Milan (Milano) is the second largest city in Italy, the largest city in the northern part of the country, the administrative center of the Lombardy region. Milan is one of the most famous cities in Italy. The city is known as an important industrial, commercial and financial center. Milan is famous as one of the world centers of fashion and design. One of the world's most famous opera houses, La Scala, is also located in Milan. Milan annually visited by more than 2 million tourists.
Milan was founded in the 6th century BC. It is located in the northern part of Italy, in the Po river Valley. The city covers an area of 181.76 km² and has a population of about 1.3 million. Distance from Milan to the Italian capital (Rome) is approximately 580 kilometers. Quite hot and humid summers and relatively cold and wet winters are usually in Milan. Temperature in Milan ranges from -1 to +5°C in January and +19 ÷ +30°C in July. Average number of rainy days per month ranges from 6 to 10 during the year.
Distance from Milan to several Italian cities (distance for traveling by car):
- Milan - Rome: 580 km.
- Milan - Venice: 270 km.
- Milan - Florence: 306 km.
- Milan - Genoa 150 km.
- Milan - Turin 155 km.
What is Milan famous for
- Milan is one of the four capitals of the fashion world, along with London, Paris and New York. Fashion Week is held twice a year in Milan. It is one of the most important events in the world fashion industry. In Milan fashion industry operates about 12,000 enterprises. Many well-known brands (such as Valentino, Gucci, Versace, Prada, Armani and Dolce & Gabbana) have their offices in Milan. Fashion Museum will be open in Milan.
- Milan is one of the world's most famous design centres. Every year there is held the exhibition “Salone Internazionale del Mobile”. It is- one of the most important design-related events in the world. Many world-famous designers work in Milan. The Association of Industrial Design (ADI) in Milan established most important awards in the world of Design - “Compasso d'Oro”.
- Most of operating in Italy major companies has their offices in Milan. Here are the main offices of many banks (for example Unicredit), telecommunications and Internet companies (Altavista, Google, Lycos, Yahoo), newspapers, advertising companies, the exhibition center.
- There are many museums and art galleries in Milan. There also is one of the world's most famous opera houses – “La Scala”.
- Milan is a major center of education in Italy. There are several universities and conservatories. About 174,000 students (about 10% of all students in Italy) are studying in Milan.
Attractions
- Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) is the symbol of the city. It is the fifth-largest cathedral in the world and the second largest in Italy (after St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican). The cathedral is built of white marble in the period from 1386 to 1577 years (construction works continued until the 19th century). It is best known example of Gothic architecture in Italy. Milan Cathedral is located on the main square (Piazza Duomo). The nearest metro station is “Duomo”.
- Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) is one of the most famous landmarks in Milan. Sforza Castle was built in the middle of the XV century on the site of the destroyed fortifications of the 14th century. In the decoration of the castle took part Leonardo da Vinci. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was one of the largest fortresses in Europe. At present Sforza Castle are several museums, for which is a single entrance ticket (on Friday afternoon, free admission). It is believed that the image of the Sforza castle was used as a sample by Italian architects for construction of the Moscow Kremlin. Address: Piazza Castello, 3, Milano (MI). The castle is open from 7:00 to 19:00 (18:00 in winter). The nearest underground station: “Cairoli Castello”. It is closed on Monday, December 25, January 1, May 1.
- “Santa Maria delle Grazie” church (Chiesa e Convento Domenicano di Santa Maria delle Grazie) is located in western part of Milan. This is the Dominican monastery main church. This church is famous because in it is one of the frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci – “The Last Supper”. The monastery is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church was built in the period from 1463 for 1497 years.
- Ancient fortress walls in Milan. In the city of Milan are fragments of the ancient city walls. The city walls were built in different periods of history. The oldest part of the city walls were built in the period of the Roman Empire.
- In the 12th century (after the destruction of the city by troops of Frederick Barbarossa) in Milan was built fortifications, fragments of which have saved to the present day.
- Later the remains of walls belong to the 16th century, when the city was under Spanish rule.
Distance (walking route):
- Central Station - Milan Cathedral (Piazza del Duomo): 3,2 km.
- “Piazza Duomo” square - Castello Sforzesco: 0.85 km.
- “Piazza Duomo” – “Fashion quarter” (street Via Monte Napoleone): 700 meters.
- “Piazza Duomo” – “Santa Maria delle Grazie” church: 1.5 km.
- “Piazza Duomo” – “La Scala” Theater: 500 meters.
- Central Station – “La Scala” theater: 2.4 km.
Milan is city of design, fashion and shopping
Milan is city of fashion
Milan is one of the four fashion capitals of the world, along with London, Paris and New York. In the Milan and its surrounding area operates about 12,000 companies of fashion industry and engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of clothing, footwear, accessories and related products. There are about 850 showrooms and 6,000 retail outlets, 14 fashion schools with an enrollment of more than 6,000 students. In Milan are located the most famous Italian fashion houses, such as Gucci, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Trussardi, Armani, Valentino, Prada, Bulgari, Missoni, Moschino and Salvatore Ferragamo. Most of these companies stores located in the so-called Milan's fashion district, in the passage Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, in Corso Buenos Aires Street and Piazza Piazza square.
Fashion Week in Milan (Settimana della moda). Fashion Week in Milan is one of the most important fashion events in the world (as the most prestigious fashion shows in New York, London and Paris). Fashion Week is held twice a year. Spring and summer collection is shown in February - March, autumn - winter collection in the early fall (September - October). Milan Fashion Week held from 1958 by Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana.
It is planned to open in 2015 “Fashion City” in Milan, where on area of over 110,000 square meters will be placed service businesses, shops, homes, and MOdAM fashion museum. MOdAM - Museum and fashion school will be built in Milan, Porta Nuova (in Garibaldi Repubblica).
Milan is “City of design”
Milan is considered as one of the world design centers. It employs many world-famous designers. The exhibition “Salone Internazionale del Mobile” is one of the most prestigious exhibitions on furniture and interior design.
Salone Internazionale del Mobile (Milan Furniture Fair) is one of the most popular exhibitions in the world of furniture design products for the interior. The exhibition is held annually in Milan (usually in April) since 1961. Visitors can see the new furniture designs from around the world. Furniture Fair is held in the exhibition center Fiera Milano in the suburbs of Milan Rho.
Fiera Milano SpA company is located in Milan and organizes exhibitions, conferences and other events. The company owns and manages the necessary infrastructure for such activities: Fieramilanocity, MiCo and Fieramilano.
- Fieramilano. “Fieramilano” is a large exhibition center, which is located to the west of Milan, near the A4 motorway and the town of Rho. Exhibition Centre was opened in 2005. Fieramilano Exhibition Centre has 8 halls and open air area of 60,000 m2. The nearest metro station is “Rho Fiera” (line 1). At the exhibition center in will be held 2015 's World Expo 2015. Address: Strada Statale del Sempione, 28 - 20017
- Fieramilanocity is the oldest in Milan venue for exhibitions. The venue is located near the city center and is used for smaller events than Fieramilano. The nearest metro stations are “Amendola Fiera” and “Lotto Fiera- 2”.
- MiCo (Milano Congressi) is the venue for congresses and conferences. The congress center has 70 rooms with a total area of 18,000 m2. This is one of the largest conference centers in Europe.
Milan is city of shopping
Milan is a city in which not only create fashion items, but also sell them. Many believe Milan is one of the best places for shopping. Here you can buy the latest fashion products, the best works of the best designers in the world. There are shops of most major manufacturers of fashion apparel, shoes and accessories in Milan. There are also shops selling goods for not richest customers in Milan. Also, as a rule, twice a year are held sales (Saldi) (at the beginning of July until mid-September, are selling summer clothes, from January to early March - winter).
- “Galleria Vittorio Emmanuel II” is considered as one of Europe's first shopping centers. At the end of the 19th century the street, connecting the cathedral square (Piazza Duomo) and the square in front of “La Scala” (Piazza della Scala), were covered with a roof made of glass and steel. So there was created one of the first shopping centers in Europe. The structure of the passage also includes parts of streets Via Silvio Pellico and Via Ugo Foscolo. Here are the most famous shops, cafes and restaurants, hotel. Today the gallery Vittorio Emanuele II is not only a place for shopping, but also one of the tourist attractions in Milan. The gallery also hosts concerts and exhibitions. The nearest metro station is “Duomo”. Close to the square Piazza del Duomo are streets with lot of stores, including department store La Rinascente.
- Fashion district in Milan. A little north-east of Milan Cathedral is one of the most famous shopping districts in the world – “quadrilatero della moda”. Here are located the most luxurious and most expensive shops in Milan. Here you can buy works by the most famous designers. District is located south of the Porta Nuova and is bounded by streets Via Montenapoleone (in the southwest), Via Manzoni (in the northwest), Via della Spiga (north-east), and Corso Venezia (south-east). On the territory of the district are also streets Via Borgospesso, Via Santo Spirito, Via Gesù, Via Sant'Andrea, Via Bagutta. The most famous street of district is Via Montenapoleone, which is one of the most expensive and luxurious shopping streets of the world. The nearest metro stations: San Babila and Montenapoleone. Corso Venezia Street in the north-east becomes the street Corso Buenos Aires.
- “Corso Buenos Aires” is one of the most famous shopping streets in Milan. There are over 350 stores, which serve an average of one hundred thousand people a day. The street has a length of about 1600 meters and is one of the longest shopping streets in Europe. It is believed that there is the largest concentration of clothing and shoe stores in Europe. Street Corso Buenos Aires is located north -east of the city center. Street laid from the Porta Venezia (one of the entrances to the historic city and the name of the district) in the square Piazzale Oberdan in a northeasterly direction to the area in Piazzale Loreto. Next to the street, there are three metro stations of Milan (at Porta Venezia, Piazza Lima, and Piazzale Loreto). Located on Corso Buenos Aires street stores offer mostly relatively cheap ready-made clothes and footwear for consumers.
There are many stores that sell goods destined for the not wealthy buyers in Milan. Many of them are located at away from center. Avid shoppers are advised to pay attention to the streets of Via Marghera, Via Statuto, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, department stores Coin and Upim (Piazza San Babila 5), shoe store Pittarello (Angolo Via Benadir 5, next to the Via Palmanova). There are several outlets at a considerable distance from the city (eg, Foxtown, Serravalle, Francia corta outlet, Vico Lungo outlet).
Transport
“Milano Centrale” railway station is one of the busiest (by number of passengers) stations in Europe. Station serves more than 300,000 passengers a day. The station was opened in 1931. From the station depart trains to Rome, Naples, Bologna, Venice, and Turin. Station also serves international destinations: Bern, Lugano, Geneva, Zürich, Paris, Vienna, Barcelona and Munich. You can also get to the airport “Milan-Malpensa Airport” by “Malpensa Express” train from the central station. Address: Piazza Duca d'Aosta, 20124 Milano. The nearest underground station: “Centrale FS”.
Airports
Milan Malpensa Airport (Aeroporto di Milano-Malpensa) is the largest of the three airports in Milan, Italy. The airport is located about 45 kilometers from the center of Milan. The airport is connected to Milan by Milan- Varese highway and railway. “Malpensa Express” train connects airport with Milan Cadorna station and the Central station.
Caravaggio International Airport (Milan- Bergamo airport) is located approximately 45 kilometers from the center of Milan, near the Bergamo. It is one of three airports that serve the city of Milan. Airport serves low-cost airlines (for example, Ryanair).
Distance from Milan to some European cities (distance for traveling by car):