 Milan (Milano), Italy
Milan, Italy
Author: Marco Bonavoglia (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 Generic)
Milan, or Milano, is a city in northern Italy. This wealthy city is famous for being one of the world's fashion capitals. It serves as the capital of Lombardy, the wealthiest region of Italy. On the cultural scene, it is the home of the world famous La Scala opera house. Milan is also home to Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper
The city of Milan, with an urban population of 4.3 million people, is the fifth biggest city in Europe. It is within a metropolitan area with 7.4 million inhabitants. The city has one of Italy's highest GDP per capita and its workers one of the highest paid in the country. This in turn makes Milan the 5th most expensive city to live in, according to the 2010 study by the Economist.
Guide to Milan Hotels
Here's a list of hotels in Milan that you can book online, with full description, star rating, address, location map, evaluation, and prices as offered by different booking sites. This helps you to make your room booking with the site that offers the best price.
More on Milan
Milan was founded as a Celtic settlement named Mediolanum. It was captured and incorporated into the Roman Empire in 222 BC. Through history the city has been ruled by the Visconti, Sforza and Spanish. Napoleon I made Milan the capital of his Kingdom of Italy in 1805. The city was devastated by Allied bombings but swiftly rebuilt in the post-war years.
Today Milan is an international and cosmopolitan city. The city carries a high brand value and is one of the most influential in the world, especially in terms of fashion and design.
Duomo, Milan
Author: MarkusMark (public domain)
Budget Travel to Milan
There is a choice of two airports, Malpensa and Linate.
Arriving at Malpensa International Airport
Malpensa International Airport (MXP) is the main airport for Milan. It has two terminals, Terminal 1 for international and intercontinental flights while Terminal 2 is mostly for budget airlines. A free shuttle service connects the two terminals, supplemented by taxis.
If you arrive at Terminal 1, the Malpensa Express Train is the speediest and most convenient link between the airport to downtown Milan. The journey takes 40 minutes and costs €11.00 (or €13.50 if bought on board).
If you arrive at Terminal 2, the airport bus is the most convenient way to reach Milan. There are bus services connecting the airport to other nearby cities as well as to Linate Airport.
Taxi is of course the most expensive option to reach town. It costs €85 flat fee for the airport-city trip.
Arriving at Linate Airport
Linate Airport is the new hub for the revamped Alitalia following its merger with AirOne. The airport is however closer to Milan, and so is served by the city bus network. You can take Bus No. 73 outside the terminal to reach San Babila Square in downtown Milan. The cost is only €1.00, with tickets available at the vending machines as well as at the newsagent.
Arriving by Train
The Milano Centrale Railway Station is the rail transportation hub of the city. Train services link it to major European cities.
Budget Travel within Milan
Public transport in Milan, operated by Azienda Trasporti Milanesi comprises the Metro, trams, buses and Suburban Railway System, or S-Lines.
The Metro, short for Metropolitana, is the subway for Milan, denoted by a white M over a red background. There are presently three lines with another two under construction. The Metro is my choice of transport, followed by the trams. The bus routes are too complicated and impractical for visitors to learn, so I leave it alone.
The Metro fare is €1 per ride. You can also get the visitor card for unlimited rides, at the cost of €3.00 for 24 hours and €5.50 for 48 hours. Alternatively, you can buy a carnet of 10 tickets for €9.00.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II, Milan
Author: Alterboy (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
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Places of Interest in Milan
- Duomo
The gargantuan Gothic-style Cathedral of Milan is the spiritual heart of the city.
- Piazza del Duomo
Public square in front of the Cathedral of Milan.
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
The oldest and most elegant shopping mall in Italy, to the north of Piazza del Duomo.
- La Scala
Famous opera house of Milan, at Piazza della Scala, and includes its own museum, Museo Teatrale alla Scala.
- Pinacoteca di Brera
Gallery of one of the best art collection in Italy.
- Castello Sforzesco
Residence of the Sforza family, despotic rulers of Milan in the 15th century.
- Santa Maria delle Grazie
15th century church.
- Cenacolo Vinciano
Former refectory of the Dominican friars, now the home of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.
- Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio
One of the finest medieval buildings in Milan, with an attached museum, the Museo della Basilica.
- Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci
Museum that houses wooden models of Leonardo da Vinci's many ingenious inventions.
- Pinacoteca Ambrosiana
Art gallery founded in the 17th century by Cardinal Federico Borromeo.
- Via Monte Napoleone
Street within neighbourhood with many designer shops.
- Museo Bagatti Valsecchi
Museum showcasing the collections of the late 19th century Bagatti Valsecchi brothers.
- Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea (PAC)
Museum exhibiting experimental works of contemporary art.
- Museo del Presente
One of the top contemporary art galleries in Milan.
- Museo Poldi-Pezzoli
Museum housing the personal collection of Giacomo Poldi-Pezzoli.
- San Satiro
15th century church built by Bramante.
- San Lorenzo Maggiore
Basilica founded in the 4th century, rebuilt in 1103, and restored in the 16th century, with beautiful 5th century mosaics.
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