| For international travel, France, Switzerland, and Austria are just a short train trip away, as the Spanish and Greek isles are only an hour or two flight. |
| LITTLE TOUR THROUGH MILAN |
| The tour begins at Castello Sforzesco. The castle dates from the renaissance period and was built in the 14 century by Galeazzo II as a defensive structure. Along its history the castle experienced many extensions, destructions and various reigns. |
| Across Largo Cairoli with the monument of Giuseppe Garibaldi we reach Via Dante, a large shopping street, that invites to gormandize with its caf�s and ice-palours. An advice for the purse: A stand-up expresso (at the bar) costs ca. 0,80 Euro, sitting on the table you often pay a multiple of it. |
| Passing Piazza dei Mercanti the view points at the cathedral, which is overwhelming - inside as well as from its roof-view. Take care that Italy is catholic and entering in a holy place is only allowed with adeguate clothes. On the left side of the cathedral's back part there are lifts and stairs for the roof-terrace price: 3 Euro that are worth it). From the cathedral's roof you'll have a wonderful view over the whole city and with nice weather even over the Alps. In the museum of "Palazzo Reale" on the cathedral's square the interested visitor learns more about history and architecture of the cathedral. |
| The most popular building is Milan's cathedral. In century-long period of construction was created here the greatest work of gothic architecture in Italy. After Peters Church in Vatican, Milan's cathedral is the second Italian church and third in the world. After visiting the inside you will enjoy going on its roof. |
| In the museum of the Royal's Palace the interested visitor learns more about history and building of the cathedral. |
| MILAN - CITY OF FASHION, FAIR AND FAMOUS ARTS. |
| This Northern Italian city of one and a half million people is home to the world-renowned La Scala Opera house, the enormous Gothic Cathedral Duomo, and Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper - just to name a few of it's most captivating attractions. |
| Milan is a beautiful, modern city that combines the best of Italy's yesterday and today. It's the country's business, design, fashion and music capital, as well as rich in art, history and culture. |
| Milan is located in the plains just south of the Italian Alps mountain chain, close to a multitude of other interesting cities and attractions. Venice and Florence are just a few short hours away by train. Skiing and the snow-capped mountains are just an hour north. The seaside and quaint villages of Liguria and "Cinque Terre" are only a couple hours away. |
| Italy's most important fashion designers have concentrated their shops, boutiques, and showrooms in Milan's famous "quadrangle of fashion" district near the city's center. Milan also has the nation's most important design schools, world-class music conservatories, the top companies and financial insititutions, and Italy's leading Stock Exchange. The most important conventions and trade fairs in Southern Europe are held at Milan's Fiera trade fair center. |
| In front of the cathedral there is the Rinascente-store. On the 8th floor you can enjoy the view at the cathedral with an Italian espresso and a snack. On the cathedral's left there is the Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II. It connects the cathedral's square with the Piazza della Scala. Built in 1877, it is Milan's drawing room with its luxury boutiques and restaurants. The roof of the gallery forms a cross that is well visible from the cathedral's roof |
| On the cross inside the gallery there are 4 floor-mosaics representing agriculture, art, science and industry. A superstition says that turning around yourself on the bull's testicle brings wealth and fertility. A crowd of fortune-seeking people will show you the way tio the bull. |
| Through the gallery you reach the Piazza della Scala with Leonardo da Vinci's monument. Around the Piazza, in front of the Scala you see Palazzo Marino � seat of the mayor as well as the Ministry of Justice. |
| Passing on the right side of the Scala we go now in Via Verdi and ahead in Via Brera, where we pass at the Pinacoteca di Brera. Here you find paintings and artworks of the XIV and XV century (entrance-fee 6,50 Euro). Behind the museum we turn at the right in Via Fiori Chiari and reach, passing Via Mercato (at the end of Via Fiori chiari on the right), Via Tivoli (on the left) and Via Lanza (straight ahaed), the lateral entrance of Castello Sforzesco. Arrived here, you have merit a rest in the castel's garden. |
| CITY OF MILAN - ITALY |
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