Milan, Italy, is known as being one of the most outstanding fashion capitals of the world. The city name is mentioned by designers, models, celebrities, and the wealthy. Why is this? What makes Milan so significant compared to Rome or Venice? A lot of it has to do with the bountiful reputation of its history. St. Augustine was baptized in the basilica of the Piazza del Duomo. Artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci have lived and created art within Milan. Giorgio Armani, a famous designer, has also resided here. Napoleon even crowned himself inside the Duomo. All events spanning the length of time involved all-important figures within the community. My mom used to say, "reputation is everything." She had a good point. Cities that have been thriving and held to a higher standard have a more reputable history than others that do not.
So, why would you visit Milan if you were not upscale and wealthy? It has a lot more to offer the average tourist than you might realize. Other cities in Italy catch your attention with a specific characteristic, like the canals in Venice. Milan's common known uniqueness happens to be in fashion and shopping, but there are other good reasons to visit Milan.
It Is Clean - Milan is one of the cleanest cities in Italy. They have specific rules and regulations when it comes to recycling and trash removal. Unlike Rome, you will not be stepping in the trash as you walk down the street. The authorities enforce the trash removal rules quite harshly. Milan has been able to develop a system of waste collection and management that is extremely efficient. The cleanliness has grabbed the attention of other administrations around the world, and they are looking toward Milan's model to lead into the future for a cleaner, more sanitary city.
Less Touristy - If you are someone who does not like to be a tourist and live like the locals, Milan is the city in Italy for you. Due to people assuming Milan is just for fashion, the number of tourists that go there to visit is lacking. That means smaller crowds, less line waits for museums and cathedrals, and no people are trying to make you buy something.
The Architecture - The abundance of stunning and diverse architecture in Milan is magnificent. Due to the wealthy reputation it holds, this has contributed to a lot more buildings contributed over the centuries by the world's best architects. That includes everything from the renaissance to neoclassical. While walking down the street, you can take all the beauty at your own pace.
Art Masterpieces - Milan is the home to many masterpieces over the years. The most well known is The Last Supper (1494–1498), painted by Leonardo da Vinci. If you go to Milan for anything, let it be this. The fresco painting is degrading and withering away each year. Eventually, due to the method of painting, The Last Supper will disappear from existence. You have to buy tickets to see this fresco in a temperature-controlled room. They are doing everything they can to help slow the process of it fading away, but eventually, it will. Other masterpieces from artists such as Umberto Boccioni and Lucio Fontana are also throughout the city. The Brera Art Gallery or also known as the Pinacoteca di Brera is a great gallery to visit to see some of the famous works from these two artists and many more like Raphael, Giovanni Bellini, Tintoretto, and Caravaggio.
It is a Great Center Point for Day Trips - Due to the rail network in Italy, this makes Milan the perfect center point to explore the surrounding area. Day trips can be organized, with a guide to such places as Lake Como, Parma, and Verona. The rail system is pretty easy to use, so exploring without a guide is also an excellent option. If you want to head to the Alps or the Dolomites for a ski trip or some hiking, Milan is a great place to set up camp.
Cathedrals and Museums - Milan holds one of the largest cathedrals in the world. The Il Duomo (Milan Cathedral) holds up to 40,000 people and is the ultimate example of the Flamboyant Gothic style. It also holds the largest stained-glass windows in the world. This cathedral is one of a kind sight. Construction began in the 14th century, but its façade wasn't finished, until the early 1800s, under Napoleon's rule. That is one of the only cathedrals where you can walk on the roof and have impressive views across the city, and on clear days you can see the snow-covered Alps. Multiple museums are spread throughout Milan. The Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology is one of the better-known museums in the area. Here you can see many of Leonardo da Vinci's sketches of inventions and machinery come to life. In entirety, there are more than 15,000 technical and scientific objects within the museum.
Last but not least... we have to talk about the shopping situation.
Luxury Shopping - Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is known as one of the most compelling luxury shopping centers, but also for its beautiful architecture. That is where you will find Chanel, Prada, Louis Vuitton, etc. In 1877, it was then the biggest shopping arcade in Europe, having a dome 48 meters above the floor. Today it is seen as an example of 19th-century industrial iron and glass construction. It is so integrated within the everyday life of the locals that they call it "il salotto" (the salon). It is such a beautiful place to eat at the elegant cafes and browse the shops.
Milan might be seen as wealthy and flashy to some, but there are still amazing things to experience here as a tourist. If you aren't into fashion, don't worry, there is something for everyone. If you are, shop your little heart away! Make sure not to miss all the other advantages within the city of Milan as well.
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