Italy, Day 3

Today’s subtitle: “The Last Supper”, which is the reason we came to Milano. 

The morning came way too soon since Mark and I stayed up until 11:30 pm so we could video chat with the girls after Téa got home from school.  But it was worth being able to see my girls and all their silly faces they like to make on video.  The best way to stay awake is to go go go.  And go we did. 

First thing on the agenda today was our booked tour to see the Teatro alla Scala (the awesomeness that is the opera house).  We got to stand in the box seats, see the stage where Verdi and Toscanini both wrote operas, and tour the small museum.  The acoustics were great and Mark attempted to belt out an aria from Aida. 

And here are the beautiful chandeliers in the intermission area I want for my dining room.

Here we are with our cool Secret Service ear pieces.  Our tour guide spoke to us through these cool amplifiers.  Notice the serious faces.

  

Next stop, the Duomo.  This main cathedral is the third largest in Europe after the cathedrals of St. Peters and Seville.  Today  happened to be a special day where they were honoring one of their Saints so we caught a few minutes of Mass, including cool organ music. 

Here’s the outside of the Duomo, which is obviously done in the Gothic style. 

Third stop was the Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle).  By this point we were getting tired.  But we managed a quick walkthrough with our tour guide and saw some cool things.  Mark and I could never imagine growing up living in a castle.  It would have been weird.  And I love modern things way too much. 

And our tour saved the best for last.  We both have been dreaming of seeing The Last Supper for years.  Our time at the Santa Maria Della Grazie church was short but so worth it.  We spent the first 15 minutes going through airlock chambers to dehumidify.  Unfortunately, we could not take pictures so we have nothing to show but a souvenir.  We will never forget that first feeling we got of walking in that room and seeing the painting for the first time.  It was amazing.  We wish we could have stayed an hour but 15 minutes was all that was allowed.  There’s actually another painting on the opposite wall from Da Vinci’s artwork, but we didn’t even notice it.  All our attention was on The Last Supper and all the details. 

Here is the church where The Last Supper is housed.  One of the coolest things about Italy is while you are walking through more modern areas you can turn a corner and find an old building or church.

Our guided tour of Milan ended here, so we headed back to the hotel for a quick siesta and then back out for lunch and a roof-top self-guided tour of the Duomo.  Before I move on to the cool roof-top experience I have a journal entry moment I need to share.  I rode a subway…for the first time.  It only took 30 years, but now I’m a pro.  Moving on…

Just so you all know, we took the cheap route and walked the stairs to the roof instead of the elevator.  A total of 246 steps one way, by the way.  The view was amazing and probably the best part of the Duomo. 

Here are just a few of the 163 spires.

Some of the gargoyles protecting the church.

 

Mark on the roof.  Too bad there’s scaffolding on it.  The Madonna at the top is one of the highest points in the city. 

And here I am posing as a statue.

Tomorrow is a travel day including seven hours in the car.  It will be a nice break for our legs as we head back to Rome.  Eternal City, here we come.  Ciao!