Milan Magic
Beyond the art, history, duomo and fashion of Milan lies a true city with a vibrant heart that beats to be discovered. Although it may not be famous for the best weather in Italy, Milan makes up for it in what it has to offer, and it’s well worth the trip to discover.
The head of the Italian stock market, a center of mass production for products throughout the country, a busy immigration port, a bastion of style throughout the centuries, and a testament to history, Milan is all of these and much more. plus.
Among its main claims to fame is its title as one of the top, if not the top fashion capitals in the world, being considered higher than Rome, New York, London and even Paris. Twice a year, Milan Fashion Week attracts visitors in droves as this is the home base for names like Prada, Gucci, Valentino, Armani and Dolce & Gabbana and definitely the place to be if the high-end fashion is your cup of tea. . The place to shop is the famous “quadrilatero della moda” or “fashion square” where the city’s most desirable shopping streets meet. Of course, not all of us have the budget for finery fresh off the runway, and luckily there are other options. Fiera di Senegallia is definitely the most popular flea market in the city offering everything from music to trinkets, vintage 70’s gear and fashion itself and it’s quite the draw. Isola, though less populated, is a good place to find off-season bargains from designer names with odd ends here and there too. Not only that, but you can also do your shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables there. For those with a shoe fetish, look no further than Fauche`, a bastion of knockoffs and cut-price designer shoes and one of the most addictive spots in town.
Another option is the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the oldest shopping malls in the world. Still, even with massive discounts, it IS Milan and the prices can be painful, so you can live like a local and visit the many outlets that cluster around Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Il Salvagente, or “The Lifesaver” is an amazing option for all general fashion needs at affordable prices and womenswear deals can be found at DMagazine Outlet, located on Milan’s main shopping street.
It may not necessarily be fashion, but one draw is the flea market held on the last Sunday of every month, where nearly 400 antique dealers display their wares at the Antiquariato Sul Naviglia Grande, which actually stretches 2 kilometers along the most old and famous of Milan. channel. From furniture and dining items to clocks and lighting fixtures, this market attracts more than 130,000 people and is a must-see for those seeking classic design.
In terms of other types of art, there is always the world famous Milan Opera, founded by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. Reopened in 1778 with an opera by Antonio Salieri after a fire in 1776 destroyed the structure, the theater now boasts not only a museum, but also a constantly rotating program that showcases some of the best talent and is definitely an attraction. awesome tourist.
Perhaps one of the most famous sights in Milan is the impressive Duomo, the fourth largest church in the Christian world. This Duomo, which took over 500 years to build, houses the largest collection of marble statues in the world, a total of 3,500 with 135 imposing towers, 5 bronze gates and both love and passion added to the building. This cathedral is a neo gothic masterpiece that one cannot savor in an hour. On a clear day, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Alps from the roof, which is accessible by elevator.
And what is art without flavor to spice it up? Milanese cuisine is one of the most famous in Italy, diverse but with a lighter, less spicy flavor, and definitely a heavier, meatier base than many southern dishes. A peculiarity of Milanese cuisine compared to that of other parts of Italy is the lesser amount of tomato used and the use of greater amounts of rice than pasta. Cotoletta Alla Milanese is practically Wienerschnitzel, often pork or turkey fried in butter in Austria, but usually veal in Italy. Arguments over whether this dish has Austrian or Italian origins remain unresolved.
Other typical dishes are cassoeula (stewed pork and sausage with kale), ossobucco (stewed veal shank in sauce named for being a holed bone), risotto alla milanese, hence the marrow and saffron risotto, and tripe with beans. Seasonal pastries include chiacchiere (doughnuts rolled in powdered sugar), tortelli (fried cookies), the famous Christmas panettone or dried fruit cake, and Eater Colomba.
Milano is the main supplier of Italy’s much-desired Gorgonzola cheese, used to fill many pastas, cakes, pizzas and dishes of all kinds. Today, growers mostly produce outside of the hills, but Gorgonzola is right near Milan. Salame Milano is a delightful, fine-grained salami, widely used in everything from panini to pizza to appetizer dishes.
The appetizer is also a great way to not only experience the bliss of cocktail happy hour, but also do it on a budget while preparing a plate of snacks for your consumption. Generally the drinks cost 5 or 6 euros and the buffet adds 2 euros more, so the first drink is usually 8 euros and the following ones stay at 6 euros. Not a bad deal to try different appetizers and cocktails of your choice and a very relaxed way to spend your evening.
The Crowne Plaza Milano City Hotel is definitely a great place to start your evening at the Metropolitan Restaurant/Bar. A fresh, carefully selected international menu and a wide variety of drinks combine perfectly with attention to design and one look at this hotel lets you know that the Milanese sense of taste is absolutely nowhere to be missed.
Equipped with a Turkish bath, gym, sauna, fitness center and more, as well as a shuttle service, being 7 km from the city center has one outside the madness but still well connected, and with the help of a warm, knowledgeable, Milanese staff, as well as Italy itself, are completely at your fingertips. Milan may mean business, but business doesn’t have to be boring, and the Crowne Plaza Milano Ciry proves it perfectly.