Milan, Italy

LA DOLCE VITA

QUICK FACTS

City: Milan
Population: 1.6 million

Country: Italy

Time Zone: Italy operates on a 24-hour clock.
Climate: Italy mainly has a Mediterranean climate but in Winter (December-February), temperatures can reach below freezing. While the Summer months (May-September), can be quite hot and muggy with temperatures in the high 30's.

Religion: Roman Catholic

While Paris may have a reputation as being the most romantic city in the world, when it comes to fashion and style, the city of Milan (Milano) in Italy, wins hands down! Milan is without a doubt, the Italian capital of business, culture and design innovation. A sophisticated and classy city, it rivals Paris as the leading fashion centre and is home to some of fashion's biggest names including Armani and Versace.

Situated on the flat plains of the Po Valley in Lombardy, Milan is a Renaissance city that is rich in culture, history and romanticism.

Theatre and cinema are the preferred and most popular form of entertainment in Milan, with some of the biggest names in showbiz always including Milan in their travel plans. Milan's city centre has over 20 cinemas, while theatre companies regularly present a wide repertory of international, classical and experimental drama. Milan regularly has a series of events and minor festivals taking place somewhere in the city. There are usually a number of jazz and dance spectacles to be found around the city during the summer months particularly. And visitors cannot go past witnessing the many religious festivals, as these traditional festivals are often Milan's best-loved and most charming features.

Transportation

Milan has a very efficient transportation system with four main underground lines, buses and trams. Although Milan has plenty of taxis about, the chances of actually hailing one down from the street is pretty slim. Taxis generally will not stop for passengers unless they are standing at a taxi rank. Hire cars are also available but it is not advisable to get one, as driving through central Milan can be a nightmare! There are one-way streets everywhere and parking is restricted to two hours only.

Another option of getting around is to hire a bicycle for the day. The residents of Milan quite enjoy cycling and can often be seen cycling along the canals or bike paths to the countryside, particularly on a Sunday.

Attractions

There are so many wonderful buildings and architecture to see in this beautiful city that it just boils down to a matter of choice and how many hours you intend to spend seeing the sights. Milan's cultural scene boasts interesting and diverse offerings for classical purists, as well for those interested in the avant-garde.

Some of the more popular attractions include the Piazza del Duomo, Convento di Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Castello Sforzesco.

Piazza del Duomo

This cathedral was commissioned in 1386 and is the world's fourth largest church. Featuring spires, statues, marble pinnacles and pillars everywhere, interestingly, the Duomo has no bell tower. Its finest relic is a nail used to pin Jesus to a cross. The neighbouring Museo del Duomo displays a wonderful collection of art and artifacts spanning the church's six centuries of history.

Convento di Santa Maria delle Grazie

This is the place where Leonardo da Vinci painted and captured the Bible's "Last Supper" in 1498 and it still remains a powerful piece of art. For this reason, if you want to visit this convent, you'll need to book in advance as it is a very popular tourist attraction and is difficult to get in.

Castello Sforzesco

Originally a military fortress, it was remodelled by Francesco Sforza and Leonardo Da Vinci once again came up with the design. Today the castle boasts a collection of modern museums that are well stocked with impressive antiquities. There are sculptures by Michaelangelo, and paintings by Bellini, Tiepolo, Correggio and Titian. As well as housing Italian treasures, there is also a collection of Egyptian artifacts.

Nightspots

The nightlife in Milan rocks with plenty to do and see around town. The most popular places for tourists to visit include wine bars, piano bars, discotheques and jazz clubs. So if visiting Milan in the near future, there is absolutely NO excuse not to get your "groove thang" on!

Accommodation

As there is always some event happening in Milan, particularly huge fashion shows, booking into a hotel can be a big headache. So for this reason, it is best to book six months to a year ahead.

Some of the more prestigious hotels Milan has to offer include the:

- Four Seasons Hotel
- Grand Hotel et de Milan
- Principe di Savoia
- Hotel Spadari al Duomo

Shop 'Til You Drop!

Milan IS the fashion capital of the world and rightly so! It is a shopper's paradise where Italian fashion houses line the streets - think Armani, Roberto Cavalli, Prada and Missoni! For those who prefer the bustle of street markets, there is a lot to choose from and most are open all day Saturday.

No trip to Europe can be complete unless you experience first hand the cultural offerings and high class that Milan has to offer!

- Annemarie Failla