Milan is the business, fashion, and design capital of Italy. It is also Italy’s second largest and richest city. The city is split into 9 zones and is full of beautiful architecture, lively nightlife and many museums and exhibitions. As Milan is based in the very north of Italy, Switzerland is only a short distance by train, so worth a day trip if visiting the city. The stunning scenery of Lake Como and Lake Lecco is also worth a day trip, just short journey by train.
Centro Storico (the historical centre) is full of life, with many things to see and do. In this area you will find the huge Piazza Duomo and Duomo Cathedral, the castle Castello Sforzesco, the world renowned opera house La Scala, and stunning shopping gallery, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Also, just a few minutes walk from Piazza Duomo, are Via della Spiga and Via Montenapoleone, two of the most famous and influential fashion streets perhaps in the whole world. These streets are richly concentrated with fashion designers, jewelers and furriers. Every designer imaginable has a shop or two in these streets: Armani, Iceberg, Luois Vitton, Dior, Bottega Veneta to name a few. When Milan holds fashion trade fairs at numerous times of the year, these streets are full of people from the fashion industry (designers, manufacturers, buyers, etc.) both day and night, visiting the shops, observing what new fashions are in, getting new ideas, and looking at the impressive window displays.
Navigli is a lively and fashionable (canal) district (the Navigli Canal runs through Milan), where you will find many bars, cafes, live jazz concerts, and antique shops.
Brera, is a very fashionable district, not far from the center, which used to be known as the ‘artists’ quarter,’ and very bohemian in its day, inhabited and frequented by poets and artists. It remains a very ‘in’ area today, and is a very exclusive and fashionable district, with boutique shops, ’sophisticated bohemian’ homeware shops, bookshops, restaurants, and bars. This area is also where you can find the famous Pinacoteca di Brera, one of milan’s most well known art galleries, exhibiting works from many artists, including Rubens and Canaletto. This art gallery is housed in the 18th century palace Palazzo Brera. This area is also home to the very exclusive 10 Corso Como, which can be found along the equally fashionable Corso Como (many bars and restaurants frequented by the rich and beautiful). 10 Corso Como is a shop, restaurant and bar housed in a beautiful courtyard lit up with candles and fairy lights at night, and definitely somewhere to go if you want to impress anyone. The shop sells and exhibits luxury high fashion designer wear, jewelry, shoes and other various items. It remains open most nights with the bar and restaurants, and you are offered complimentary glasses of champagne while you browse. Brera also houses some of Milan’s famous nightclubs, frequented by models and the ‘in’ party crowd. Corso Como is an ideal place to go out at night; you can start early with an aperitivo, move on to a restaurant, then a nightclub. It is the perfect location to stay, although it may be a little expensive!
St. Ambrogio is the city’s patron saint, and the Basilica of St. Ambrogio, in the heart of the city, is one of the oldest churches in Milan. Every year from December 7 to 9, it’s the patron saint’s day, and there is a lot of celebrating and events to be found throughout the city. There are a variety of stalls, including food stalls, music, etc. in Piazza St. Ambrogio and the surrounding area. It is the city’s most traditional festival, and a nice way to get you in the festive spirit, at the start of Christmas!
