Milan is the second largest city in Italy with a population of about 7.4 million. The city is situated in the North of Italy in the province of Lombardy.
Milan is renowned as a capital of design and fashion. In fact even the English word millinery (meaning woman's hats) is derived from the name of the city. Milan boasts many of the worlds top designers which can be experienced by visitors to the city that wonder through the many streets lined with the expensive boutiques and design houses.
Some of Milan's places of interest include:
 Fashion District
Via Montenapoleone is the most important street of the Milan's Fashion District, called in Italian "Quadrilatero della moda" made of Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni, Via Sant'Andrea and Via Montenapoleone.
All major Italian fashion designers have their main ateliers and shops here: Giorgio Armani, Dolce&Gabbana, Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Kenzo, Krizia, Prada, Valentino, Versace, Vuitton or Zegna.
Duomo di Milano
The Duomo is an impressive site. The gothic cathedral's architecture is decorated with numerous spires and more than three thousand statues. Construction started in the fourteenth century and was completed only fifty years ago. The massive cathedral is one of the largest in the world.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is a large and elegant arcade, lined with shops, bookstores, cafés and a famous restaurant, Savini. Designed to join the Piazza della Scala and Piazza del Duomo, construction started in 1865. The gallery was opened just two years later by the king, Vittorio Emanuele II, its namesake. It features a 47 metre / 155 foot high glass dome, standing above the central octagonal area and also some beautiful mosaics on the floor.
Sforza Castle
The Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) was built as fortified palace in the 14th century to provide protection for the Sforza family, noted patrons of Milan. In later years, the Castle fell into disrepair before it was renovated at the beginning of the last century. Today the Castle combines interesting architecture with lovely grounds. The real attraction of the Castle, however, is the Museo d'Arte Antica, a museum within the castle that has many Gothic and Renaissance treasures, including rooms decorated by Leonardo da Vinci.
La Scala
This large opera house was built in 1776 by Giuseppe Piermarini on the central site of Santa Maria della Scala, an old church that was built in 1381. The traditional opening night of the opera season takes place on the 7th December, on the feast day of Sant'Ambrogio, the patron saint of Milan. |
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