Having booked myself on a flight from Milano’s Malpensa Airport early the following morning, I decided to spend the night in Legnano, which is actually much closer to the airport, and thus, would give me a little extra sleeping time.

Legnano is situated approximately 20 kilometers north of the center of Milano.  Using Booking.com, I found a hotel room right in the middle of town.

The Hotel Al Corso is a great place to stay, when in Legnano.  The rooms are spacious, and since they open up onto a private parking area, they are quiet.  The hotel is also in a perfect location to explore this lovely, small city!

Legnano is a city that that wears its past on its sleeve.  It is not afraid to reveal a little of its grit and grime, as long as you persevere, and also discover its hidden treasures.

This is a very easy city to navigate.  It is flat, so one does not really have to worry about climbing stairs or steep hills, and while the streets are by no means planned out in a grid, they are not difficult to figure out.  I was able to get my bearings almost immediately here.

The Basilica of San Magno, built in the early 16th century, is the town’s main church.

The doors to the basilica are beautifully carved works of art.

The city’s main municipal building is situated directly across from the church, in the space in-between part of a piazza, with art, water fountains, and cafés along its sides.  This is obviously one of the main meeting places for the people who live in this lovely city.  Caffè Farmacia is a great place to stop for a drink, or a bite to eat.  They even sell local products, like a great pistachio liquor that I simply had to have!

Inside of a courtyard, I found an amazing mural!

The statue “Uomo Eroico,” by the artist Ettore Greco, was especially appealing!

The details that decorate some of the buildings in the city are delightful, and make it worth the time to seek them out.  And like most Italian towns, there is a pedestrian-only area, lined with shops and cafés.  Legnano is where the design house of Dolce & Gabbana was founded, and they still maintain offices in the city.

The old and the new are side by side in this city, and the combination works nicely.

The Olona River flows through the center of the town.

There are wonderful dining options in the city of Legnano.  I was there on a Thursday night, and thought that I would be able to just walk into one of the two restaurants I had chosen to try and eat in, without a reservation.  Alas, they were both completely booked for the evening.  So, I did the only thing I could think of next, which was to ask one of the locals for a recommendation.  I was directed to Osteria Al Rossini, where I had a delightful meal, which I topped off with a cocktail at Café Nasta, a great bar/café right across the street from the hotel, where I made a few new friends.

 

Next up: Brindisi!

 

Note: This blog is written in English and Spanish, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any other translations that may appear.  If you have enjoyed this post, please, check out our archives for posts from other exciting Italian destinations.  Grazie!