Visitors are not drawn to Milan for its culture, which is a pity since the city centre has many museums and a particularly good selection of world-class art exhibitions and individual pieces. Everybody has heard of The Last Supper, recently restored and open to scrutiny in the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. However, the less famous Brera Gallery is an international treasure house - on a par with the Uffizi Gallery in Florence or London's National Gallery - and Michelangelo's last work, the extraordinary Pieta Rondanini, in the civic galleries of the Sforza Castle, is a surprise find for many of the city's visitors.
Sightseeing is made easier by the proximity of attractions to the city's Cathedral. Visitors should not be afraid to explore on foot, ignoring the efficient transport services when time permits. The centre has an attractive number of pedestrianised quarters where a cocktail of architectural styles - the grandeur of Imperial Austria, the grace of Renaissance Italy and the optimistic bravado of the Belle Epoque - often stand shoulder to shoulder with the very modern, to stylish effect. The pace of Milan can be unrelenting. Visitors embracing the invigorating tonic of city life will need to balance their time - as the Milanesi do. Urban romantics will enjoy wandering the southern stretch of the historic centre, taking in the canal banks of the Naviglio Grande, where the old wash houses can still be seen, exploring the University district and the historic collection of basilicas Sant'Eustorgio and Sant'Ambrogio. The city parks, Parco Sempione and the Giardini Pubblici, are to the north and pleasant enough for a break on a sunny day.
