Visitors still have a few days for taking advantage of this great chance: visiting world-known masterpieces created by the greatest artists ever.

Artworks by Cézanne, Gauguin, Monet, Matisse, Renoir, Picasso, Rousseau and Van Gogh are still on display at Brera Art Gallery in Milan until 5th February 2012.

Such beautiful works come from the collections of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts of Moscow. The exhibition purpose is to celebrate the exceptional combination of two great museums dating back to 19th century on the occasion of the Cultural Year 2011 that celebrates Italy-Russia relations.

All the paintings on view belong to two great Russian collectors, Sergej Scukin and Ivan Morozov, who in the beginning of 20th century bought their paintings in the most important galleries in Paris, creating in this way unique, precious collections. They were also friends of some artists and bought pictures simply because they had a real passion for art and not because museums or collectors were interested in them.

Visitors will have the chance to marvel at works such as Water Lilies by Claude Monet, Portrait of Ambroise Vollard by Picasso, The Prison Courtyard by Van Gogh and many other masterpieces, unique pieces.

Visit Brera Art Gallery, book your tickets now with About Milan.

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Brera Art Gallery
Via Brera, 28
20121 Milano

tel. +39 02 722 63 264 – 229
fax: +39 02 720 011 40
e-mail: sbsae-mi.brera@beniculturali.it

Opening Hours

h 8.30-19.15 From Tuesday to Sunday
(Ticket office open ‘till 6.40 pm)
Close on Mondays

Tickets

€ 12,00
€ 9,00 Reduced price

If you are a fashion adicted and you feel out of shape, you cannot miss Milan‘s fashion week.

From 14th to 17th January , some of our most famous stylists: Ermenegildo Zegna, Roberto Cavalli, Giorgio Armani, Dolce e Gabbana, Missoni, Trussardi, Prada will surprise us with their fall-winter creations.

On Saturday the 14th of January in Via Savona, the models of Ermegildo Zegna will be the first ones to show up on the catwalk. In the afternoon in Viale Piave 24, Dolce e Gabbana and Roberto Cavalli in via san Luca 3 will close up the day.

Sunday the 15th of January will be the turn of : Armani, Ferragamo, Missoni, Trussardi and Prada in via del Borgogone(city center close by to Viale Monte Nero-via Fogazzaro).

Monday on the 16th of January in Piazza Oberdan Gucci will delight us with his creation, later on in via del Gesù, Versace will surprise us with his new creations.

On the last day of the event, Giorgio Armani will open his new location in via Bergognone. We don’t know what will happen in Via Solari, the crime scene of a tragic accident which happened some weeks ago.

The evening will be rich of events, we expect that Dolce & Gabbana have in mind to celebrate their collection at the Gold club (their personal club ) in which has been shoot one of the last videos of David Guetta and which has given the name to the Martini limited edtion of some seasons ago.

The Magazzini Generali, on their official website is already advertizing that in the evening of the 14th of January there will be an evening with the sfaff Pour Homme, with one of the most famous staff of milanese entertainers.

During Milan‘s fashion week there will be so much to do, that one can go out of doors and just follow the crowd!

The main reason which brings global attenction on fashion’s week, is the fact that most of the majour italian stylist will show worldwide their new fashion trends regarding the fall/winter collection, together with the pre-collections (little anticipations that many stylists offer at the end of the year). Coats and jackets will be the main protagonists of these collections.

In Milan there’s so much to do, that you surely wont’t get bored!

If you would like to know more about going shopping in Milan, just have a look at About Milan.

If you’re looking for a hotel in Milan or some useful maps of Milan, just use our online travel guide to Milan.

[Thanks to Jan Eneskey and Leslie Evelyn, artists and workers in the field of fashion who have helped me writing this article.]

Julia

If you want to spend a magic, and unforgettable new year’s eve, at the sound of music, surrounded by magnificent buildings rich of culture Italy is the place to be!
This year 2011, Italy doesn’t miss the change to surprise us another time with events suitable for every age and for every kind of wallet!

Starting from Turin the capital of Piedomont , in Piazza San Carlo from 22:30 to 01:30 , you will have the chance to partecipate to a free concert full of culture and risorgimental spirit.. Renzo Arbore one of the most famous italian musicians, with the help of his orchestra,will make us dream of the past with his music rich of memory and tradition.

On the other hand, Milan with its charming Castello Sforzesco, will be the setting of a celtic celebration. Internationl groups such as the Irish Kila and the Scots Wolfstone, will project us into the world of the scottish Highlands, with its nostalgic but at the same time, full of life ballads.

And if you feel really romantic, you must go to Venice, where at midnight in Piazza San Marco, in the name of peace , love and brotherho0d a mass kiss will take place.
If instead you want to dance the night away,and you are prepeared to spend as much as you can! la Versilia will not disappoint you, with its many posh discotecoques, either on the beach or in closed spaces.

But why not follow the trend and spend new year’s eve listening to contemporary concerts in one of the many Italian piazzas without spending a single euro?

In Florence the cradle of reinassance, in Piazza Santa Maria Novella (railway station) the famous rapper Caparezza from Puglia, will perform some of his best rap songs.

In Piazza del Campo in Siena, we will still celebrate the 150 anniversary of Italy. A big concert will take place, with the projection of images. The first part of the concert (Viva Verdi) will be caracterized by risorgimental classical music. The second part of the concert instead, which starts soon after midnight, will be a journey into contemporarey music. After 12:30 till 05:00 the party moves on to the Fortezza Medicea, with dj set (admission not free).

Rome the capital of Italy, with its magnificent Colosseum, will be as every year, the setting of a big concert, with wine and fireworks.Giusy Ferreri (from x-factor) will open the concert, afterwards the famous group Negramaro from Salento will make us dance and sing with some of their most famous songs.

If instead you feel like visiting the new cosmopolitan city of 2012, you must go to Belgrade.

Belgrade the capital of Serbia, offers the right occasion to explore an original new city. With its National Museum, the one of contemporary art, and the charming Bohemien district, is a nice occasion to visit a new city without spending a lot of money.

We wish you a very happy new year!

If in this period you’re in Milan or you’re planning to spend your Christmas holidays in the capital of fashion and shopping addicts, then now you have three reasons more.

Why? First: Fiera Oh Bej Oh Bej, a typical Milan festival with hundreds of stalls; second: Artigianato in Fiera (Handicrafts and handmade products from all over the world), and third, Fiera del Libro Usato, a market with hundreds stalls selling second-hand books.

Milan is going to celebrate its famous and most loved Fiera degli Oh Bej Oh Bej from 7th to 10th December. A thousand stalls offering toys, balloons, sweeties, antiques, wood sculptures, collectible cds and dvds, jewelry and junk jewelry, handmade creations in wood, iron or fabric, old comics and don’t forget about the typical Milan delicious specialties like Brigidini, baked chestnuts, roasted ear of corn, nougat and much more. A real joy for both children and adults! A perfect occasion for finding original Christmas gifts!

Stalls will be open to the public all the days from 8.30 am to 9.00 pm.

As mentioned before, Milan has other surprises for its visitors. Artigiano in Fiera, the fantastic appointment with handicrafts from all over the world will put on display its special products from 3rd to 11th December 2011 at the new exhibition center Fieramilano in the area Rho-Pero.

Five continents, 110 countries and about 3,000 exhibitors on 150,000 sq m for finding your original gift ideas and taste flavours from every corner of the world, with admission free and the chance for disabled people to book a wheel chair for free.

The new edition of Artigianato in Fiera will present 5 areas:

- Italy (pavilions 1 – 5);
- Europe (pavilions 5 e 7);
- Countries of the World (pavilions 6 – 10);
- Econavigare, dedicated to the handmade boats and accessories (pavilion 7).

In addition:

- Abitare la Casa, a show room fully dedicated to high-quality, handmade furniture (pavilion 4);
- Moda & Design and Giovani Artigiani, in which young designers and fashion designers will have the chance to put on display their original creations, obviously everything is rigorously made in Italy, (pavilion 4);
- Passione creativa, ana area where visitors will have the chance to see the process of handmade creations (pavilion 4).

Opening hours of Artigianato in Fiera (3-11 December) are the following: open all the days from 10.00 am to 10.30 pm, but on Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th December from 3 pm to 10.30 pm.

And it’s not all, because Milan has scheduled another great event in December: Salone del Libro Usato (Show Room of second-hand Books), from 7th to 10th December 2011 at Fiera viale Scarampo. Here, you will find great literature classics, rare comics, spy stories, rare pieces for collectors, books of poems, books for children and guys, postcards, stamps and cinema posters and much more.

So, what are you waiting for? Come to Milan and enjoy such fabulous celebrations and fairs!

For further information about Milan, please visit our online guide About Milan.

Halloween night is coming!

Get ready for the most frightful night in the year in the best way. Many Italian cities are planning to give parties and masked balls for 31st October to remind macabre atmospheres of ghosts wandering on earth.

This typically American party has become popular in Italy in the last years, with a bigger success every year. Don’t lose the chance to spend this night at best. There are lots of opportunities to spend a mysterious and frightful night both for adults and children, let’s see some!

Milan gets ready for the “witches’ night” with many events for all age people:

Associazione dei commercianti del Garibaldi organizes the event “Testa di Zucca” (“Pumpkin Head”): commit yourself to create your Halloween pumpkin, the winner will gain a prize.

From 4 p.m., you’ll find “trick or treat” in all shops displaying a little vampire in shop windows, and at 6 p.m. there will be a prize-giving for the most beautiful pumpkins at “Sidercar Eventi”.

For dance lovers and party animals who wish to party and dance all night long, we suggest the great Asian Halloween Party Milan, at Life Club on 31st October from 11.30 p.m. to 5 a.m., with free entrance for women. Costumes are requested.

For a bewitched night with ghosts, witches and monsters, spend the night at New Free Life Club Milan; costumes are requested.

With Halloween Zombie Night, the show becomes horror for a terrifying evening; after the show, the night continues in 2 dance floors with a rock selection, 70’s/80’s music and 90’s music. The staff wearing costumes of undead creatures will jazz up the party.

Genoa, for the event extraordinarily will open the Castle of Pietra della Vobbia and suggests an event called “Halloween in the castle”: a cultural party that links a guided tour to a theme entertainment for the night. The event starts at 7.30 p.m. in a restaurant near the castle and the thematic visit to the castle will take place at 9.30. We suggest you to bring torches and wear comfortable dresses; costumes are recommended.

In Venice, the Relais Castello di Bevilacqua organizes a theme evening with many ghosts, witches and mysteries for the most frightful night of the year. Beyond the dinner, there will be a dance floor, a scaring staff and finally a fire show. Costumes are not required, but suggested.

In Turin, a treasure hunt will be held in the city centre streets to discover scaring ghosts; at the end, participants will receive a hot chocolate. This event is both for adults and children.

For electronic music lovers, there’s also a special event at Palaolimpico with four rooms, where many international artists will play electronic music. At the end, there will be a concert performance by the band Underworld.

For ice skating lovers, it’s possible to spend the Halloween night at Palavela in Turin.
Get a mask, wear a fancy dress and from 9.00 p.m. come to iceskate with witches, zombies and vampires, with much entertainment and music.

Also Rome is getting ready for the witches’ night! Hell’s and Grill restaurant organizes a huge party with spectral setting. There you can order liters of beer and many steaks.

Circolo degli Artisti will celebrate Halloween with RadioRock, a fantastic appointment with rock music, terrifying masks and many surprises.

For children, MagicLand park will stay open to celebrate the witches’ night, for a special evening rich in surprises.

See you on the night of 31st October!

Obviously, it’s Leonardo da Vinci we are talking about. The universal Italian genius and great myth. His world-famous Self portrait will be put on display for the first time ever in the halls of Scuderie Juvarriane at Reggia di Venaria (province of Turin).

Such a great exhibition will be held from November 18th 2011 to January 29th 2012 and will offer visitors the chance to marvel at this great genius together with the artworks of those artists who throughout the centuries took inspiration from him.

The exhibition offers an itinerary within the work of Leonardo da Vinci through about 30 original drawings belonging to important Italian and foreign institutions, and some documents from the Biblioteca Reale of Turin. Finally, you’ll find an exhibition path showing several works dating back to the period between 15th and 20th century, telling the importance and consolidation of the genius’s physiognomy in ancient and modern art until the influence of Leonardo in contemporary art.

Firstly, visitors will find a section introducing the artist through a biography that shows the social context, cultural environment, the training and the several activities of the Master.

Then, visitors will find an interesting video interpreting and showing the da Vinci’s works – focusing on the issue of the physiognomy of the artist – by Piero Angela.

The exhibition ends with a multimedia area, introduced by a digital reproduction of the Last Supper on 1:1 scale, which allows analyzing the details of gestures and physiognomies of one of Leonardo’s major masterpieces.

The fortune of Leonardo in literature is described by the screening of literary writings, whiles a section, realized in collaboration with the Museo del Cinema of Turin and by Arnaldo Colasanti, presents a series of movies inspired by his genius.

In addition, here are the 3 main sections of the exhibition:

1st SECTION: THE SELF PORTRAIT AND THE DRAWINGS
The section about drawings presents the Codex on the Flight of Birds and a complete set of 13 autograph writings belonging to the collections of the Biblioteca Reale of Turin, including the famous Self Portrait.

2nd SECTION: THE BIRTH OF A MYTH
The figure of Leonardo is analyzed through a selection of works by artists between 15th and 18th century. Through this section, visitors may easily understand how the physiognomy of the artist soon became the icon of the Renaissance genius.

3rd SECTION: A CONTEMPORARY ICON
The section about the fortune of Leonardo in contemporary art is opened by the famous tribute by Marcel Duchamp, who apparently defaced Mona Lisa by drawing a moustache. Another interesting topic is the Last Supper, with the series of reprocessed reproductions by Andy Warhol, but also many other main characters of contemporary art, such as Spoerri, Nitsch, Recalcati.

Opening Hours
Close on Mondays (but on National Bank Holidays, having the same opening hours of Sundays)

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
From 9 am to 6 pm

Saturday and Sunday
From 9 am to 8 pm

Leonardo and his great genius wait for you at Reggia di Venaria in Turin from November, 18th 2011 to January, 29th 2012.

For further information about Turin please visit the tourist guide to Turin About Turin. For more detailed information about how to see and book your tickets for Leonardo’s Last Supper in Milan, take a look at About Milan.

From 21st to 27th September 2011, the appointment with exclusive pret-à-porter fashion world comes back in Milan. The fashion collections for season Spring-Summer 2012 will be presented at Milano Moda Donna.

Every year, the world-renowned and glamorous Milan Fashion Week represents an important catwalk for the fashion world and offers the opportunity to take part in a rich calendar counting over 230 fashion shows and presentations.

At each edition, there are 2,500 journalists coming from all over the world and 15,000 buyers. Not to mention that if you would lake to participate in the many appointments and events scheduled for the Fashion Week, it is necessary to book hotels very in advance!

The appointment calendar also this year presents several fashion shoes and exclusive events you can’t miss. While we’re updating our wardrobe with Winter collections, be prepared to already know which will be the new trends for Spring-Summer 2012.

You will have the chance to marvel at the creations of many popular names in Milan, such as Roccobarocco, Gucci, John Richmond, Alberta Ferretti, H&M, Max Mara, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, Roberto Cavalli, Gianfranco Ferrè.

Take a look at a small part of the rich calendar of events:

Wednesady 21st September 2011

h. 09:30 am SIMONETTA RAVIZZA
h. 10:30 am ANGELO MARANI
h. 11:30 am PAOLA FRANI
h. 12:30 am ROCCOBAROCCO
h. 02:00 pm GUCCI
h. 03:00 pm GUCCI
h. 04:00 pm JOHN RICHMOND
h. 05:00 pm ALBERTA FERRETTI
h. 06:00 pm N°21
h. 07:00 pm FRANCESCO SCOGNAMIGLIO
h. 08:00 pm JO NO FUI

Presentations
h. 5:30 – 8:30 pm VIA DELLE PERLE
h. 6:30 pm – 00:00 am BRUNELLO CUCINELLI

Thursday 22nd September 2011

h. 09:30 am MAX MARA
h. 10:30 am BLUGIRL
h. 11:30 am FENDI
h. 12:30 am ERMANNO SCERVINO
h. 02:00 pm D&G
h. 03:00 pm GENNY
h. 04:00 pm KRIZIA
h. 05:00 pm LUISA BECCARIA
h. 06:00 pm PRADA
h. 07:00 pm ALBINO
h. 08:00 pm ANTEPRIMA

Haute Couture and the most renowned fashion stylists in the world are waiting for you in the city of fashion: the eclectic and peppy Milan.

For further information about Milan, have a look at the practical online travel guide: About Milan, just a click away from you!

About Milan, the online tourist guide to the city of Milan, from years offers many information and useful tips about how to spend your time in Milan at best, enjoying all the cultural, artistic and architectonic treasures of the city once there and providing also many useful maps, phone numbers and addresses.

This practical travel guide to Milan also provides users a wide range of tips on guided tours and the chance to book their ideal accommodation in Milan.

In addition, users now will find a new page under the section called “Museums Tickets”, an area where it’s possible to book your tickets for visiting many important museums in Milan skipping the line without wasting your time. This new page is called “Cenacolo – Da Vinci’s Last Supper” and here – besides many historical and interesting information about Leonardo’s masterpiece – it’s possible to book tickets for marvelling at the famous painting at a small price.

As a mater of fact, Leonardo’s Last Supper is preserved at Santa Maria delle Grazie Church in Milan and booking is required, thus booking tickets online is the easiest and quickest thing to do for discovering such a masterpiece without wasting your time standing in line.

Today this striking artwork has become even more famous thanks to the book written by Dan Brown The Da Vinci Code – and later by the movie – which fascinated millions people from all over the world, who today come to Milan to visit the famous painting and try to discover the mysteries the writer talked about.

We remind you that the Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8.15 am to 7 pm (admission allowed until 6.45 pm). Close on Mondays, 1st January, 1st May, 25th December.

What are you waiting for? If you’re planning a trip to Milan, you can’t miss such a masterpiece! Book your tickets for visiting Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper on About Milan.

Further information on The Last Supper are available on About Milan travel guide.

From 3rd to 22nd September 2011, the Festival hosting great Italian and international artists comes back in Milan and Turin: MiTo Torino Milano Festival Internazionale della Musica (International Music Festival).

MiTo, one of the greatest cultural events in Europe, presents over 200 concerts of classical, contemporary, jazz, pop, rock, regional and ethnic music, with free admission or “low-cost” tickets.

Since 2007, Milan and Turin have become open-air theatre and music workshops, thanks to this special Festival that stands out for its vast assortment in music and the high level of the artists involved.

Such an event joins in harmony two great cities like Milan and Turin, an alliance among arts, a unique experience involving the best of contemporary musical, cinematographic and artistic production.

This year, the theme of the event will be focused on the anniversary of 150 years of Italian Unity. The Festival commissioned some pieces to some of the greatest Italian and foreign composers – Salvatore Sciarrino, Fabio Vacchi, Fabio Nieder, Harrison Birtwistle, etc. – which the audience will have the chance to listen to in world premiere.

This edition will involve 48 different countries and visitors will find in the works over 200 appointments involving 3,500 artists in Turin and Milan.

The music in an expression of art and different nations and this festival wants to pay homage to the cultures of the world; as a matter of fact, the preceding editions celebrated the Korean, gypsy, Japanese and Turkish music and this year MiTo SettembreMusica wants to pay homage to Haiti, the island shocked and destroyed by the earthquake on 12th January 2010.

Finally, here are some of the names taken from the Festival’s program: Daniel Barenboim, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Saint Petersburg with Yuri Temirkanov, Michele Di Toro, Solo, Duet & Trio, Olafur Arnalds, Stacey Kent, Salvatore Accardo and the orchestra from Camera Italiana, Giordano Amato, The Puppini Sisters, Quartetto MU and many others.

So, what are you waiting for? Come to Milan and Turin and find the real music!

For more detailed information about Turin and Milan, please have a look at the online guides About Turin and About Milan.

Lombardy, the region hosting the fashionable and glamorous city of Milan, is one of Italy’s richest and most populated regions. Lombardy is also a very important agricultural center and a leader figure in industrial and commercial sectors, thanks to the presence of the city of Milan as an international center of business and fashion.

As already mentioned, this region (along with Tuscany) has always been an important center for textile production; Italian high-quality textile made Italian fashion brands famous and appreciated all over the world. The mark of “Made in Italy” is today a synonym of quality and accurate working, which means that all those products and materials are certified by the proper authorities.

High-class fashion stores offer high-quality products but the prices are often out of the way. However, outlet stores - widely spread all over Italy – offer Italian and international brands at lower prices, without forgetting the high quality of products.

In Lombardy there are many outlet villages and stores. Some of the biggest villages are the “Franciacorta Outlet Village”, placed in the province of Brescia, which gathers more than 150 national and international brand stores.

Another Outlet Shopping Center in Lombardy is the “Fashion District Mantova”, located in the city of Mantua, more or less two hours away from Milan. This Factory Outlet Shopping Center in Lombardy gathers more than 100 stores and offers clothing and accessories able to suit all tastes.

People can also find many mono-brand Outlet Stores in Lombardy. For example, in Milan two of the most famous mono-brand outlet stores are the “D&G: Dolce and Gabbana Industria” and the “Outlet Marzotto Factory Store”. Marzotto is one of the most famous brands and a world leader in the textile industry and this Outlet Center in particular gathers some of the group’s controlled brands, such as Valentino, Missoni, Marlboro Classics, Uomo Lebole, Borgofiori and many others.

In the province of Bergamo, we can find the “Outlet T.R.S. Revolution – Trussardi” where one can find Trussardi clothing specifically produced for the outlet store, pieces of older collections and also some piece of the current season collection, all at discount prices.

Moving to the area of Como, there’s the “Armani Factory Store”, Armani’s mono-brand Outlet Mall in Lombardy, where people will be able to find anything from the casual Armani/Emporio Armani collection, to the higher-class/more elegant one. Furthermore, the store also offers a wide variety of accessories and underwear.

Shopping-addicts can also choose to enjoy one of the many Outlets and Shopping Tours in Milan. For a half-day, a Private Tour will offer the chance to visit some of the top designers’ stores in Milan accompanied by an expert who will offer shopping and style tips.

People can also opt for the “Serravalle Outlet Shopping Tour” and make an 8-hour shopping session among the top designers’ outlet stores. This Tour departs from Milan and heads to Serravalle Designer Outlet, Italy’s leading shopping mall.

Otherwise, one can cross the border and shop at Mendrisio Foxtown Outlet in Switzerland, where customers will have more than 130 stores to choose among.

Come doing shopping in Lombardy and Milan, the real dimension of fashion.