Over the course of my summer in Italy, I tried to see as much art and culture as I possibly could. In my free time, I explored the numerous museums Milan had to offer, many of which offer discounts to students. The city is home to various world-renowned museums, such as Fondazione Prada, La Triennale, La Pinacoteca di Brera and more. Of all the museums in Milan, my two favorites were Armani Silos and MUDEC.

Armani Silos, located in Zona Tortona, is dedicated to the designs and aesthetics of the famous Italian luxury designer Giorgio Armani, perfect for anyone interested in fashion. Each floor has a different theme and showcases designs from the 1980s to the present day. The first floor “Androgynous” displays Armani’s mix of men’s tailoring and dressmaking skills in both men’s and women’s fashions. The second floor, titled “Ethnicities” is home to pieces inspired by various cultures across the world. Many of Armani’s designs were influenced by non-Western cultures from Asia, Africa, Polynesia and others. This was my favorite part of the collection because the designs were so bold and colorful, with amazing attention to detail. The final floor, “Stars” displays men’s and womenswear worn by celebrities in films and on the red carpet. I loved Armani Silos because it displayed each garment on a mannequin allowing you to see every detail up-close.

Milan may be the fashion capital of the world, but it has some incredible art from artists all over the world. The Museum of Cultures, MUDEC, a former factory, is now a modern museum dedicated to showing a blend of international cultures through different mediums. When I went upstairs to the permanent collection, I was led through a large room with rainbow carpet and curved walls made of glass; it was unlike anything I had ever seen. Over the spring and summer MUDEC had a surrealism exhibit that offered a 360-view of the world of surrealism. It contained sculptures, paintings, photography and writings. This exhibit was very interactive and appealed to all of my senses. It included works from Salvador Dali, arguably the artist most associated with the surrealist movement. It was amazing to experience this temporary exhibit, but the rest of MUDEC is super cool. If you ever have the chance to travel to Milan, I highly recommend checking out these incredible museums.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Global Internship Milan