Italy is famed for fashion and one of the most stylish Italian cities is Milan.  It is also one of the richest cities in Europe.

If you prefer some history and culture, Milan has that too.  It’s home to the biggest Gothic Cathedral in the world.  People flock to Milan to see Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous painting of the Last Supper.

Opera buffs know that one of the most famous opera houses in the world, La Scala, is also in Milan.

Where is it?

Milan is about 30 miles south of the Alps.  It’s in North West Italy, in the Lombardy region.  It is ideally situated for tourists as so many other attractions are easily accessible from there.  Apart from the Alps, it is also very close to Lake Como, where George Clooney has a villa!  It only takes 3½ – 4 hours to get to Rome and 3 – 4 hours to reach Venice.

How easy is it to get to?

Very easy!  Milan has two airports, a large train station and an International bus station.

• The international airport is called Malpensa. To get into the city center, take the Malpensa Express Train.
• A second, smaller airport, called Linate, deals with flights from Europe and flights within Italy itself. There is a bus service from there into Milan.
• The large train station, Milano Centrale, has trains to all cities in Italy and Western Europe.
• Piazza Castello is the arrival place for both domestic and International buses and coaches.

Travelling in Milan

Milan is very easy to get around.  It has a great public transport system.  You can choose from buses, trams or the huge metro system.

What’s the weather like?

During the summer, Milan can be very hot and humid but the winters are mild.

Is there much nightlife?

Yes – Milan has a thriving nightlife scene.  There are lots of nightclubs and cinemas.  Cultural events include concerts, opera, theatre and the ballet.  The main concert and theatre season begins in October but there are some summer performances too.  Italians also love to eat al fresco and just watch the world go by.  If you love to ‘people watch’, then it’s like a constant runway show!

Festivals

• On December 7^th, Milan holds a feast day for its Patron Saint, St. Ambrose. There are religious celebrations and a street fair – which is well worth seeing!
• For the first ten days of June, there is the Festa del Naviglio with street parades, music and many other performances of celebration.
• With Milan being such a fashion mecca, it’s not surprising that there are very often fashion fairs. These are year round but most occur in fall.

Shopping

If you’re a fashionista, then Milan will be a paradise for high quality clothes, shoes and accessories.  The best areas are Corso Vittorio Emanuele II which is near Piazza della Scala, Via Monte Napoleone which is near the Duomo or Via Dante which is between the Castle and the Duomo.

If money is no object, go to Quadriletero d’Oro for Designer and exclusive items.  There are less expensive chain stores on Corso Buenos Aires which are also open on Sundays.  If you love markets, these are situated by the canals.

Tourist Attractions

The historical center of Milan is between the Duomo and Castello.

The Duomo is the biggest Gothic Cathedral in the world.  Construction started in 1386 and nearly 500 years later it was completed.  It has a stunning marble frontage, 135 spires on its’ roof and over 3,000 statues.  There is a crucifix inside the Duomo which is alleged to contain a nail from the cross of which Christ was crucified.  There is also a fascinating Duomo museum.  Brave the stairs or use the elevator for a stunning view of Milan.

La Scala is one of the most famous opera houses in the world.  It seats over 2000 and is hugely opulent.  It was built in 1778 and also has a museum which is well worth a visit.

The Last Supper – see Santa Maria della Grazie

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is an enormous shopping mall with a glass roof.  It is full of expensive shops, restarants and bars.  It was built in 1867 and links the squares (piazzas) of the Duomo and La Scala.  It is decorated with mosaics showing the symbols of the citis that joined to form a new, united Italy.  There is a statue called the bull of Turin and it is thought to bring you good luck if you stand on the bull’s testicles!

Castello Sforzesco is one of the major landmarks in Milan.  It is a complex of museums which was built in the 15^th Century by the Visconti who ruled Milan at that time.

Santa Maria della Grazie is one of Milan’s busiest tourist attractions as it is home to Leonardo Da Vinci’s fresco, the Last Supper.  The building was bombed during the Second World War but miraculously, the fresco was unharmed.  Only 20-25 people can see the work at one time and then only for a maximum of 15 minutes.  The only way to buy a ticket when you’re there is if someone who already has a ticket doesn’t show up – and then you still have to stand in line.  To be sure of seeing the fresco, it’s advised to book at least three months prior to your visit.  You can order tickets online from Select Italy.   To avoid being turned away, even with a ticket, you need to know that proper attire is required.  You will not be allowed in if you turn up in shorts, miniskirts or capri-style pants or in a sleeveless shirt or with bare shoulders.

National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci is a must-visit if you are a Leonardo buff.  It is a huge collection of the history of science and technology, beginning with Da Vinci’s designs for machines.  The museum is in what used to be a monastery in the 16^th Century.

Sant’Ambrogio is the Church of Milan’s Patron Saint – St. Ambrose.  It dates back to the 4^th Century and has lots of fascinating relics, carvings and mosaics.

Pinacoteca di Brera is Milan’s amazing art gallery, which has 40 rooms, holding a prestigious collection of over 600 works.  The gallery was started by Napolean.

Milan has something for everyone which makes it a superb location for an unforgettable vacation.  If you have plenty of time, Milan is also a wonderful base for trips to Rome, Venice, Lake Como and the beautiful town of Bergamo.  However, there’s so much to see and do in Milan itself that you’ll probably need to come back again…and again!

We had a long walk from the train station to our hotel. And as always we were off to sight see the moment we had freshened up and dropped off our bags at the hotel.

There are some amazing sights in Milan which is considered to be the fashion capital of the world. All the top fashion designers being represented here, Prada, Kenzo, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, Cartier and Louis Vuitton.

We found our way to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, which is a covered shopping area on the northern side of the Piazza del Duomo and is a four story arcade that sell items ranging from haute couture to books, there are also bars, restaurants and cafes. The central point is topped with a glass dome.

The Galleria connects two of Milan’s most famous landmarks: The Duomo and the Teatro Alla Scala.

The Galleria was built by Giuseppe Mengoni between 1865 and 1877 and was named after Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of united Italy.

After strolling around taking in the sights and sounds of tht Galleria we head off to visit the Duomo, which is one of the most famous buildings in Europe. It is absolutely impressive in its size and architecture. The  Milan Duomo is the second largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the world.

The Duomo contains many treasures which were donated by noblemen and princes over the centuries. The huge building is constructed from brick and faced with marble .

To see some spectacular sculpture close up, visit the roof which is open to tourists for a small fee.

In my personal opinion this is the most spectacular Duomo in Italy. It is an awesome sight.