When in Milan!

         I ' ve always wanted to visit the most fashionable city in Italy. Some people claim that Milan is nothing but fashion while others strongly believe that this city has so much more to offer.
My personal experience stands with the second opinion.

        Reaching the Malpensa airport you see a tendation to convert all the oldies to goldies. The old part of the airport is connected with a new, modern wing that welcomes the turists.
An hour ago you are in the cosmopolitan Milan. Downtown, at the historic centre the cars are prohibited so everybody uses the public transportation. 

        Old structures of various stripes — among them a sawmill, a foundry, a bank and a farmhouse — have recently been repurposed as bars, shops, restaurants and cultural centers worthy of this most international of Italian cities. Put simply, there’s new energy coursing through cosmopolitan Milan.

Aperitivo is a sacred rite in Milan and there is no better place than the amazing spots downtown. Also, you can find luxurious labels as cafes, restaurants, hotels or even sports clubs. For example, Gucci cafe, Armani Hotel, Emporio Armani B.C., Armani Club are some of them. So, you do not only wear them but there you have the chance to taste their services.

Spend the afternoon touring some fascinating yet often overlooked churches, the ones without a grand Gothic facade or masterpiece by da Vinci. Start at the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio, where the skeletal remains of Milan’s patron saint can be seen (fittingly, in exquisite dress) in the crypt. A few blocks away is Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, a church attached to a former Benedictine convent (now an archaeological museum) that contains a cycle of glorious 16th-century frescoes. Don’t miss the area once reserved for nuns on the other side of the center partition, where paintings include a depiction of Noah’s Ark with unicorns ascending the gangplank. Finish at the Chiesa di Santa Maria Presso di San Satiro, an architectural gem hidden amid chain stores. Inside, marvel at the illusory apse of Donato Bramante, a spectacular example of forced perspective.

When Milan’s fashionable denizens clean out closets, their gently used designer treasures turn up in the best vintage shops, like Cavalli e Nastri. The refined selection at this vintage emporium, which is spread over three locations, includes only pristine pieces from the 1920s to last season. Browse the men’s store to find wool topcoats, dapper hats and loads of leather briefcases. Then cross the street to the women’s shop, where a recent visit unearthed a silk Christian Dior skirt and a cool, neo-grunge Marni jacket. For the newest fashions, try your luck at the boutique in Brera, where dresses from Kenzo and Pucci share space with silk scarves from Hermès and Gucci.

But beside vintage, there are many shopping centers that offer the best labels in a really good prices up to 70% discount. The disadvantage : The majority of them is about 45 minutes away from the city and it is easier to find them with a car. The advantage: You will shop double amount of clothes.

The Navigli district surrounding the city’s historic canals is a prime one-stop destination for evening entertainment. The best way to start your night is with the risotto alla Milanese, a traditional saffron-infused dish that gets a delicious update with the addition of rich roasted marrow and crunchy toasted almonds and pine nuts.

The most impressive museum in Italy, that hosts a great number of world-class art exhibitions is the Palazzo Reale, a sprawling palace on the main Piazza Duomo.

I strongly suggest you to visit Milan and then you will love this city, too!