cities worldwide. It is House 770, a symbolic building of the Lubavitch Jewish community.

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