Milan, Italy: Savor the Italian Travel Experience

chillibreeze writer — Serene Kasim

Located in Northern Italy, in the province of Lombardy, Milan is the financial capital of Italy. One of the ten most influential cities in the world, Milan is a sprawling metropolis where the ancient and the modern co-exist. The Milanese are reputed to be hardworking and efficient, while at the same time being able to enjoy the finer things in life.

The Duomo di Milano, one of the most famous buildings in Europe, dominates the center of the city. The Duomo is a Gothic cathedral and is the second largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the world. This is the best place to start exploring the city as it is within walking distance of most of the prominent historic sites.

The other must-see architectural sites include the Santa Maria del Grazie, which houses Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper; the Castello Sforzesco, which was originally a military fortress and now houses artwork by Bellini, Michelangelo and van Dyck among others.

Museums and Theatres

The La Scalla theatre or the Teatro alla Scalla is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. Since its opening in 1778, its walls have been witness to the music of some of the most famous composers and conductors. A museum adjoining the main theatre houses various artifacts belonging to such prominent personalities from the world of music as Verdi.

There are several other museums, which are located in old palaces. Among them are the National Museum of Science and Technology, which houses a hundred or so working models based on Leonardo da Vinci’s notes and journals. The Galleria de Arte Moderna and the Museo Poldi Pezzoli are well worth a visit.

Shopper’s paradise

Milan is a fashion capital on par with Paris and New York City. It is home to such famous fashion houses as Giorgio Armani, Prada, Dolce & Gabana and others who have outlets on the via Montenapaleone. Milan is also home to what is reputed to be the world’s oldest shopping mall, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele on the Piazza Duomo.

Around Milan

For those visitors who want a taste of something other than the urban and historic, the region around Milan is dotted with magnificent blue lakes, among them the Lago Maggiore on the banks of which is located the resort town of Stresa.

To the North of Milan lies the Valle Camonica with its national parks, which provide excellent hiking and trekking opportunities and a chance to enjoy unspoiled stretches of pristine countryside.

Half an hour from Milan, is Pavia with its ancient university whose alumni include such luminaries as Christopher Columbus and physicist Alessandro Volta. Pavia is also home to Castello Visconteo built in 1360 and the Certosa di Pavia, a 14th century monastery that is often considered one of the most opulent architectural edifices of Northern Italy.

Accommodation and Dining

There are several hotels in the city of Milan that cater to every budget. Hotels range from the high end, costing over 300 Euros per night, to more modest accommodations costing 80 Euros or less. For those so inclined there are several back-packer hostels too. During the tourist season, reservations have to be made well in advance.

Italians love food. Finding a decent place to eat is not a problem in any Italian city and this is true of the city of Milan too. Prices of meals can range from over 22 Euros to under 7 Euros. Being a metropolitan city, one can get a wide range of cuisines, ranging from Japanese to restaurants that serve only vegetarian food.

Milan is famous for its traditional Christmas sweet cake called panettone. Visitors would be well advised not to pass up the opportunity to taste this delectable confection.

Getting there

Malpensa Airport in Milan is one of the largest in Italy and handles almost all international airlines. Milan has a well-connected subway system that makes getting around the city extremely easy. Trains to all major cities in Italy can be boarded at the Central Station. Bus stations can be found all over the city.

Milan, along with the rest of Italy, has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and sultry with temperatures of 30 degree Celsius or more, with August being the hottest time of year. Winter temperatures usually reach a few degrees below freezing.

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article.

Your trip to Milan leaves you yearning for more?

Make sure you visit Florence too
Enjoy the romantic city of Paris
Spend a few memorable moments in Brussels
Watch the tulips bloom in Amsterdam
Relax on the beach at Barcelona
Do visit the island paradise of Ile D'Oleron

Chillibreeze writers can write travel articles about any destination in India or abroad. Contact us for your content requirements.

Out of 5 “chilies”, our editorial team gave this article...

—About our writer:

Serene Kasim says "Always live the life you believe in. Nothing matters in the end except that you have been true to yourself."

>> Read more articles written by our chillibreeze staff and writers network:

1. Chillibreeze Top Rated Articles
2. Articles related to Content and Outsourcing
3. NRI and Expat Articles
4. Travel Writing
5. Book Reviews and Interviews
6. Various Articles from the Chillibreeze Network
7. Tutorial Index for great resources
8. Product Reviews Index