Porta Venezia, Liberty Milan and the Villa Reale
A self-guided walk in Milan.
1h45. 1.8 miles. From Galleria Raffaella Cortese to Giardino della Villa Reale.
Discover Milan's Liberty quarter, a collector's apartment full of twentieth-century art, and the gardens of the Napoleonic Villa Reale.
The local move
Walk Via Jan and Via Malpighi with your eyes on the facades: this is Milan's Art Nouveau district.
Best time to go
Mid-morning, then lunch nearby
When to avoid it
Mondays, when GAM and the Casa Museo are closed
The stops
Galleria Raffaella Cortese
Start at one of Milan's leading contemporary galleries, spread across several spaces on Via Stradella.
Tip: Exhibitions change every few weeks; entry is free.
Casa Museo Boschi Di Stefano
An apartment by Piero Portaluppi hung floor to ceiling with twentieth-century Italian art.
Tip: Free entry; the De Chirico and Morandi rooms are the highlights.
Orsonero Coffee
A tiny specialty coffee bar run with real care, a Porta Venezia favourite.
Tip: Space is limited; take your coffee to go if it is full.
Pavé
A bakery café known for its breakfast pastries and laid-back crowd.
Tip: Weekend mornings mean a queue; weekdays are easy.
Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli
Milan's oldest public park, laid out in the eighteenth century.
Tip: Cut through the park towards Via Palestro.
PAC Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea
A modernist pavilion for contemporary exhibitions, rebuilt after a 1993 bombing.
Tip: Check the programme; it closes between shows.
GAM Galleria d'Arte Moderna Milano
Nineteenth-century art in the neoclassical Villa Reale, once Napoleon's residence.
Tip: The ballroom and the garden facade are worth the visit on their own.
Giardino della Villa Reale
End in the English-style garden behind the villa, with its small lake.
Tip: The garden is reserved for adults with children; check the entry rule at the gate.
About these walks
Explore our self-guided routes by city, with useful stops and practical notes from Chic Trip. Explore the destinations we plan.
