Milan, northern Italy

[skymantle]

Last year I spent two wonderful weeks in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, in both Turin and on an agriturismo in the country-side (I hope to upload photos from that trip when I have time), after which I was going to go to Rome, but instead I decided for Milan as it was closer and I could spend more time in Italy (always a good thing).

I had been to Milan before, some years ago, but it didn't leave a positive impression on me. However, this time round I was thoroughly taken by the city. Perhaps it was my mood or the time of the year I was there, but definitely it seemed more sparkling and less staid than I recall, living up to its style-city reputation (something I didn't feel when I visited previously). It fulfilled my expectations of a grand city, with all the trappings you'd expect; culture, cafes, architecture, museums, galleries, street-life, vibrancy, shopping (window shopping for me is good enough), cuisine, nightlife etc. Most of all the people were very congenial and friendly, which as as you'd expect, makes all the difference. I would like to visit again.

I know the city has been done-to-death on these forums, but if you like architecture and in particular grand streetscapes with solid and stately buildings, then you'll never tire of Milan.

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The area outside the railway station was much improved from the last time I was there, and fortunately for me there was an open air market where I could stock up on some scrumptious delicacies, before I made my way to the hotel.


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Milan's first scraper, the Pirelli tower from 1958, timeless.


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[tomeeek07]

Great shots! I love Milan!
Do you have more pictures of trains or railway station?

[RKC]

Very impressive, please continue

[skymantle]

Thanks RKC and tomeeek07.

Here's one more pic I have of the interior of Milano Centrale. I love railway stations too, but that's all I have tomeeek7.

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The local produce


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Expensive knickers


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That was my first night in this great metropolis. Daylight shots of my following day coming up next.

[christos-greece]

Awesome, very nice photos from Milano

[Lunar Eclipse]

Here are some other pictures of Milano Centrale. Piazza Duca d'Aosta (the square just before the station) is undergoing a major renovation.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...16507&page=146

However, thank you for visiting our city.

[aarhusforever]

...Milan...another great european city

[sts]

great pics!

[Regener8tor]

Great pics, Milan looks to have some high quality retail offerings!

[DWest]

nice photos
and yes, I will never get tired of looking at milan's
and you have an interesting angle of shooting.

[openlyJane]

Great photos. I particularly love the Vittorio Emmanuele arcade - pretty spectacular.

[Linguine]

Great thread....thanks for sharing your pics of Milan.

[skymantle]

Originally Posted by christos-greece

Awesome, very nice photos from Milano

Cheers Christos

Originally Posted by Lunar Eclipse

Here are some other pictures of Milano Centrale. Piazza Duca d'Aosta (the square just before the station) is undergoing a major renovation.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...16507&page=146

However, thank you for visiting our city.

I very much like your city and country and will be there again next year. Grazie Lunar Eclipse (cool username btw).

Originally Posted by aarhusforever

...Milan...another great european city

I think so too aarhusforever.

Originally Posted by sts

great pics!

Grazie sts. I very much like Trieste too, a lesser-known (to outsiders at least) but a beautiful city with stunning nineteenth century buildings.

Originally Posted by Regener8tor

Great pics, Milan looks to have some high quality retail offerings!

It does indeed. Usually I'm not keen on taking pictures of commercial outlets, but I do like taking pics of the local products wherever I go, and these well known high quality brands originate from this industrious city and region of Italy. You won't see me taking pics of Prada, Versace and the like in other cities, unless there's a reason behind it, eg. interesting building or whatever. Cheers Regener8tor.

Originally Posted by DWest

nice photos
and yes, I will never get tired of looking at milan's
and you have an interesting angle of shooting.

Thank you very much DWest.

Originally Posted by openlyJane

Great photos. I particularly love the Vittorio Emmanuele arcade - pretty spectacular.

Thanks Jane. The Vittorio Emmaneule arcade is indeed spectacular, it along with Naples' grand arcade are perhaps the grandest in Europe. This one in Milan features throughout the thread.

Originally Posted by Linguine

Great thread....thanks for sharing your pics of Milan.

Thanks Linguine, it's a pleasure.


continuing...

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More scrumptuous offerings before making my way to Piazza Duomo and a guided tour of Milan.


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Piazza Duomo, departure point of a day tour of Milan that I booked. I spent 50 euros on a well interpreted and guided tour of Milan's most famous sights. I don't do long tours, only day tours, and it was the best 50 euros I'd spent in a long time.


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Duomo interior


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Exterior...back again here later


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Two great Italian artists. Manzoni the renowned writer, well known for the novel Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed), and of course the great composer Verdi, who most famously composed Nabucco, which resonated well with the Italian people and their struggle for independence back in the mid to late nineteenth century, becoming their unofficial anthem.


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[apinamies]

In Italy you can find many more beautiful cities than Milan.

[What_The_Face]

wow very cool pictures! thanks for sharing, Milan looks awesome

[hisroyalhighness]

my respect!!!i always like to see on the net pics from my city,on my blog i've some pics like yours.see you........

[skymantle]

Originally Posted by What_The_Face

wow very cool pictures! thanks for sharing, Milan looks awesome

My pleasure What_The_Face.

Originally Posted by hisroyalhighness

my respect!!!i always like to see on the net pics from my city,on my blog i've some pics like yours.see you........

Grazie hisroyalhighness. Your city and blog are great.

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Back to Piazza Duomo. I know Milanese take it for granted, but I couldn't get enough of this grand square and the area around it.


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[skymantle]

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The coolest!

[openlyJane]

Great people pictures from Milan.

[Fabri88]

I live next to Milan, sometimes we don't understand Milanese beauty.

Great pictures! Thank you very much, I really appreciated your report!