Porta Ticinese
Commence on Corso di Porta Ticinese, at the junction with Piazza Ventiquattro Maggio, with your back to the ancient city gates. Leg it into Piazza Sant’Eustorgio on the right and get your mitts on a kickstart cawfee at #4 California Bakery / 02 39811538; and lovely Laura Urbinati is at #6 next door / 02 8360411 / for styley, relaxed garb and bikinis. Back on Corso di Porta Ticinese, a little further ahead is Museo Diocesano / 02 89420019 / 10am-6pm Tue-Sun / with paintings and sculptures by major C.6th-19th artists, collated from Diocesan parishes, and Basilica di Sant’Eustorgio. Tucked away at the back is the not-to-be missed Cappella Portinari which has a gob-stopping Renaissance fresco by Foppa. Trot straight on for L’Osservatorio at #83 / 02 8378419 / with supercool sunnies and specs by Mykita et al, then turn right into Via Vetere for cool guy/gal casuals by Frav / Via Vetere, 8 / 02 83249718, and Gum Barber Shop at #9 / 02 36601940 / for a quick snip n’ blowout. Back on Corso di Porta Ticinese continue on to sweet stop Gelateria le Colonne at #75 / 02 8372292, then cross over for edgy footwear at #42 Cult / cultshoes.it / and rainbow-hued cosmetics at Inglot at #40 / 02 84347241. At Via Molino delle Armi, turn right for effortlessly chic (w) #45 Mariza Tassy / 02 89415364; opp. is 100 fa at #48 / 02 58101184 / full of vintage kitsch furny. Back at the intersection turn right and pass through the stone arch into the piazza to find Via dei Fabbri on the left, where Ristorante Rugantino lies at #1 / 02 89421404 / for a taste of Roma, and on the right is Basilica di San Lorenzo. Breeze on ( Corso di Porta Ticinese continues) to find a bevy of hip retail incl. sole star Magma at #22 / 02 8373924, and ofthe-moment labels like Acne at #16 Frip / 02 8321360. Next, turn left into Via Gian Giacomo Mora for a styley trip down memory lane: pre-loved fash and accessories at #4 Bivio Compra Vendi Scambia / 02 5810 8691; vintage godmother Cavalli e Nastri is at #12 / 02 89409452 / on the right; then Cavalli e Nastri for guys plus funky objets and 70s furny is on the left at #3 / 02 97382629; and Penny Lane vibes are yours at Groupies at #7 / 02 89415117. Further on at #11 Tessuti Mimma Gini’s / 02 89400722 / covetable natural textiles await, then at #15 is Libreria Azalai, for hardto-find titles. You’ll soon arrive at Via Cesare Correnti with multi-label Agua del Carmen at #23 / 02 89415363 / on the right corner. Exit right onto Correnti for arty-hip jewels at Atelier VM at #26 / 02 43118105. Retrace to Corso di Porta Ticinese and pivot left for tapas and vino at #14 Tasca / 02 8376915, then cross the street to u-turn back down, and swing left into Via Pio IV for artistic unglazed pottery by Guido De Zan / 02 8322636, then turn left for the entrance to brunchster Cantina Della Vetra / 02 89403843. Cheers!