11 Hidden Gems of Milan: Secret Places and Unusual Things to Do
Skip the usual: hidden gems of Milan include bone chapels, rainbow streets & igloos. Here are 11 spots that will totally surprise you!
You may know Milan for the Duomo, the designer boutiques and the stylish aperitivos, but there’s also an hidden side of the city: quiet, strange and full of unexpected wonders.
In this article, we’re diving into 11 hidden gems of Milan: secret courtyards, curious sculptures, rainbow-colored streets and places even many locals haven’t yet explored.
1. Ca’ de l’Oreggia
Walking along the elegant Via Serbelloni, you might notice something… unusual.
Embedded next to the door of an old palazzo at number 10, there is a giant bronze ear. No plaque, no explanation, just an ear, sticking out of the wall.
This curious detail is actually a 1930s intercom, designed by the sculptor Adolfo Wildt. It’s one of the earliest examples of an electric doorphone in Milan and it earned the building its nickname in Milanese dialect: Ca’ de l’Oreggia, the House with the Ear.
2. Villa Invernizzi and the Pink Flamingos
Hidden behind tall hedges in the quiet Via Cappuccini, just a few minutes’ walk from Porta Venezia, there is Villa Invernizzi: a private residence with a lush garden that’s home to a small colony of flamingos. They strut around a pond, groom their feathers and basically live their best (very unexpected) Milanese life.
The villa itself isn’t open to the public, but you can get a glimpse of the flamingos by peeking through the iron gate or the gaps in the hedge. The best time to spot them is during the day, especially in the morning or early afternoon when they’re most active.
3. San Bernardino alle Ossa
Tucked away behind Piazza Santo Stefano, just a short walk from the Duomo, you can find one of Milan’s most haunting (and fascinating) hidden spots: the Ossuary of San Bernardino alle Ossa.
From the outside, it looks like just another church. Step through a side door, though, and you’ll find a small chapel where human bones line the walls, fill the niches and cover totally the ceiling.
The ossuary dates back to the 13th century, when a nearby cemetery ran out of space and bones began to be stored (and later displayed!) here. Over time, it became a place of reflection, legend and a touch of gothic awe.
Urban Legend: The Dancing BonesSome say a little girl’s bones rest near the altar and every year on November 2nd (the Day of the Dead), she returns to lead the other skeletons in a ghostly dance. Pretty creepy, no?
4. Via Lincoln
Often called the “Milanese Burano”, this tiny, residential street is lined with brightly painted houses in shades of turquoise, pink, yellow and green. There are flower-filled balconies, palm trees peeking over garden walls and a calm, almost surreal quietness that makes you forget you’re in Italy’s business capital.
Originally built in the late 1800s as a workers' neighborhood, Via Lincoln has become one of the most photographed hidden gems in Milan.
It’s a private street, so remember to be respectful while taking photos (and avoid peeking too far into people’s windows). Early mornings or weekdays are usually the best times if you want the street all for yourself.
Planning your visit to Milan?
Exploring Milan’s hidden corners is even better when your trip is well organised. Before you go, make sure you’ve got the essentials covered:
🏨 Where to Stay in Milan: Best Areas, Hotels & Hostels
🚗 Driving in Milan: Rules, ZTL Zones & Essential Tips for Visitors
🚎 Public Transport in Milan: Ultimate Guide to Getting Around the City
🗺️ 2 Days in Milan Itinerary: Unmissable Sights and Tips for a Perfect Weekend
5. Villa Necchi Campiglio
Villa Necchi Campiglio is a perfectly preserved private residence built by architect Piero Portaluppi for the wealthy Necchi Campiglio family.
From the outside, it feels like a sophisticated retreat. Inside, it’s a time capsule of Art Deco charm complete with antique furniture and original artworks.
One of its most surprising features? A private swimming pool in the garden, which was a real novelty in 1930s Milan. Today, the villa is open to visitors thanks to the FAI and during FAI Days it’s even free to enter.
6. Palazzo Acerbi
It may look unremarkable at first, but Palazzo Acerbi on Corso di Porta Romana hides one of Milan’s most chilling legends.
Back in 1630, while the plague was devastating the city, the palace's owner, the aristocrat Ludovico Acerbi, continued to throw lavish parties as if nothing were happening. Rumors spread that he and his guests were untouched by the disease.
Locals began whispering: maybe Acerbi wasn’t entirely human. Maybe the Devil himself had taken up residence in Milan.
There’s still a cannonball lodged in the palace wall, dating back to the Five Days of Milan in 1848. It’s a small, but striking reminder that the building has stood through revolutions, pandemics and centuries of gossip.
7. House of the Omenoni
Just a five-minute walk from the Duomo, there’s a building that feels more like the setting of a dark fantasy than a Renaissance palace.
Welcome to Casa degli Omenoni - literally, the House of the Big Men. And once you see the façade, you’ll for sure understand why.
Carved into the stone, there are eight massive male figures, muscular and grim-faced, representing ancient barbarian tribes defeated by the Romans. They’re not just decorative: they were sculpted in the 1500s by Leone Leoni, a renowned artist who lived in the house and worked for the Mint of Milan. These sculptures were meant to show strength, culture and maybe just a hint of intimidation.
8. The Igloo Houses of Maggiolina
No, you’re not imagining things: those really are igloos in the middle of Milan.
Hidden in the quiet residential district of Maggiolina, in Via Lepanto, these curious round houses are the remains of a post-WWII architectural experiment. In the late 1940s, engineer Mario Cavallè designed these dome-shaped homes as low-cost, quickly-assembled housing for families displaced by the bombings.
Originally there were a dozen of them, built using innovative concrete techniques. Today, only two original igloos remain, lovingly preserved by their owners which are still living into them.
You can’t go inside (they're private homes), but you can walk by and take photos from the street. The best time? A quiet afternoon walk, maybe combined with a stop in one of the nearby parks.
9. Giardini della Guastalla
Just a few steps from the Università Statale and tucked between historic buildings and quiet streets, the Giardini della Guastalla offer a surprising break from the buzz of central Milan.
Founded in 1555 by Paola Ludovica Torelli, Countess of Guastalla, this is one of the oldest public gardens in the city.
Inside, you’ll find a charming Baroque-style pond, a few classical statues and plenty of shade from old trees. It’s not a large park, but that’s part of its charm: it feels intimate and quiet, the kind of place where you can read a book, eat a panino or just sit and listen to the sound of the birds.
It’s also a great stop if you’re visiting the nearby Ossuary of San Bernardino or Corso di Porta Romana.
10. San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
It might not look like much from the outside, but step inside San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore and prepare to be wowed.
Often called the “Sistine Chapel of Milan”, this lesser-known church near Sant’Ambrogio is covered (literally from floor to ceiling) by extraordinary Renaissance frescoes. The explosion of color, detail and movement is the work of artists like Bernardino Luini, a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci.
Originally part of a Benedictine convent, the church is divided into two sections: one for the public and one for the cloistered nuns, separated by a wooden screen. Both parts are fully decorated and tell entire biblical stories through art.
The best part? Entrance is completely free.
11. Cloisters of Sant’Ambrogio
Just behind the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, one of Milan’s oldest and most important churches, lies a peaceful, often overlooked space: the cloisters of the Catholic University.
Designed by the Renaissance architect Donato Bramante, these two serene courtyards (the Chiostro di San Vittore and the Chiostro della Magnolia) offer a break from the city’s hustle and a glimpse into Milan’s scholarly soul. With their symmetrical arcades, quiet gardens and view of the basilica’s twin towers, they feel miles away from the buzz of the nearby streets.
Although part of the university, the cloisters are usually open to the public during the day and are especially magical in spring with magnolia flowers in bloom.
Conclusion
Beyond the iconic skyline and fashion runways, the city hides very interesting stories in its courtyards, legends in its palaces and beauty in the quietest corners. Whether you’re passionate of art, architecture, urban legends or just love exploring places that feel like secrets, these hidden gems show a whole new side of Milan.
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