Let me first start by saying.. HELLO AGAIN!

It has been a quick minute since I have written anything, but I promise you I have a good reason. Let’s see in the past 6 months I have gotten a new puppy Hazel (whom I will be writing about soon), traveled to; Mexico, Las Vegas, and Europe, and started my senior year at college! While that is no excuse for my lack of writing, it has given me so many new ideas on content, which I cant wait to share with you all!

I want to start with Milano. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Italy, Milano is in the northern part of Italy, near the mountains, and it is particularly famous for fashion, business and is the economic power of Italy. I had the greatest pleasure to journey there this summer on a study aboard trip, and let me tell you. It’s not all its cracked up to be. It’s more.

Some things I did in Milan – Things You HAVE TO Do. 

The Duomo. is the cathedral church of Milan. The Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. It is the largest church in Italy (the larger St. Peter’s Basilica is in the State of Vatican City) and the third largest in the world. There are 3,400 statues, 135 gargoyles and 700 figures that decorate Milan Duomo! Climb the stairs or take the lift to the rooftop to fully appreciate the architecture of the most renowned silhouette in the city.

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the world’s oldest shopping mall and contains the world’s only certified 7 star hotel Town House Galleria. As of 2013, the galleria principally contains luxury retailers selling haute couture, jewelry, books and paintings, as well as restaurants, cafés, and bars.

Sforza Castle

The Navigli is part of historic Milan. In the ancient days, the entire city was linked with canals, similar to Venice. Today, most of the canals are gone, but the Navigli remains a canal-based neighborhood. The Navigli district specializes in clubs, cafes, and vintage shops.

Some things you need to know about Milano before traveling there – Things I WISH I knew

Milan is a Very Compact City.

Sure, there are outskirts of the city, but the Milan that the vast majority of visitors will need to think about – the city center of Milan – is incredibly compact.

Milan’s Biggest Sights Can be Seen in a Day

This is an extension of the first point, but it’s worth repeating since it does take a little bit of savvy planning in order to accomplish the “see everything in a day” agenda. But trust me, you can do it.

With one full day in Milan, perhaps the day before you fly out of Malpensa Airport, you’ll need to get an early start. Malpensa is 45-50 minutes by train or bus away from the city center. I would suggest staying in the city (near city center), because as compact as Milano is, it’s difficult to get in and out of the city as a traveler.

A visit to the Duomo  is a great place to begin your day. The Museum at La Scala opera house, and the Pinacoteca Brera art museum are within a stone’s throw from the Duomo. Window shopping on the famous designer street is a worthwhile stop, but unless you’re doing any actual shopping it’s a quick one.

Leonardo’s Famous “Last Supper” is in Milan but BOOK YOUR TICKETS EARLY. “The Last Supper,” which adorns one entire wall of a former rectory (dining hall) in the Santa Maria delle Grazie church. It’s one of those things most people want to see when they’re in Milan, which is understandable. But I am warning you right now, book your tickets TODAY. The tickets sell out so far in advance, you may just get to see the church. It’s only a 15-minute visit, so it’s not that it’ll take up your whole day. Depending on the season, you’ll want to start looking at booking your tickets to “The Last Supper” online as many as 4-5 months in advance of your visit. Even during the low season, ticket availability can be scarce. Please, respect the fragility of the painting – there’s no photography or video allowed.

Most importantly – just walk. The most fun I had in the city is when I just walked around.

My roommates and I outside of the Porta Sempione.

Italy is full of life and culture and history that you would be amazed to see. Don’t underestimate Milano on your next trip to Italy, it may seem like nothing much is here (compared to Venice and Rome) but the history is here. The culture is here. The fashion is here. Milan isn’t all its cracked up to be, because its more. Milan is the city that introduced me to Italian history and culture, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I know I will be writing about Milan more, since I was there for 2 weeks its hard to just tell you EVERYTHING in one post. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about Milan! I would be happy to help travelers.