Discovering the Italian Town of Vigevano đ°
Hidden Gem Day Trip Near Milan âď¸ After spending so many weekends in Milan, exploring the city, I started to feel a bit overwhelmed by the crowds. So, I decided to look for destinations around Milan to escape the city vibe. A colleague always says Milan feels the âleast Italian,â so I found this charming little town, Vigevano, which you can easily reach in a day. Vigevano You can find it on đŚ maps as Vigevano. Just take a train from Porta Genova station near the Milan canal, and in about half an hour, youâll arrive! Trains run hourly, so if you catch the 9:42 AM train, youâll arrive just in time to explore. And itâs only âŹ4 for a ticket! The town is small but full of historical sites and museums. Thereâs a shoe museum, a Leonardo da Vinci museum, exhibits on glass and prehistoric civilizations, galleries, and moreâspanning from ancient times to modern days. I even stumbled upon a temporary exhibit from a private collector. All of these are within Castello Sforzesco, a castle complex with ruins still under development. For just âŹ8, you get full access to the castle tower and all the museums. A leisurely loop through it can easily fill your morning. At noon, you can sit on a bench by the lawn, enjoy a homemade sandwich, or chat with friendsâitâs incredibly relaxing. After exploring the castle, youâll find Piazza Ducale, a gorgeous square with colorful cobblestone patterns. At the end of the central axis is Cattedrale SantâAmbrogio, with beautifully painted domes. Thereâs a museum inside the cathedral too, but unfortunately, it was closed on Sunday. After seeing it all, spend the afternoon with friends at a cafĂŠ on the square, enjoying coffee, desserts, and the viewâperfect for a relaxing weekend đ. Iâve heard there are natural attractions nearby, but the castle and square alone make it worth the visit. The red roofs and yellow walls give a similar feel to Florence but with far fewer people! If youâre tired of Milan, itâs an excellent choice. Local Tips: Cash is still widely used here; for example, the castle pass has a âŹ1.5 fee if you pay by card. On Sundays, itâs a good idea to bring snacks since fewer shops are open. You can buy train tickets directly at the station or on the Trenitalia website. Third-party apps like Omio donât offer them, and even if you board from Milano Centrale, tickets show Porta Genova as the departure point. #ArtAndArchitecture #CulturalLandmarks #DayTrip #JoyInTheSmallMoments
