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