

Destination
Milan
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Charming and undoubtedly impressive, Milan is the richest and most elegant city in Italy - a perfect example of vintage romance that meets and blends with modern urban reality. In a country full of landscapes and natural beauty, Milan is a more modern addition to the charm of Italy, having to offer its visitors a taste of fashion and high aesthetics, good food and imposing architecture, being in fact the artistic capital of the country. Shopping centre of Italy and at the same time ""capital"" of fashion, Milan is home to many businesses, where you will have the opportunity to observe how the locals live, as they prevail over the number of tourists in the city. With endless choices of entertainment, amenities, as well as an excellent transportation system in the city, you won't get enough of your walks from morning till night! Enjoy the imposing architecture of the city, influenced by a patchwork of rhythms over the centuries. Try delicious traditional Milanese flavors, such as risotto Milanese and the famous panettone. Drink an aperitivo in the city that established the time of the well-known and now beloved habit of Italians. And of course, don't forget to visit the world-famous ""Scala of Milan"" or ""Teatro alla Scala"" as the locals know it. And for the fashion addicts, Milan will not leave you complaining, since it hosts the biggest names of Italian fashion – Valentino, Versace, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani and Missoni, to name but a few! So Milan is a city that combines everything - history and modern culture, amazing food, lots of shopping, wonderful walks in the city! Really, there's nothing more one could ask Milan not to be given in the most generous way...

The history
The history of Milan begins with a Celtic settlement in 400 BC. It was conquered by the Romans in 222 BC and later became the capital of the Western Roman Empire. As the Empire declined in the following centuries, many different groups invaded the city, including the Visigoths, the Huns and the Lombards. During the Middle Ages, Milan flourished as a commercial hub. From the 13th and 15th centuries, the powerful Visconti family ruled and brought a period of glory and wealth to the city. In 1386, the magnificent Duomo Cathedral was built. Although Milan developed as an important city of the Renaissance from the 15th century, it unfortunately had to clash with the French, Spanish and Austrian rulers until Italian the unification in 1871. The Kingdom of Italy had, in fact, been proclaimed by Napoleon at the beginning of the 19th century, but when its occupation ended in 1814, the region of Lombardy, including its capital, Milan, came under Austrian control, with Austrians leaving in 1859 after numerous uprisings. Although Rome was designated capital after the final phase of unification, Milan became the true economic and cultural leader of Italy. It was developed on a key industrial base, with rail links expanding into the city and its banks dominating the country economically. Actually, the fascist leader Benito Mussolini emerged in Milan in the early 20th century. He and his followers marched to Rome in 1922, taking control of the country. As the centre of Italian fascism, Milan was heavily bombarded by the Allies during World War II. It is a miracle that so many historical treasures from that period survived, including the opera "La Scala", "Castello Sforzesco" and Da Vinci's "Last Supper". After the war, the population grew as southern immigrants came to seek work and modern skyscrapers such as the Velasca and Pirelli towers began to appear. By the 1980s, many fashion houses were based in the city (including Armani, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana) became a global success and Milan became one of the world's leading fashion capitals.


Sightseeing



Il Duomo (Milan Cathedral)
The huge cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente, which the Milanese simply call "Il Duomo", with a capacity of up to 40,000 people, is one of the largest and one of the most magnificent churches in the world - the ultimate example of the flamboyant Gothic style and architecture. It began being built in the 14th century, but its facade was completed in the early 1800s, during the Napoleonic era. Its roof is covered by 135 finely carved stone peaks and the exterior is decorated with 2,245 marble statues, while its stained glass is some of the largest in the world.
Local gastronomy



Panettone
There are many stories about the exact origin of this Christmas bouncy fruit cake and almost all point to Milan as its birthplace. Panettone can be found everywhere, especially during the festive season, with boxes pilling up in bakeries and supermarkets, filling entire corridors. Many people buy it as a gift for friends and family, believing that nothing spreads as much joy as a slice of panettone and a glass of prosecco. Of course, don't be surprised when you discover that there are patisseries that bake panettone all year round. These points have conquered the notorious fruity bread, which is filled with large pieces of candied citrus and raisins.

Useful information
Police: +39 02 7727 2200
Airport: +3902232323
Taxi: +39 (0)27777
Hospital: 731-686-1591
Weather conditions in Milan

Airport
Malpensa Airport (MXP)
Terminal: Τ1
21010 Ferno, Province of Varese, Italy