Milan. To most visitors, the first image that jumps to mind is the stunning white Duomo. It’s beautiful and it dominates the center of the city. In the summer, throngs of tourists line up to explore the cathedral, some staying inside the ground-floor naves, others braving the many steps to the roof for breathtaking views of the city. It’s stunning, it’s spectacular, it’s a must-do. Where do you go after that? Let’s explore.

Art lovers have a veritable plethora of choices. Let’s start with one that’s a little off the beaten path but definitely worth the trip:

Pirelli Hangar Bicocca. The sprawling, cavernous gallery was on my list and lucky for me, my friend was willing to venture out of central Milano to see what it’s all about. We’re both happy we did! The space lends itself well to large-scale contemporary art installations, from Anselm Kiefer’s impressive (if a bit scary as they look like they could come tumbling down any minute now) towers, Sheela Gowda’s curio collection of colorful fabrics and ropes, to Giorgio Andreotta Calò’s Vicissitude that traces the industrial geography of the city with arrangements of raw materials and their reincarnation as steel beams and risers and somehow manages to really captivate you. The more playful among us only have to walk outside to the back of the building to find a large mural by Os Gemeos. We had a lot of fun exploring and I bet you will, too.

Fondazione Prada. Art and fashion have influenced one another since the beginning of time. Prada’s support for art has a beautiful outcome: a great contemporary gallery where you find the giants and get to meet up and coming artists. And the campus is no slouch, either: Rem Koolhaas and his firm may have had something to do with that! My absolute favorites were what I lovingly dubbed “The Mushrooms”, Carsten Hoeller’s colorful, rotating, visual senses-overloading room full of upside-down hanging mushrooms of all shapes and sizes. Suspend your adulthood for a few minutes and play like a kid. Then, once you’re feeling like your adult self again, explore the beautiful cars by Walter De Maria. And, if all that art viewing leaves you a bit famished, stop by Bar Luce on the premises. If it feels like you’re stepping into a Wes Anderson movie, it’s because he designed it!

Carla Sozzani Gallery at 10 Corso Como. Milan’s center is better known for shopping and dining in sidewalk cafes with the beautiful people. This gallery is more my style. Don’t get me wrong, I love beautiful Italian fashion as much as the next girl but (and my friend will attest to that), but I literally jumped for joy upon entering the store that accompanies the gallery and declared I wanted to move in for a couple of days. Table after table full of design, photography and fashion books - everything and everyone your heart could desire. I could have stayed for hours. Top it off with a great photography show in the gallery itself, and I was one very happy visitor.

OK, GOT THE ART COVERED. WHAT ELSE CAN ONE DO?

It is possible to overload on contemporary art. I’ve been there. If that’s the case, just walk around the city. Though Rome, Florence and Venice often get top billing when it comes to picturesque strolls, Milan should not be underestimated. The Brera District is just a few minutes’ walk from the Duomo and it’s full of great design stores and plenty of busy, cute cafes perfect for an aperitivo when your tired feet need a break. If you’re visiting in the summer when school is out and need a quick reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city, find the Palazzo Brera that houses the Brera Academy and the Pinacoteca. Step inside its beautiful courtyard and you can feel the stress peeling off you instantly. I loved it.

Shopaholics will not want to leave Milan without at least setting foot in the Via Montenapoleone. Even if you don’t have a burning desire to swipe or tap your plastic, a quick window-shopping walk gives you a glimpse of the latest trends in retail design and merchandising. And the murals are Gucci! Brand geeks like me love that and I hope you might like it too.