| Milan Malpensa Airport Car Rental | | | | eighteenth century palaces including Palazzo Brera at |
| History and culture | | | | number 28 Corso Como that houses the famous |
| The city's origins date back to 400 B.C when the | | | | Pinacoteca. |
| Gauls settled in this area of the Po Plains, having | | | | Parco Sempione |
| defeated the Etruscans who were by now in decline. | | | | This park stands behind Castello Sforzesco. It is huge |
| When the city was conquered by the Romans in 222 | | | | and fascinating with its lakes, meadows and little |
| B.C. and annexed to the Empire, it was given the name | | | | bridges. It is the ideal place to spend a Sunday |
| Mediolanum. After some attempts at rebellion, it | | | | afternoon in the fresh air. The Park is home to |
| became a permanent Latin colony (89 B.C.) and then | | | | monuments such as the Arena Napoleonica, the |
| regional capital (15 B.C.). Over the years, Mediolanum | | | | Tower designed by Giò Ponti and the Triennale di |
| acquired the name "Roma secunda" due to its | | | | Milano. |
| strategic position. After 313 A.D., the year in which the | | | | Galleria Vittorio Emanuele |
| Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Tolerance | | | | This was built around 1870 and is called the "salotto di |
| towards Christianity, many churches were built and the | | | | Milano" (The Milan Lounge): If you walk along its |
| first bishop was appointed: Ambrogio was such an | | | | cross-shaped "arms", topped by the glass and iron |
| influential person that the Church became the | | | | structure, you can see old coffee-shops, restaurants, |
| Ambrosian Church. | | | | boutiques and historical bookshops. |
| After the fall of the Roman Empire, Milan was left to | | | | Porta Venezia Gardens |
| the mercy of the Barbarians, until it was conquered by | | | | These wonderful gardens can be found between Via |
| the Longobards (also known as Lombards) in 569 A.D. | | | | Palestro and Porta Venezia, the favorite place to be |
| Towards the end of the eighth century, the bishops | | | | for the Milanese on springtime afternoons. The |
| managed to use the influence to full extent, forcing an | | | | gardens which were the first to be opened to the |
| alliance with the emperors: Ottone of Saxony , who | | | | public in Milan, date back to the end of the eighteenth |
| was crowned King of Italy in the Church of | | | | century and were renovated in 1880. There are many |
| Sant'Ambrogio, made this power even more legitimate. | | | | monuments dedicated to famous characters from |
| In the first half of the year 1000, The Archbishop of | | | | Italian history and there are also many botanical |
| Milan became the most powerful political figure in the | | | | species to be admired. |
| whole of Northern Italy. After a series of political | | | | Piazza Mercanti |
| problems, Milan became a municipality (1117), and | | | | This characteristic square near the Duomo is |
| gradually freed itself from the Archbishop. It also began | | | | surrounded by very interesting historical buildings that |
| to expand by declaring war on other municipalities in | | | | represent Milanese culture from the middle ages to the |
| the nearby area. Later the attempt by Frederick I of | | | | seventeenth century. These include Palazzo della |
| Swabia to take over the city gave rise to the birth of | | | | Ragione that dates back to 1200, the Loggia degli Osii, |
| the Lombard League, which fought for the city's | | | | the seventeeth century Palazzo delle Scuole Palatine |
| independence, and which ended in 1176 after the | | | | and Palazzo dei Giureconsulti that stands at the top of |
| defeat of Barbarossa. | | | | Via Mercanti. |
| From 1200 onwards, Milan became an increasingly | | | | Eating and Drinking |
| important city, and finally changed from being a | | | | Traditional Milanese cooking is made up of simple, |
| municipality to a "Seigneury". The city walls were | | | | meager dishes and perhaps for this reason it was |
| extended, new buildings were built and roads were | | | | banished during the ambitious 1980s. It has only recently |
| paved. The Visconti family, noblemen from Bergamo, | | | | returned to popularity. Milan is a city that lives off |
| Cremona, Piacenza, Brescia and Parma came to | | | | fashion and trends: there was Chinese cooking (that |
| power in 1300 and brought about a lengthy period of | | | | was obviously discovered here before it was adopted |
| splendor and wealth for the city. Monuments were built, | | | | in the rest of Italy), then Indian cooking, then African |
| including the famous Duomo in 1386, that soon became | | | | cooking, followed by Japanese and Middle Eastern |
| the city's symbol. The Sforza family took over from | | | | cooking. The Milanese people have now returned to |
| the Viscontis, and with them they brought peace after | | | | their origins, enjoying the tastes with the pleasure that |
| many years of warring against Venice and Florence. | | | | one feels when one returns home after a long trip. |
| Milan developed sciences, art and literature under the | | | | Now there are trattorias, inns and restaurants (including |
| Sforza Duchy: Leonardo da Vinci and "il Bramante" | | | | luxury ones) everywhere that offer traditional Milanese |
| were called to the Court of Ludovico il Moro. When | | | | dishes to eat. |
| Charles V came to the throne in 1535, the city began a | | | | If you are planning to visit this city, don't miss out on the |
| period of almost two centuries of Spanish rule, which is | | | | chance to try some typical food that you can find here |
| narrated by Alessandro Manzoni in his classic book "I | | | | in their original version. |
| Promessi Sposi" (The Betrothed). At the beginning of | | | | We offer you a typically Milanese menu in our guide to |
| the eighteenth century, the Austrians arrived in Milan: | | | | Milan, from antipasto to dessert. Actually, from the |
| Milan underwent a deep cultural changed under | | | | aperitif, because an evening in Milan cannot go without |
| Austrian rule. The La Scala Theater – where | | | | this ritual. |
| Giuseppe Verdi made his debut – was built, | | | | One of the many aperitifs that you can try out during |
| together with many Neoclassical buildings and the Arco | | | | happy hour is the classical Negroni, which is a little |
| della Pace. In 1859, the Austrians were driven out of | | | | "aggressive" but is especially loved by the Milanese, |
| Milan and the city was annexed to the Kingdom of | | | | made with Bitter Campari, Gin, red Martini and ice, that |
| Piedmont, which then became the Kingdom of Italy in | | | | must be tried with a few snacks. After your aperitif |
| 1861. Milan was immediately chosen as the economic | | | | you can choose one of the several restaurants in |
| and cultural capital of Italy, and has maintained this title | | | | Milan that specializes in traditional cooking. We advise |
| up to modern days. | | | | you to start with a traditional antipasto, made of |
| Churches and Museums | | | | nervetti (boiled calf's shank and knee cartilage cut into |
| From the ancient Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio to the | | | | strips) and mixed with thinly sliced onions. As a first |
| huge, majestic Duomo: the greatest symbols of religion | | | | course you cannot miss out on the classical Risotto |
| in Milan: | | | | alla Milanese, made with a full-bodied beef broth (the |
| The Duomo | | | | original recipe includes bone marrow) and flavored with |
| The most outstanding example of Gothic-Lombard | | | | saffron. As a second course we suggest a classic |
| architecture, the Duomo dates back to 1300. It was | | | | Milanese dish: "cassouela", an extremely filling dish |
| built on the wishes of Gian Galeazzo Visconti. This | | | | made with various poor parts of pork meat (tail, ribs, |
| imposing religious building, second only to St Peter's | | | | rind, feet and ears) cooked with green cabbage and |
| Cathedral in Rome, houses almost 3500 statues that | | | | other vegetables. If you are not feeling so courageous, |
| are spread over an area of almost 12,000 square | | | | go for a more traditional dish, a tasty Milanese cutlet |
| meters. The tallest spire, which has the famous | | | | that is probably nothing like you've ever tasted in other |
| "Madonnina" on top of it, is 108 meters high. The statue | | | | places: Milan restaurants actually serve a very tasty, |
| of the Virgin Mary, the "Madonnina", is covered in 3900 | | | | crunchy cutlet, made with a veal chop, including the |
| pieces of gold leaf. | | | | bone. Another alternative is veal tonné, that is a light, |
| Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio | | | | tasty veal slice covered in tuna, mayonnaise, anchovy |
| This is the symbol of Milan's religiousness. It was built in | | | | and caper sauce. We recommend an excellent |
| 379 A.D. in the Romanesque-Lombard style, and was | | | | Barbera from the Oltrepò Pavese as your wine. |
| consecrated by the famous Bishop Ambrogio, who | | | | If you should decide to spend time in Milan that |
| lent his name to the Ambrosian Church. Inside there | | | | coincides with the Christmas festivities, you could end |
| are valuable artifacts and works of art that tell the | | | | your lunch with a huge slice of Panettone, the typical |
| story of about 1600 years of Milan's history. | | | | local Christmas cake, that is even tastier if you eat it |
| Basilica of Sant' Eustorgio | | | | with traditional Mascarpone cream. |
| A wonderful medieval religious building that was built at | | | | There are typical products from the province of Milan, |
| the beginning of the fourth century on the wishes of | | | | including Salame di Milano, made from finely minced |
| the Bishop Eustorgio who brought the remains of the | | | | pork and beef meat, and many types of cheese too. |
| wise kings here from Constantinople, that can still be | | | | Grana Padano is a famous cheese overseas, which |
| seen in the Chapel bearing their name today. | | | | comes from the Pò valley that includes the |
| Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore | | | | Lombardia, Piedmont, Veneto and Emilia Romagna |
| This wonderful basilica, located opposite the Roman | | | | regions. Mascarpone is also a typical Milanese cheese, |
| columns that are the only remains of a third-century | | | | that is an essential ingredient for desserts and creams, |
| temple, includes many different architectural styles, due | | | | often mixed with other cheeses, salami or fish. |
| to the various renovations that the building has | | | | However, the most famous Milanese cheese is |
| undergone. The main elements are Paleo-christian (for | | | | without a doubt Gorgonzola, that rich, strongly flavored |
| example the mosaics) but other more recent styles | | | | cheese that reigns supreme at the Milan dinner table. |
| also stand out, including ones from 1600 (the dome) to | | | | This creamy cheese, that has blue veins running |
| 1800 (the façade). | | | | through it, is used to dress tasty first courses (in this |
| Santa Maria delle Grazie | | | | case mixed with mascarpone), and to flavor Polenta |
| This church was built in the second half of the fifteenth | | | | or can be eaten alone. |
| century. It was only completed years later by "il | | | | Finally, we should remember Crescenza or |
| Bramante" on the wishes of Ludovico il Moro. The | | | | "Stracchino", the soft, creamy fresh milk cheesewith a |
| famous architect designed the wonderful apse, the | | | | slightly sweet taste, that is excellent when spread on a |
| cloisters and the old sacristy. Leonardo da Vinci | | | | slice of bread or eaten with raw vegetables. |
| painted "The Last Supper" in the refectory, which is | | | | If you are interested in buying foodstuffs or wine, you |
| one of the most famous works of art ever painted. | | | | must visit Peck, a legendary temple of gastronomy. In |
| A selection of the most interesting museums in Milan | | | | Via Spadari, where there is also a famous |
| that must be visited: | | | | fishmonger's, you will find all you need to satisfy your |
| Cenacolo Vinciano | | | | taste buds and your sense of hedonism: DOP |
| Between 1495 and 1498, Leonardo da Vinci painted | | | | (certified origin) cheeses from all over Italy, all kinds of |
| the whole wall of the refectory in the Dominican | | | | salami, extra virgin oils, aged balsamic vinegars, rare |
| convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with a fresco of | | | | tea and spice mixtures, pretty preserves of food in oil |
| The Last Supper, one of the most famous | | | | and a wine cellar that is filled with the most valuable |
| masterpieces in history. This work of art has | | | | wines from Italy and abroad. |
| undergone a restoration that lasted twenty years and | | | | Shopping |
| which was only recently finished, bringing it back to its | | | | Milan is Heaven on Earth for shopping lovers. You can |
| full glory and halting the deterioration that was turning it | | | | find the best of everything in this city, especially |
| into a faded, shapeless stain. | | | | everything connected with fashion and design. |
| La Scala Theater Museum | | | | Milan has a wonderful history as a laboratory of |
| Founded in 1913, this interesting museum houses | | | | creative ideas: The Polytechnic and the Accedemia di |
| exhibits of various costumes and theatre sets that are | | | | Brera have trained fashion designers and other |
| of great historical and artistic value. Some rooms are | | | | designers who are famous worldwide. They exhibited |
| dedicated to the La Scala Theater's architecture and | | | | their creations for the first time in Milan, often creating |
| the life of the famous composer Giuseppe Verdi, while | | | | scandal and revolutionizing fashion with their own |
| others house ancient musical instruments, curtains and | | | | personal style, never going unobserved. |
| costumes that belonged to famous artists such as | | | | In this section, dedicated principally to fashion, we will |
| Maria Callas and Rudolf Nureyev. | | | | offer you a small selection of designers born in Milan, |
| Pinacoteca di Brera | | | | or who started their careers here, contributing to the |
| The Pinacoteca di Brera is an art gallery set up in 1809 | | | | great name of Italian fashion in the world. |
| by Napoleone Bonaparte. It houses a great number of | | | | Giorgio Armani: born in Piacenza in 1934, the king of |
| works of art that were "confiscated" from churches | | | | Italian fashion started his career in Milan, working as a |
| and convents throughout Europe. Works to be seen | | | | buyer for Rinascente. At the beginning of the sixties, |
| range from the fourteenth to the twentieth centuries, | | | | he left his job to dedicate himself to creating patterns |
| and include masterpieces by artists such as Piero della | | | | for well-known designers, even though he had no |
| Francesca (Pala d'Urbino), Raffaello (Sposalizio della | | | | specific training. In 1975 he risked again, starting up the |
| Vergine), Mantenga (Cristo Morto), il Bramante and | | | | label Giorgio Armani for men and women and he was |
| Caravaggio. The courtyard holds a wonderful statue | | | | successful immediately. He built up a close relationship |
| of Napoleon that was created by Canova. | | | | with the cinema world from the start, and was |
| Pinacoteca Ambrosiana | | | | consecrated with his clothes made for "American |
| This is Milan's oldest museum, which was opened in | | | | Gigolo". A young Richard Gere was seen in front of a |
| 1609 It is home to some masterpieces by artists such | | | | huge clothes closet, in the dressing ceremony scene, |
| as Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello and | | | | that was arranged in a maniacally perfect order. |
| Botticelli. The Ambrosiana also houses an important | | | | Foremost symbol of elegance in the 1980s, Armani is |
| library which contains some ancient codes, illuminated | | | | still king of world fashion today. |
| manuscripts, and ancient books. | | | | Miuccia Prada: Miuccia Prada, an anti-conformist who |
| The Museum of Ancient Art | | | | was politically active in the 1970s, took over the family |
| This interesting museum is housed in the splendid | | | | company in 1978 that was specialized in bags and |
| Castello Sforzesco, and is home to some of the most | | | | leather accessories, and revolutionized everything. Her |
| important sculptures that help to understand Lombard | | | | bags became sought-after pieces and became part |
| history and culture. The works come from a period | | | | of the Milanese landscape. Here unmistakable, |
| ranging from the 4th to the 16th century. They include | | | | minimal-chic style won over the Milanese upper middle |
| the funeral monument for Gaston di Foix and the | | | | classes in the 1980s and 1990s. Her sports range, |
| "Pietà Rondinini" by Michelangelo. | | | | characterized by the famous "red line" made the label |
| Museum of Science and Technology | | | | even better known and won over larger shares of the |
| This interesting museum, which is named after | | | | market. However, Prada did not want to be just a |
| Leonardo da Vinci and which was recently renovated | | | | reference point for fashion: In 1995, she founded the |
| and housed in an old monastery, is one of the most | | | | Fondazione Prada in Milan, an important artistic |
| interesting science museums in the whole world. | | | | laboratory and window for contemporary international |
| 40,000 square meters of exhibition space for subjects | | | | artists. |
| ranging from astronomy to computers. The models | | | | Dolce & Gabbana: Domenico Dolce and Stefano |
| and machines built to the design by the great Tuscan | | | | Gabbana, born in the province of Palermo and in Milan |
| genius cannot be missed. | | | | respectively, are the most famous couple in the Italian |
| Places and charm | | | | fashion world. Their style evolves continuously, and is |
| To discover the most romantic, attractive side of this | | | | much appreciated by "chameleon-like " stars such as |
| city: from the picturesque views of the Navigli to the | | | | Madonna. They made their debut in Milan in 1985, in the |
| green oases in the center of Milan… | | | | boom period of career women, ambitious and |
| Navigli | | | | squared-off, just like the shoulder pads that were used |
| The origins of the Navigli date back to about 1100, but | | | | to pad their suit jackets. Dolce & Gabbana went |
| this stretch of water was only made navigable from | | | | against the trend however, and rediscovered the fuller |
| the Ticino to the center of Milan at the end of the 14th | | | | Mediterranean femininity: rounded shapes, petticoats |
| century, to help transport the marble that was needed | | | | that showed off one's cleavage, loose, wild hairstyles. |
| to build the Duomo. The Milan Wharf, that was an | | | | Sicily will always be a source of inspiration that will win |
| important commercial port for river transport for many | | | | over grey Milan too with its warmth and sensuality. |
| centuries, was still working up to the end of the | | | | Gianfranco Ferré: born in the province of Milan in |
| Second World War, and then closed permanently in | | | | 1944, Gian Grance Ferré gained a degree in |
| 1979. | | | | architecture at the Milan Polytechnic. After traveling to |
| Today the Naviglio Grande and the Naviglio Pavese | | | | India, from where he took his inspiration, he started |
| (that connects Milan to Pavia) make up one of the | | | | working in the fashion world, with a rational, structured |
| most charming places in Milan, with the old, typical | | | | style that gave him the nickname "architect of fashion". |
| "case di ringhiera" houses, antique shops and hundreds | | | | The tailored cut of his clothes and the lines of his |
| of clubs standing on each side, that are invade the | | | | shapes conquered the world. |
| banks of the rivers from April to September with their | | | | Versace: this name owes its fortune to the creativity |
| open-air tables. | | | | of Gianni Versace, born in Reggio Calabria and who |
| Brera | | | | moved to Milan in the 1970s to work in the fashion |
| This is one of the most exclusive and fashionable | | | | world, designing patterns for other designers. Thanks |
| places in Milan, that has an atmosphere vaguely | | | | to the managerial skills of his brother Santo, the label |
| reminiscent of Paris, with its artists, open-air coffee | | | | Versace was set up a few years later, a daring, |
| shops and sophisticated boutiques - full of wares for | | | | aggressive label that is characterized by the unusual |
| the home and handmade dresses that seem to be | | | | matching of colors and geometric patterns printed on |
| creations of sculptors and not dressmakers. This area, | | | | silk. After Gianni's death in 1997, the company was |
| that could be described as "luxury Bohemian" includes | | | | taken over by his brother and sister, Santo and |
| Via Brera, Via Solferino, Via Pontaccio, Corso Garibaldi | | | | Donatella. |
| and Corso Como. Alongside it there are many | | | | |