We're flying from New York to Milan on April 25, Liberation Day, and will arrive about 8 AM. It looks like just about every museum, art gallery, and shop will be closed with the exception of restaurants and cafes. We would like to tour Il Duomo (cathedral), but we're not familiar enough with Milan to plan an easy day and evening. Any suggestions? (The following day, we've planned a day trip to Bergamo.)
EB
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
We on this board have always had a difficult time giving good answers to the "what will be open on a national holiday" type of question. An accurate answer to this question would come from a resident or someone with detailed local knowledge. As you've already figured out, your arrival on a major holiday, Liberation Day, is going to significantly limit what will be open on that day in the way of museums, etc. April 25th is also a Friday and thus you have the 3-day weekend problem, whatever public transportation and other things that ARE open will likely be crowded with locals, in addition to tourists, locals on their 3-day weekend. Possibly you'll want to consider changing your plans to the extent of not going to Bergamo on Saturday and instead seeing on that day the things in Milan that you wanted to see that were closed on Liberation Day. Churches are often open when nothing else is but whatever is open will likely be very crowded. We could advise you about what to see in Milan on a normal day but April 25th, and that weekend, are not normal days.
Posted by
bergamo
401 posts
I'm kind of a local, I live between Milan and Bergamo. Kudos for going to Bergamo on Saturday--great town!
Yes, April 25th is a holiday, but I would bet that the area around the Duomo, especially in the afternoon from about 4pm on will be full of people and that there will be stores open. Seeing as you are arriving that morning maybe take this opportunity to take it a bit easy, go see the Duomo and take a rooftop tour after you drop your bags at the hotel, and the have a nice lunch somewhere nearby. Take a nap and then head back over towards Duomo, Monte Napoleone, and see what is happening. Have an aperativo at some nice bar around 5pm. Yes, it is a holiday, but the city won't be deserted, there will be things to see and do.
ps-My mom is arriving on the same day, also leaving from NY, and I'm getting her from the airport. Maybe we'll pass each other at arrivals! Let's hope for nice weather--right now it is pouring!