Museo Diocesano of Milan

The Museo Diocesano (Diocesan Museum) of Milan was opened in 2001 by the Archdiocese of Milan.

Its aim is to protect, showcase and make use of the works of art in the Diocese's possession, placing them within the kind of spiritual setting which inspired their creation over the course of the centuries.

The museum is situated in the grounds of the Basilica di Sant'Eustorgio, the source of Ambrosian Christianity and still the starting point for the procession which traverses the historic centre before reaching the Duomo, where it culminates in the appointment of the new archbishop of Milan.

As well as being a conventional museum, the Diocesan Museum's library and bookshop make it a place of great historic interest. At the same time, it is full of life and designed to be used, with pleasant spaces and services available.

As soon as you leave the museum, you will find yourself in Corso di Porta Ticinese. In olden days, this road would have led to Pavia, passing through the "Porta Cicca" gate of Milan.

The road leads from the Colonne di San Lorenzo to the Darsena; it has quite an anarchic feel to it, with graffiti and underground stores everywhere you turn. It's the favourite haunt of young people and street fashion lovers.

The main attractions along the road are the Parco delle Basiliche, which is packed out in the evenings every summer, the quieter Piazza Sant'Eustorgio (where the remains of the Three Kings are kept) and Piazza XXIV Maggio, from which you access the stunning Darsena and Navigli areas, which provide the perfect backdrop for typical Milanese bars and street food stalls.