A walk through Milan’s Fashion Quarter is a great way to see the city’s highest high fashion. Along with Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni (officially Via Alessandro Manzoni) is one of the best drags for window-shopping the latest and greatest haute couture. Though unlike the other two streets, Via Manzoni permits vehicles and leads to the famous Teatro alla Scala.
The Basics
Via Manzoni is not just home to flagship stores such as Armani Casa, Kenzo, and Prada, but also to the Armani Hotel, the Grand Hotel et de Milan, the Museo Poldi Pezzoli, and the edge of the Indro Montanelli Public Gardens. You can join a bike tour of Milan to explore Via Manzoni as well as other landmarks like the Duomo (Milan Cathedral), Sforzesco Castle, and Sempione Park.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Via Manzoni is a must-visit for fashionistas and shopaholics.
- In addition to boutiques, a number of cafés, restaurants, and art galleries line the street.
- The streets are relatively flat and can accommodate wheelchair users and those with limited mobility.
How to Get There
Via Manzoni is located in Milan’s historic city center, about a 5-minute walk from the Duomo. Take the M3 yellow metro line to Montenapoleone station and walk southwest towards Teatro alla Scala or northeast toward the Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli. Tram number 1 runs along the length of Via Manzoni from various points in the city.
When to Get There
Milan sees the biggest crowds between June and September. The best time to visit the city, and Via Manzoni, is in April, May, September, and October, when the weather is pleasant. Milan Fashion Week, in February and September, is also an exciting time to visit Via Manzoni.
Who Is Manzoni?
Via Manzoni is named after the famed 19th-century Italian poet Alessandro Manzoni. Best known for writing The Betrothed, Manzoni spent his entire life in Milan. Before the street was named after him, it was named Corsia del Giardino, or the path to the garden, and was an elegant street home to many Milanese aristocrats.