Not much in RS books or Forum search bar to answer my questions, so hoping that someone here has often visited Milano. We'll take train from Florence early morning to reach Milan central station in time for lunch near church with Last Supper, then 12:30 reservation for Last Supper. Remainder of the day we'll wander, see other top sites, have dinner, take late train back to Florence. RS says take metro to Last Supper but I heard that the metro is FAR underground with no escalator and brutal stairs to get in and out of the metro (esp. for seniors with bum knees). 1) Is this true, only lots of stairs to climb? 2) If so, can I assume there's a taxi stand outside the train station? 3) What's the taxi fare from the station to S.Maria D. Grazie (Last Supper church)? 4) If we run out of steam while wandering around in the afternoon/evening, can we hail a taxi on the street or do we need to find a taxi stand? I'm thinking since Milan is big business maybe one can wave from the curb, like Chicago or NY. 5) Do you know a decent lunch place near the Santa Maria Delle Grazie church? 6) I read that the main train station is a rough place at night; is this true? Or just the same as any other big city train station anywhere? THANK YOU!
Posted by
Green Bay
21379 posts
Take the M2 (Green) line to Cadorna station. There are escalators and elevators there. It is only 5 or 6 blocks to the Chiesa Santa Maria della Grazie for the Last Supper. At Centrale, buy a Milan day-pass for the transit system at a Tabac. There are long lines (often) at the Metro ticket window and the vending machines are staked out by "helpers" who will help themselves to your money.
Other than that, I would not worry. Can't help you with any lunch spots. There's always the Autogrill in Cadorna station. There are a couple of restaurants on Via Giovanni Boccaccio on the way to the church. Never ate at any of them, but they have positive reviews, for what that's worth.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
I read that the main train station is a rough place at night; is this true? Or just the same as any other big city train station anywhere?
Milano Centrale is not particularly rough. The piazza is wide open and well lighted. We stay near there every trip, at least 3 times a year, at the Hotel Berna. Perfectly safe!
I would check Google maps for restaurants near S. M. delle Grazie or Cadorna Station. there will be bar for sandwiches, probably. With a 12:30 res for the Last Supper you might consider eating afterwards. A lot of restaurants are barely serving lunch by 12:30.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I go to Milano about once a year. if you want a cab, you need to go to a taxi stand. Gas is expensive so taxis don't cruise for fares. If you are not near a taxi stand, duck into a bar and buy a coffee or something, and ask the barista to call a taxi for you.
At 11:30 or so, lunch will be a panino, most likely. You will be out of Santa Maria delle Grazie in 40 minutes (not counting how far in advance you need to be there, I think it's half an hour (check your voucher).
Posted by
OP
North Carolina
362 posts
GRAZIE TUTTI!! Susan
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1773 posts
In major Italian cities the surest way to get a taxi is by phone. In Milan, dial 02-6969 or 02-5353.
In Milan, underground lines are not very deep - in most places, something like two floors underground. There are usually escalators from the train level to "mezzanino" - the floor immediately under the ground level (but sometimes escalators do not work). It is more difficult to find escalators from mezzanino to ground level, but we are not talking about a lot of stairs to climb.