Stars in Milan: celebrity stories and places

When a global pop star names a neighbourhood bookstore in Porta Ticinese as one of her favourites in Italy, Milan notices. In late August 2026, Dua Lipa recorded an “Ultimate Italian Guide” for Vogue Italia (September cover). Her Milan shortlist is specific and easy to visit — which is why it travelled so fast.

Dua Lipa’s Milan: Verso, Paradiso, La Scala

Primary coverage: Vogue Italia’s written guide. Further press round-ups and the La Scala clip are listed in the sources table below.

Libreria Verso — “cozy” among the chains

Where: Libreria Verso, Corso di Porta Ticinese 40 — independent bookshop with a bar, events, and a children’s room.

Vogue notes she experiences Verso as “cozy” (accogliente). Italian press also quotes the contrast with big chains: there are many of them, but Verso is special.

Bar Paradiso — Milan aperitivo pick

Where: Via Gerolamo Tiraboschi (Porta Romana) — wine bar known for natural / artisan labels and small plates ( Gambero Rosso).

She pairs Palermo’s Dal Barone with Bar Paradiso for aperitivo up north: a small contemporary enoteca, not a palace hotel.

Teatro alla Scala — favourite theatre (she hadn’t been yet)

She names La Scala, then admits she hadn’t attended and was “dying to go”, eyeing La Traviata in September 2026. La Scala’s social reply (OperaWire): hope to see her there. The same theatre already owns some of Milan’s wildest star lore — see Callas below.

Maria Callas: shoes in the air, vegetables on the stage

Between 1951 and 1960, Maria Callas built her myth at La Scala. She lived in Milan at Via Buonarroti 38 (near Santa Maria delle Grazie) with Meneghini ( YesMilano overview).

The viral night: 28 May 1955, Visconti’s La Traviata. During Sempre libera, Violetta/Callas kicked off her shoes — scandalous enough that loggionisti compared it to a circus. Opening-night hostility was real: whistles, Tebaldi vs Callas factions, and (in later tellings) flowers mixed with vegetables while short-sighted Callas smiled at the wrong bouquets ( ANSA 70th anniversary, Milano Città Stato). The production became legend — and a hard act to follow at La Scala for decades.

Via Gesù 12: Elton’s risotto and Gaga’s 40,000 roses

Where: Palazzo Versace, Via Gesù 12 — Gianni’s home-studio, still the house HQ in the fashion district.

Elton John & David Furnish told Ruthie’s Table / The Independent about 1990s dinners at Gianni’s Milan apartment: white-glove butlers, antique porcelain cleared whoosh between courses, and a risotto Elton called “nectar.” They later sent their cook to Italy to learn how to make it.

Lady Gaga, arriving for the Born This Way Ball (Oct 2012), dined with Donatella at the same address. She tweeted about walking into Gianni’s apartment covered in 40,000 roses ( Capital coverage).

Madonna + Donatella: scoring dancers at Assago

On the Celebration Tour at the Forum di Assago, Madonna pulled Donatella Versace onstage. Together they watched dancers in crystal micro-looks and held up score cards to Vogue ( iO Donna, Vanity Fair Italia). Armani and Gabbana were in the house. Fashion capital meets pop ritual.

Justin Theroux & Stanley Tucci: martinis between takes

While filming The Devil Wears Prada 2, the cast stayed (and shot lobby scenes) at Palazzo Parigi. Theroux told Condé Nast Traveler they posted up with martinis; Stanley Tucci would set his drink down, walk a shot, and return. CNT’s locations piece backs the vibe.

Same production: Lady Gaga’s cameo was planned for the Duomo, then moved to the Accademia di Brera area so word would not leak ( production reporting summarised on Wikipedia).

Charlie Chaplin’s Milan curtain call (1972)

In February 1972 Milan threw an official homage: gala at the Castello Sforzesco, Modern Times, then Charlie Chaplin and Oona in a central box at La Scala after a ballet ( Charlie Chaplin Archive).

The Beatles, June 1965: one Alfa Spider for four

Publifoto / Gallerie d’Italia archives and anniversary reporting ( Il Giorno, Gallerie d’Italia):

1. Milano Centrale — late 23 June, ~2,000 fans.
2. Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider — five cars planned; the crowd forced all four Beatles into one.
3. Grand Hotel Duomo (Via San Raffaele) — press conference and terrace photos with cathedral spires.
4. Velodromo Vigorelli — two concerts on 24 June, their only Italian tour.

Stefano Gabbana: scooter, no bodyguards

In an ELLE UK interview: he rides Milan alone on a scooter, no bodyguards — “I am a fashion designer, not a celebrity… I don’t think I am famous.” No single pin; the city is the punchline.

How we checked this

Anecdote	Status	Main sources
Dua Lipa → Verso, Paradiso, La Scala	Confirmed	Vogue Italia; Messaggero; OperaWire
Callas Traviata shoes / opening-night storm	Confirmed (documented legend)	ANSA; Milano Città Stato
Elton risotto at Gianni’s	Confirmed	Independent / Ruthie’s Table
Gaga + 40,000 roses at Via Gesù	Confirmed (tweet + press)	Capital; contemporary reports
Madonna + Donatella scoring dancers	Confirmed	iO Donna; Vanity Fair Italia
Theroux / Tucci Palazzo Parigi	Confirmed	Condé Nast Traveler
Gaga cameo → Brera	Reported in production coverage	CNT / Prada 2 location reporting
Chaplin 1972 Castello + La Scala	Confirmed (archive)	Charlie Chaplin Archive
Beatles Alfa + Vigorelli	Confirmed (archive)	Publifoto / Gallerie d’Italia
Gabbana scooter quote	Confirmed (2010)	ELLE UK

For everyday Milan life — markets, maps, paperwork — start from Living in Milan and Guides.