The magnificent house-museum of the Bagatti Valsecchi brothers is in the heart of the Quadrilateral of Fashion: the nucleus of roads between Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga where there is the world’s highest concentration of famous international stylists’ boutiques, as well as myriad upscale design and furniture stores, alternating with contemporary art galleries and antiques specialists. Many of the showrooms are housed in 18th/19th-century palazzos. One of these, Palazzo Morando, home of historical collections dedicated in large part to the themes of fashion and dress. A traditional stop-off in which to recover from the exertions of shopping is Pasticceria Cova, where the leading lights of the movement for Italian Unification would meet, back in the mid-18th century. Via Montenapoleone leads into Via Manzoni near the Monument to Sandro Pertini. Adjacent is the Grand Hotel et de Milan, which is inextricably linked to Giuseppe Verdi, who died there in January 1901. Proceeding towards the periphery of the city, you come, on your right, to the vibrant church of San Francesco di Paola, an example of sacred rococo architecture in Milan, and on the other side the long facade of Palazzo Borromeo, with its attractive arched courtyard. Last but not least, you come to the Arches of Porta Nuova, a remnant of the circle of Viscontean walls.
