Europe 2016 Sept 13th Day 16 Milan

Another healthy breakfast in the room this morning before heading out to try our luck with the Milano public trolleybuses (trams). These are all quite old ( think San Francisco) and run on seperate routes to the newer trams but look like fun. €4.50 for all day pulic transport is great, so why not. Got the tickets from the restaurant/ Bar/ newsagents / lotto etc place and then popped in a little cafe called  L 'Artista Toscano for coffee and ended up with croissant and juice as well. Oh well long day so why not.
We headed straight to the Castello Sforza which is in the heart of Milan, dating back to the 15th century in its current configuration.
This was a revelation and unexpected pluses everywhere which we did not expect as there wasn't much info on it from Milan tourism. In excellent condition and in one section housed the unfinished last statue of Mary and Jesus by Michaelangelo. It was €5 each, which we thought was a bit steep to look at 1 statue, but as we went around the rest of the Castle, we found this gave us admittance to everything. Ancient history museum, tapestries, armoury, Egyptian collection, musical instruments, old masters, ceilings, frieze's, endless. We spent much longer than expected and to think we almost didn't go because of the bad reviews re pickpckets etc, but there was absolutely no issue and I would say a must do in Milan.
It was then time for some lunch in a cafe before on to the Escher exhibition, which we both thoroughly enjoyed in the most beautiful building; Palazzo Reale, opposite the Duomo.
By this time it was after 4 and we had to get back to the hotel and change before our tour of Leonardo's Last Supper. So onto the tram and back for refreshing shower and into long trousers for me  and covered shoulders for Jane ( a condition of the tour); thank God it's cooling down a bit, as I could not have spent all day in trousers.
We then jumped back on the tram which took us to only a couple of blocks from the Dominican Convent of Saint Maria della Grazia which contained the masterpiece. It was through sealed sets of doors into what was the dining room for the abbots of the time to look at the painting. Impressive but how much is original, not much apparently ?
After a quick look in the adjoining church, a combination of both Gothic and Renaissance, we looked around for a restaurant for dinner and found Chiu. This was brilliant, not over the top, and only offering local Italian food and wine. Frederico was our waiter who spoke good English and had a great knowledge of the wine regions and wines. An excellent choice and a lovely finish to a great time in Milan. Chicken salad for Jane and beef carpaccio with Parmesan for me along with some glasses of , Pinot Grigio, Mazoni Bianco  and a very nice Pinot Nero from Piedmont. On to the tram and back to the hotel for a good sleep before attempting a car tomorrow. I would say I need a couple more days for Milan as just getting to relax and enjoy it. Oops we did finish with a local beer and a cappuccino dessert watching Napoli v Dynamo Kiev before final shut eye ; a great day. :-):-):-)