Milan, Italy - the heart of fasion

While Milan's role in the modern world of fashion and design is well acknowledged, however the city has evolved from a time when it was the capital of the western Roman Empire and was one of the most amazing of the Italian communities during the Middle Ages attracting Leonardo Di Vinci to the city looking for work. Milan is gifted with an impressive part of Italy’s heritage and is a great city of fashion.

We commence our stroll at the footsteps of the imposing marble Duomo. Built over a two hundred year period the Duomo commencing in 1386, Milan's main cathedral is 5th largest in the world. The white marble making the building an imposing site dominating the Piazza.  The Piazza is also home to the Palazzo Real and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the world's oldest active shopping mall and a major landmark of Milan. Housed within a four-story double arcade in the center of town the Galleria was designed in 1861 and built by architect Giuseppe Mengoni between 1865 and 1877. A roof made of cast iron and glass and provides a beautiful site overhead. The arcade principally contains luxury retailers selling fashion, jewelry, books and art.  The Galleria is famous for being home to some of the oldest shops and restaurants in Milan, such as Biffi Caffè (founded in 1867 by Paolo Biffi, pastry chef to the monarch).

Clerici Palace is the next stop on our stroll and is located at number 5 of the street carrying the same name, among the 17th century buildings. The building itself is a typical example of late baroque architecture and still one of the most rich and splendid dwellings and contains a series of decorated rooms, among the most splendid and meaningful examples of the 18th century in Milan.  Currently it houses ISPI (Italian Institute for International Political Studies) Headquarters and you need to book an appointment for a tour on milan number 02 863313271.

From Clerici Palace we head for the imposing and grand Sforzesco Castle one of the ture landmarks of Milan. Built in the 14th Century the castle suffered at the hands of a number of sieges, damage and reconstructions as the French, Spanish and Austrian armies all interacted with the city of Milan. The walls and corner turrets dominate the skyline and enclose an amazing open forecourt and  many civic museums; including vast a collection art in the  Museo d’Arte Antica (Museum of Ancient Art). 

Departing the castle by the back entrance you enter the Parco Sempione with its amazing view across the valley to the Arch of Peace at the far end of the park. No matter what season you visit Milan a walk through the park is worth the time.

From the park we wind through the San Vittore district to the Basilica Santa Maria delle Grazie a church and Dominican convent. The church contains the mural of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, which can be found in the refectory of the convent. Other frescos and renaissance art can be experienced in the different areas of the building complex.

Our journey then wanders past the San Lorenzo Columns a group of ancient Roman ruins, located in front of the Basilica of San Lorenzo. The 16 marble columns, with Corinthian capitals, represent one of the most important Roman finds in Milan. The Basilica San Lorenzo Maggiore was originally built in Roman times and subsequently rebuilt several times over a number of centuries. The church’s courtyard houses a copy of a bronze statue of Constantine the Great, the first Roman Emperor who converted to Christianity. The church’s interior is decorated with marble and impressive mosaics. One of the temple’s highlights (which should not be missed) is the Chapel of Saint Aquilino with its fourth century Byzantine mosaics.

We depart the San Lorenzo area via ancient Porta Ticinese is one of the two medieval gates of the city that still exist in the modern Milan. If your hungry we recommend La Dogana del Buongusto, east along Via Molino delle Armi about 50 meters.

We now wander down to the Basilica di Sant'Eustorgio another of the significant religious buildings that make up Basilicas Park and for many years an important stop for pilgrims on their journey to Rome or to the Holy Land, because it was said to contain the tomb of the Three Magi or Three Kings or Wise Men. The church has a history stretching back to the 4th Century. 

We now take a stroll through Basilicas Park or more appropriately known as Parco Giovanni II. We wind back towards the Duomo through the streets of the Bottonuto to the Ambrosian Library or Biblioteca Ambrosiana. 

One of the oldest cultural institutions in Milan, founded in 1618 by Cardinal Federico Borromeo, the Ambrosiana Gallery houses a permanent collection of fine paintings, sculptures, etchings and drawings donated by Borromeo himself. Adjoining the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, a historic library in Milan containing works by Homer plus Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Codex Atlanticus, the gallery includes highlights such as the Adoration of the Kings by Titian, the Madonna of the Pavilion by Botticelli, the Preliminary Cartoon for the School of Athens by Raphael, the Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio and the Portrait of a Musician by Leonardo da Vinci. The building housing the museum is magnificent and is a work of art in itself.

Northern Italy and particularly Milan is the hub of Italian culture, music, media and sports. If you are a music lover, make sure you visit La Scala. If you are a sports fan, no other city can probably boast two soccer powerhouses like Inter Milan and AC Milan and the amazing Autodromo Nazionale Monza north of the city. With so many things to do and see, take the time to simply enjoy yourself – relax and experience Milanese culture.