Milan It’s among the great Italian cities where you can find rich history, art and culture through grand landmarks. These include the majestic Duomo and its grand collection of basilicas. Add the city’s gastronomic traditions and you’ll have plenty of […]
Milan
It’s among the great Italian cities where you can find rich history, art and culture through grand landmarks. These include the majestic Duomo and its grand collection of basilicas. Add the city’s gastronomic traditions and you’ll have plenty of compelling reasons to put a trip to Milan on your bucket list.
Every major European city has a famous architectural site. In Milan, it is the majestic Duomo. Situated smack bang in the centre of Milan, the imposing gothic cathedral is the largest and most elaborate in Italy, enveloped in pink-tinged white marble sourced from the quarries of Lake Maggiore. Construction of the building began in 1386 and took nearly six centuries to complete. Visitors to the Duomo can climb up to the rooftop, where you can take in a sweeping view of the city, as well as get a close-up with the menacing gargoyles and intricate spires surrounding you.
Milan is one of Italy’s most fashionable cities, home to some of the country’s major fashion brands. One of the best spots in the city centre to find them in one spot happens to be the world’s oldest shopping mall, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The epicentre of Italian fashion and design, Milan is home to the biggest names in the industry – Valentino, Versace, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani and Missoni (to name just a few), as well as a new pool of talented emerging brands such as La DoubleJ. Since the early 1900s, Milan has also cemented its reputation as a trendsetter in interior and furniture design.
Boasting an amazing rail network connecting northern Italy and Switzerland, Milan is the perfect jumping-off spot to explore, whether for day trips or continuing on your travels. Swim in the sparkling waters of Lake Como after less than an hour’s travel; reach Romeo and Juliet’s birthplace Verona, the expansive Lake Garda or sample Turin’s exceptional wine in two hours or less. What’s more, you can get to Venice in just a bit over two hours. You can also take a trip to the Alps or Dolomites for skiing in winter or hiking in summer.
BERGAMO
Barely an hour away from Milan, Bergamo is the hidden gem of Lombardy, an Italian destination often missed or forgotten in favour of its more famous neighbour, the design capital and fashion city of Milan. one of the biggest travel mistakes that travellers make when heading to Northern Italy is missing out on this underrated gem of a city. Make sure to wander its cobbled lanes and soak up its historic atmosphere. After all, you certainly won’t be disappointed!
There is not one but two funiculars to take when you head to Bergamo. This is as the city is roughly divided into two main parts, with a further sub-division once you reach High Bergamo (known in Italian as the Città Alta). Built in the Alpine foothills, hills are obviously abundant! Below, the newer part of the city (though also dating back at least five centuries) is known as Città Bassa (lower city)
With breathtaking views of the city and beyond at the top, the funicular (or ‘mini sky train’) up to the very edge of the city is well worth the nominal fee. This view is such that it’s well worth bringing some photography equipment along to capture the moment.
VENICE
Murano & Burano: A trip to Venice wouldn’t be complete without hopping aboard a vaporetto for the ride across the lagoon to Murano, home of Venice’s fabled glass workers. The canal sides today are lined by glass showrooms and studios, showing everything from cheap imported trinkets to exquisite works of art. Inside the 17th-century Palazzo Giustinian is the Glass Museum, with one of the largest and most important collections of Venetian glass from the time of the Romans to the 20th century.It’s a quick hop to the next island, Burano, a fishing village of brilliantly painted houses, known historically for its lace making. The Scuola dei Merletti (lace school) and its small museum will help you distinguish the real thing from the cheap imports you’ll find in most shops. The slender campanile of the 16th-century church of San Martino leans at an alarming angle, made all the more dramatic by its height.