Culture, unlike nature, is something that mankind has created. In Milan that is quite all. Choosing a few cultural highlights is therefore somewhat impossible. So, I apologize in advance! ‘The art’ in my opinion, is to find the spots that don’t really want to be found and ‘the brave’ that try something new and different, away from large crowds. So, in this ‘hot-list’ you will find a mix of ‘best’, ‘most edgy’ and ‘new’ cultural highlights of a great variation. Hoping that you enjoy not reading about to many places you already know.
#1. Standards (best art/music mix)
Standards is far from standard. A bit ‘outside’ of the inner circle of Milan, Standards offers small exhibitions, workshops, live music and more. All very contemporary. Shows are supported by fantastic catering: coffee or wine from a paper cup, some carrots and biscuits 😉 Visiting standards feels a bit like you are going to a concert or exhibition in the backyard of your best friend’s house. Very ‘easy going’ but at the same time high quality content. It’s worth the travel outside of the circonvallazione!
#2 – ICA (best newcomer in contemporary art)
ICA opened quite recently close to the big Fondazione Prada: like the edgy punky baby sister of contemporary art power house Prada. As far as i know they are not related, but they are in the same neighbourhood and the design of the flyers has the same kind of ‘style’. At ICA you can find exhibitions of more unknown young artists, if you find the entrance. But they also host open air cinema, workshops and all kinds of other projects.
#3 Cena con me (best crowd)
Cena con me is not a place it’s a concept and most of all a fantastic crowd of open, fun, strange, creative people. About 3 times a year cena con me takes over a piazza or a park organizing a ‘picknick like’ cena. You take your own food, wine, chairs and table and just join others randomly. Sharing your food, meeting new people and enjoying the surprised faces of tourists passing by. Almost every event there is some kind of music or dance group that shows op for a surprise performance. Cena con me is definitely one of the nicest strangest experiences to have in Milan.
Can be found only via facebook: cena con me
#4 Torre Branca (best architecture, to see other architecture 😉
Ow gosh I could not pick, so I choose all by choosing Torre Branca. Thanks to the advice of architecture blogger Giuglia. From this tower you can see Duomo (hopefully one day without scaffolding), Arco della Pace, City Life, zona Garibaldi and famous Bosco Verticale. Milan’s diversity in architecture in a nutshell.
#5 Perimetro (best new magazine / best photo’s)
Photographers paradise and a great way to take a look at Milan through photographers eyes. In a very short time, this ‘new brand’ or ‘community’ has concurred Milan’s young creative crowd. With a printed magazine, instagram, events and more. ‘Milan like you have never seen before’ is a promise that I’ve read before on several blogs but Perimetro for sure lives up to it!
#6 Libreria VERSO (best bookshop)
The favorite spot of le strade life style blogger Martina, is Verso. Because of the super cosy atmosphere, the tasting counter (the name they gave their bar) and the small tables outside where you can have a cold glass of wine looking out on porta Ticinese.
More info about Libreria VERSO
#Extra Crespi Dada (best heritage ‘outside of Milan’)
Crespi Dada is a place where you can see what is left of the important economic and productive history of the Lombard territory. An UNESCO heritage described as: “an outstanding example of the phenomenon of workers villages, the most complete and best preserved in Southern Europe”. I can confirm it is quite spectacular.
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