History - Art and Culture
Founded around 590 BC by a Celtic tribe from the Insubri group in the centre of the Po Valley, this ancient settlement of Mediolanum has always played a central role in the Italian political and cultural world. While currently Italy's second most populous city, Milan was the capital of the Western Roman Empire from 286 AD to 402 AD. During the Holy Roman Empire, the importance of the city grew so much that it evolved into a free commune, leaving a mark on the history of Lombardy and the destiny of Italy as a whole. Despite its tortuous and troubled history, Milan has grown to become an important hub, playing a fundamental strategic role. As a symbol of the Resistance, after World War II and particularly in the 1950s Milan became the power house of the Italian reconstruction effort, both industrially and culturally.
Food
- Risotto alla Milanese
- Cotoletta alla Milanese
- Ossobuco
- Mondeghili
Something to do - Sport and Fun
Milan is full of museums, from Mudec to the Museo del '900, and if you're looking for ideas on what to do in the city, you'll be spoilt for choice between exhibitions and permanent collections. Alternatively, the city lends itself well to long walks. And not only along the Navigli canals, which you can also travel along by bike. An aperitif on a terrace to admire the skyline, an afternoon at a spa or at the Colonne di San Lorenzo will connect you with the city's worldly soul. If it's your first time in Milan and you want to go sightseeing, don’t miss out on a unique tram tour on a 1920s tramcar, which lasts 75 minutes and departs from Piazza Castello. Treat yourself to a little shopping in the vintage shops of the Cinque Vie, where you can find a selection of original and fashionable clothing unlike anywhere else in the world.
Something to see
- the Duomo: it's the central monument of Milan with its majestically soaring spires and the golden Madonnina statue at the top overlooking the city. It is a marvellous example of Gothic art and architecture and the largest church in Italy.
- CityLife district: it's a piece of contemporary architecture. There are Three Towers or the Bosco Verticale, the Vertical Forest, two apartment blocks covered in greenery, the result of a metropolitan reforestation
- Pinacoteca di Brera: its rich exhibition route ranging from prehistoric to contemporary art
- the Castello Sforzesco: one of the largest castles in Europe, which houses several museums
- Arco della Pace: one of the most important neoclassical monuments in the city