Milan is financially the most important city in Italy and the province of Lombardy. Together with Paris it is one of the fashion capitals of the world.
Historically Milan has been the most industrialized city in Italy, and now it is its foremost financial centre.
Milan's name has for many centuries been recorded as Mailand, which is still the German name of the city today. It comes from the Celtic Mid-lan (meaning "in the middle of the plain") and was known as Mediolanum by the Romans.
The town is famous for fashion firms and shops (via Montenapoleone) and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele on the Piazza Duomo, reputed to be the world's oldest shopping mall. Milan is one of the world capitals of fashion, like New York City, Paris, London and Rome. Another famed product of the city is the traditional Christmas sweet cake called Panettone.
At first contact Milanese life can seem a bit hectic and Milanese people a bit brusque, especially in respect to the rest of Italy.
Museums
Pinacoteca di Brera, on Brera Street. Reach by bus or tram
Poldi Pezzoli Museum, on Manzoni Street. Reach by subway, line MM3, Montenapoleone Station, or with many buses and trams.
Egyptian Museum, in Sforzesco Castle. Reach by subway, line MM2, Lanza Station, or with many buses and trams.
Modern Arts Museum (PAC), in Palestro Street, near Porta Venezia Gardens. Reach by subway, line MM1, Palestro Station, or with many buses and trams.
The Palazzo Reale, behind Duomo, always hosts a different exposition. Usually expositions are very interesting.
Churches
Some of the most beautiful churches one can see in Milan are:
The Duomo, in Duomo Square, is Milan's main Cathedral, a massive late Gothic church in white marble, with hundreds of spires and thousands of statues on its exterior. Currently the famous facade is covered in scaffolding. Don't miss the chance to climb up onto the roof. Great views between the Gothic spires. Reach by subway, lines MM1 or MM3, Duomo Station, or with many buses and trams.
Saint Mary of the Graces ('Santa Maria delle Grazie') , where the Last Supper ('Cenacolo Vinciano') by Leonardo da Vinci is housed. You must make a reservation several days in advance as tickets are usually sold out, recently by as much as three weeks or more.
Saint Ambrose, in Sant'Ambrogio Square, a beautiful early romanic church which was almost destroyed by allied bombing in World War 2.
Historic Monuments
The Sforza Castle, where the Sforza-Visconti ruling families of Milan resided. Later it was the Austrian governor residence, when Lumbardy was part of the Hapsburg empire.
La Scala Theatre, one of the most renowned opera house in the world has recently reopened after extensive renovations.
Other sights
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, the mother of all shopping malls, upscale shops in splendid 19th century palace of a mall.
Biblioteca Ambrosiana historical library with treasures such as drawings by Leonardo on display.
Via della Spiga and its neighborhood is the center of shopping, where almost every luxury brand can be found.
Milan is a fashion shoppers' paradise.
The main shopping area is the fashion quadrangle, roughly between Duomo Square, Scala Square and San Babila Square. Here, in Montenapoleone Street, Vittorio Emanuele Street and Manzoni Street, all major stylist have their main shops: Giorgio Armani, Prada, Gucci, Versace and so on.
For people wanting to spend a bit less, while still buying beautiful things, other areas are better. One of these is Vercelli Avenue, another one is Buenos Aires Avenue.
For hipsters there's the elongated Porta Ticinese area.
For artisanal male shoes, you can do much worse than going in Via Belfiore, near Vercelli Avenue.
