FORBES: The Perfect Visit To Milan's Most Charming Historic Quarter

Charming street in the Brera, Milano. Image courtesy Stephanie Orma

While Milan’s tourist hotspots like the Duomo and Galleria are must-sees, no trip to Italy’s fashion capital is complete without a stop in Brera—the city’s most charming district. Say ciao to winding cobbled lanes lined with ivy-clad façades, indie boutiques, designer galleries, and cozy cafés. Here, a few highlights not to miss.

Sip la dolce vita. The oh-so-adorable Sicilian Brera sits on a quiet sidestreet in the historic heart, and locals love it for good reason. The café’s petite outdoor terrace—fronting sun-warmed terracotta façades and quintessentially Italian shuttered windows—is the perfect perch for a slow espresso. Sicilian classics steal the show: delicately piped cannoli with impossibly light ricotta, soft almond paste cookies with crisp golden edges, sugar-dusted brioche and more deliciousness. Come lunchtime, fresh salads and ‘arancini’ with prosciutto e mozzarella make it even more meraviglioso.

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