Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay
Germany
Belgium
Spain
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Ireland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Switzerland
Historic neighborhood · Milão, Lombardia
Brera
Neighborhood of cobbled streets behind the Scala, with studios, galleries, design shops and sidewalk café tables around the Palazzo di Brera.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Brera
Brera is the neighborhood that stretches north of the Teatro alla Scala, around the Palazzo di Brera. For a long time it was the neighborhood of artists and students from the Academy of Fine Arts, and it still retains that atmosphere in its cobblestone streets, ochre-colored façades and small galleries.
The best-known streets are Via Brera, Via Fiori Chiari, Via Madonnina and Via Solferino. Here you’ll find shops selling antiques, design and independent fashion, as well as bars and restaurants with outdoor tables. On one corner is the Orto Botanico di Brera, a small 18th-century botanical garden linked to the university.
In the late afternoon, Brera is one of the traditional spots for the Milanese aperitivo: a drink served with snacks before dinner. During Milano Design Week in April, the neighborhood hosts many installations and exhibitions.
The Igreja de San Marco, on the edge of the neighborhood, is one of the largest churches in Milan; according to tradition, Mozart stayed in the nearby convent as a teenager.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 to 2 hours of walking, plus time for an aperitivo or dinner.
Best time
In the late afternoon and evening, when bars and restaurants fill up. In the morning the neighborhood is calmer and good for photos.
How to get there
Metro M2 (green), Lanza station, or M3 (yellow), Montenapoleone station. From the Duomo, walk via Piazza della Scala and Via Verdi—about 15 minutes.
Tip
Aperitivo typically runs from 18:00 to 20:30. Dinner in Milan usually starts from 19:30 or 20:00; at the busiest places in Brera, book a table.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Brera
What to do in Brera?
Visit the Pinacoteca di Brera, stroll along Via Brera, Via Fiori Chiari and Via Madonnina, see the Orto Botanico and finish with an aperitivo at the outdoor tables.
Is Brera far from the Duomo?
No. It's about a 15-minute walk, passing Piazza della Scala.
What is the Milanese aperitivo?
It's the habit of having a drink with snacks in the late afternoon, before dinner. Many bars in Brera and the Navigli serve snacks with the drink.