The City of Milan

Milan is the capital of Lombardy, has a population of 1.3 million people. This city is one of the biggest cities in Italy, the soul of the country and one of the most stylish cities of the planet, situated in the plains of Lombardy. Milan has an ancient city center with high and interesting buildings and palazzos. These reasons are because many people from all over the world want to see the city of glamour.

The city is one of the world's major commercial and financial centers, and one of the wealthiest cities in the European Union. It is the biggest industrial city of Italy with many different industrial sectors. Milan is one of the world capitals of fashion, between New York City, Paris, London, Tokyo, in design; it is a magnetic point for designers, artists, photographers and models. Indeed the English word milliner is derived from the name of the city. The Lombard metropolis is famous for fashion firms and shops (via Montenapoleone) and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in the Piazza Duomo, reputed to be the world's oldest shopping mall. Another famed Milanese product is the traditional Christmas sweet cake, called Panettone. Milan is also famous for the Alfa Romeo motorcar and for its silk production; but on the whole relies on its directional functions for the whole of Lombardy, its once proud and strong industrial base having been externalized throughout the region in the 60s-70s of the last century. The city hosted among other events the World Exposition in 1906, the FIFA World Cup in 1934 and 1990, the UEFA European Football Championship in 1980, and has submitted a bid to BIE to host the Universal Expo 2015.

Milan is situated in mediterrean area, and his climate is typical of this region. The weather is divided into very hot summer season up to very cold winter, Italy's climate is predominantly Mediterranean, Alpine in the far north; hot and dry in the south. Winter in Milan is comparatively mild but foggy, with temperatures ranging from zero to 8 degrees Celsius. Summer can be very humid with brief thunderstorms; temperatures range from 14 to 29 degrees. From March through April temperatures range from 6 to 18 degrees. From October through November they range from 6 to 17 degrees.

Milan History

Strategically situated at the gateway to the Italian peninsula, Milan and the surrounding region of Lombardy have been the argument of constant disputes over the centuries. Celts, Romans, Goths, Lombards, Spaniards and Austrians have all controled the city at some stage of its history and for the most part, the city has capitalised on its position and has emerged today as the undisputed economic and cultural powerhouse of a united Italy, not without occasionally fighting back against foreign dominators.

Milan's origin goes back to 400 B.C., when Gauls settled and defeated the Etruscans against Celts who were about to overrun the city.

In the year 222 B.C. the city was conquered by Romans and was appended to the Roman Empire. After 313 A.D., the year of the Edict of Tolerance towards Christianity, many churches were built and the first bishop was appointed, Ambrogio was such an influential person that the church became the Ambrosian Church (7 December is a holiday to honour Sant’Ambrogio). In 1300 the Visconti family which are noblemen from Bergamo, Cremona, Piacenza, Brescia and Parma ruled and brought a period of glory and wealth to the city. The Duomo was built in 1386 and became the symbol of Milan.

The Visconti And Sforza Families:
The Sforza family assumed the Castle and the power of the Visconti family and finally Milan got peace after many years of war against Venice and Florence. Under the Sforza duchy the city began the development of sciences, art and literature. Ludovico il Moro (Ludovico Sforza) called Leonardo da Vinci and “il Bramante” to his court.

Spanish And Austrian Domination:
In the early 16th century (the last years of Sforza rule) northern Italy was one of the territories contested by the Spanish and the French monarchies. Francesco Sforza ruled under the tutelage of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (a Habsburg and King Charles I of Spain), but when Francesco died in 1535, Charles assumed direct power so began 170 years of Spanish domination which transformed the once-proud independent Duchy of Milan in the neglected capital of a province administered, guarded and taxed by foreigners. It was a time of no development and the city was also oppressed by the scourge of plague in 1630. Fortunately in the second half of the 17th century Milan's religious and cultural life was given fresh vigour thanks to the initiatives of Borromeo family, especially Carlo and Federico. Then, the great European wars of the early 18th century assured the Austrian domination of the city, which completely changed in all society fields (economic, public, cultural, artistic, administrative, scientific) thanks to the improvement given by the Habsburg dynasty.

The Napoleonic Era:
It was thanks to this climate of enlightenment that Napoleon was received so enthusiastically by the Milanese when he marched into the city in May 1796, many optmist at that time saw him as the symbol of the democratic reform spirit. After Napoleon fall in 1814, the Congress of Vienna restored Lombardy to Austria, but Austrians were no longer enlightened reformers and the Milanese remained largely hostile to Austrian rule; hostility that found a musical outlet in some of Verdi's early operas and that finally exploded in the heroic Cinque Giornate of 1848 (five days of street fighting). However , owing to the military incopetence of Carlo Emanuele of Piedmont, the uprising failed and the Austrian forces re-entered the city which was placed under their commander-in-chief Count Joseph Radetzky's control.

The Kingdom Of Italy:
It was just in 1859 that the Austrians were run out of the city and Milan was appended to the Kingdom of Piedmont which became the Kingdom of Italy two years later. The liberation passed through the pressure of combined military intervention by the French and the Piedmontese and the decisive action of Risorgimento hero Giuseppe Garibaldi and his guerrilla troops. Since the seat of governement had to be Rome, from this time on Milan was chosen as the economical and cultural capital of Italy. To celebrate its new free status a great number of grandiose building projects were undertaken, for example the construction of the great Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the San Vittore prison, the Cimitero Monumentale and the San Gottardo tunnel.

Fascism & post-war period:
The fascist party was based in Milan in 1919 encouraged by the tumultuous climate created by numerous strikes supporting socialism grew. The population did not try to resist the dictatorship, except some industrial workers and intellectuals. But it was in this period that pompous works and examples of innovative architecture were built; the Central Station and the Triennale are two of them.

During the war Milan was devastated. At the end of World War II Lombardy was instrumental in the boom that transformed Italy from a relatively backward, agricultural country to an industrial world leader. The city became a major financial centre and the region's new-found wealth attracted myriad workers from the south of Italy in a wave of immigration. It is nowadays the major center for commerce, finance, publishing and recently media, design and fashion.

Eating in milan

In Milan you will find everything you were looking for, enough to satisfy every taste and affordable for every pocket. Traditional Milanese cooking is made up of simple, meager dishes and perhaps for this reason it was banished during the ambitious 1980s. It has only recently returned to popularity. Food in workaholic Milan, at lunchtime at least, is more a necessity than a pleasure, with the city centre dominated by sandwich shops (called paninoteche) and fast-food outlets. Anyway, don't worry: many good restaurants can offer you a suitable and appetizing meal. The Milanese people have now returned to their origins, enjoying the tastes with the pleasure that one feels when one returns home after a long trip. Now there are trattorias, inns and restaurants (including luxury ones) everywhere that offer traditional Milanese dishes to eat.

One of the many aperitifs that you can try out during happy hour is the classical Negroni, which is a little "aggressive" but is especially loved by the Milanese, made with Bitter Campari, Gin, red Martini and ice, that must be tried with a few snacks. If you are thinking to visit this city, don't miss out on the chance to try some typical food that you can find here in their original version.

Nightlife in Milan

Milan is not only the capital of fashion, business, this place is also the city in which nightlife means much more than a simple drawn-out dinner. The nightlife in Milan is really thrilling. There are many bars, lounge bars, wine bars, pubs, cafés, bistrots, pubs, wine cellars, live music bars and lots of others besides.

The Milanese night scene is so massive and changes all the time, just like everything in this eclectic city. There are clubs that are furnished in hi-tech style, or that are inspired by the Savannah, with leopard-skin chairs, palm trees and pretend elephants' heads. Wine bars in minimal Japanese style and others that make you think you are in Bollywood, if you go by their music and furnishings. There are atmospheres for all taste and for states of mind: the Milanese love variation, and if there are still any habitués around, most Milanese people prefer the excitement of the unforeseen and new experiences. There are so many possibilities to choose from for spending your evening. Clubs in Milan live on "word of mouth": all they need to do is attract a few opinion leaders of night life and they've won!. One interesting thing is that Milanese night life begins very early: you don’t have to wait for dusk to be with your friends and enjoy yourself.

Other important element is happy hour, that the Milanese cannot go without for anything on Earth. From 6 pm to 9.30 pm in Milan you can drink cocktails accompanied by substantial buffets with several courses, pasta, meat or fish, in all the clubs in Milan. All this for about 5-7 Euro per cocktail.

Some places that you shouldn't miss if you are in Milan:

Rolling Stone Disco
Via Corso XXII Marzo 32
Description: Bus 45, 73 Tram 12, 27. It is the right place for those who love rock music, and rock concerts.
Magazzini Generali Disco
Via Pietrasanta 14
Description: Bus 90, Tram 24. Metro Lodi. This is a dance club, an exhibition space and a concert venue. Many important artists have performed there, for example Wyclef Jean.
Hollywood Disco
Corso Como 15
Description: Metro Garibaldi.Very frequented by celebrities such as models, fashion designers, football players, and stars of tv.
Shu
Via Molino delle Armi, Milan, Italy
Description: Shu is one of the hippest and trendiest bars in Milan. It has a sci-fi decorating theme, with large gold hands supporting the high ceiling. They have a happening happy hour. Happy hour is a big deal in Milan, and pretty much all the bars and clubs in the city have great specials and big crowds, you don't need to wait until after dusk to start partying!
Il Gattopardo Café
Via Piero Della Francesca
Description: Metro Bullona. It is placed in a deconsecrated church and tou could dance in the nave.
Casablanca Café
Corso Como 14
Description: Metro Garibaldi. This is a disco bar and restaurant that offers commercial house music.
Tocqueville Disco
Via Tocqueville 13
Description: Metro Garibaldi, Tram 11, 29, 30, 33. The scene remember the 70s decor, it offers commercial house music. Very frequented by VIPs.
Nausicaa Disco
Via Tirano 14
Description: It offers commercial, hip hop, and latin music.
Alcatraz Disco
Via Valtellina, 25 (closed from Monday to Thursday)
Description: It is all in one: discotheque, pub, restaurant and concert hall. There are international concerts in a place which was an industrial factory before.
Old Fashion Disco
Viale Alemagna 6 (closed on Sunday) Metro 1 or 2; Tram 1; 27; 18; bus 57; 61; 70; 94
Description: It is situated in the same building of the Triennale in Parco Sempione. It is an elegant disco-pub and it is crowded in summer. It has a garden and an open-air dance floor, as well as a restaurant.
Nuova Idea International Disco
Via de Castilia Gaetano 30
Description: It was founded in 1975 as a gay disco and since that time there are people from all over the world celebrating the nights.
Old Fox Pub
Via Cesare da Sesto 23
Description: It is a typical english pub that offers draught beers and cocktails
Musical Box Pub
Piazza Chiaradia 9
Description: Very nice pub with beers and cocktails.
Aliby
Via Crispi 2
Description: It is a disco pub from about 22.00 pm til on. It offers aperitives too at 18.00 pm.
Frog café
Via Savona
Description: It is an ethnic pub. Very good cocktails
Antik
Via Ascanio Sforza 47 Navigli
Description: English pub. It offers cocktails beers and also happy hour.
Europe Café
Via Vigevano 13
Description: Typical european pub, draught beers and cocktails.
El Beverin
Via Brera 29
Description: Nice atmosphere and nice people, singers and actors frequent this pub.
The Biz Café
Via Corso XXII Marzo 23
Description: This is an American bar, it offers happy hour too.
Movida
Via Ascanio Sforza 41 Navigli
Description: American pub. Nice atmosphere happy hour too.
Arcobaleno
Via Ascanio Sforza
Description: It is an Irish pub in Navigli. Very nice pub good beers.