Milan, the biggest city of North Italy is
the lifeline of the country and one of the most stylish cities on the globe.
Wealthy and cosmopolitan people of the city enjoy a reputation as successful
business people, equally at home, overseas and in Italy.
Besides this, Milan is a lively city, with several pubs, discos and
nightclubs. Being a fashion capital too, one might run into a top model or
designer where the best chances are in the area around Brera (the artist
zone) or the Navigli area. And if one has money to spend, just make a visit
in via Montenapoleone and via della Spiga where one finds boutiques by
Gucci, Ferragamo, Valentino, Armani, Ferre, Fendi and others.
Milan is famous for its designer shops and boutiques.
Fact File
Country : Italy
Population : 1.3 million
Languages : Italian, German and French
Climate : Winter in Milan (December to February) is relatively mild
but foggy, with temperatures ranging from 0 C to 8 C . Summer (May to
September) can be very humid and muggy, with brief thunderstorms;
temperatures range from 14 C to 29 C. From March through April : 6 C to 18
C. From October through November : 6 C to 17 C
Official Currency : Euro; 1 Euro = 52.443 Indian Rupee = 1.2047 US $
= 0.678141 GBP(subject to change)
Location
: Milan (Milano), situated on the flat plains of the Po Valley, is the
capital of Lombardy.
Getting There
By Air : Milan has three airports. Malpensa airport is the biggest
is also the farthest at 48 kilometers (30 miles) from the city center. The
fastest way to cover the distance is via Malpensa Express train, which
connects Terminal 1 of the airport with the center of Milan (Cadorna
Station) in 40 minutes. Trains leave in both directions every half hour.
If one lands at Terminal 2, courtesy buses can ferry you to the airport
train station. From Malpensa, you can also take a shuttle bus to Milano
Central Railway station
The airport closest to the city is Linate, only 7 kilometers (about 20
minutes) from downtown Milan. The third airport is Orio al Serio, which is
40 km. (about 45 minutes by car) from Milan.
By Train : There are three railway stations in the city. Stazione
Centrale is the most important railway station in the city and is the
departure point for international and high-speed trains.
Many regional trains leave from the Porta Garibaldi station. The area north
of Milan is covered by trains that leave from Stazione Nord railway station.
Getting Around
By Road : Milan has a comprehensive transport network which is run
by Azienda Trasporti Milanesi or ATM. One can easily opt between the metro,
bus, tram and trolley easily which is because of the integrated ticketing
system.
The metro runs 3 lines namely the red MM1, green MM2 and yellow MM3. The
lines converge at Duomo, Centrale FS, Loreto and Cadorna. Tickets must be
validated by punching them in the SITAM machines on-board buses or at the
metro stations.
SITAM machines are used to punch the cards on-board buses or at the metro
stations in order to validate them.
Besides these, one can opt for hired cars or the white or yellow coloured
taxis.
Accommodation
The city of Milan offers some of the best accommodation facilities for the
visitors. Mentioned below is the list of some of the best hotels in the
city:
5 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Gran Duomo
Hotel Gray
Hotel Enterprise
4 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Le Meridien gallia
Hotel Best western Cristoforo Colombo
Hotel Andreola
3 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Antares Accademia
Hotel Grand et de Milan
Hotel Golden Tulip Atahotel Arcobaleno
Major Tourist Attractions
Piazza del Duomo : the main square of Milan leads off to the Duomo –
one of the largest cathedrals in Europe, and the Galleria.
The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele : is a fine citation of 19th Century
Shopping complex design where there is the picture of a Bull on the floor
and the tradition says one has to spin around its testicles in order to make
a wish.
Santa Maria Della Grazie : Visitors to this Gothic Church come for
one reason – to gaze upon the Last Supper, by Leonardo Da Vinci.
Leonardo Da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology : the
main attraction is the section dedicated to Leonardo as a scientist. Other
exhibits display the progress of technology with an Italo-centric angle,
such as the Italian motor scooter industry, the pioneering of radio by
Italian Guglielmo Marconi, and the bridge of Italian liner Conte Biancamano.
Castello
Sforzesco : the seat of the Sforza family, it is a fine example of
Renaissance Architecture. It is home to several major museums – the
Museum of Ancient Art, Prehistoric and Egyptian collections of the
Archeological Museum, and collections of medieval and renaissance
furnishing, musical instruments and jewellery.
Alfa Romeo Museum : this museum is dedicated to Milan’s
hometown marques.
Meazza : also known as San Siro, it is the site of a race course and
Milan’s primary football stadium. In between the stadia stands a giant
sculpture of a horse, based upon a design by Leonardo Da Vinci. The football
stadium was recently rebuilt and was the site of the opening ceremony of the
1990 World Cup.
