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Milano, the Global City of Lombardy

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Tourism, attractions and city features

Milano is an Italian city located in the region of Lombardy in the northern part of the country with a population of 3,149,223. The regional capital’s centre has a population of 1,371,498 and an area of 181.76 square metres. The entire metro area has a population of about 10,000,000, which also includes over 200,000 migrants from other countries. As a global city, Milano has become the dominant power in the world of education, fashion, production, tourism and art. With practical travel tips for Milano, we invite you to join us as we explore the capital of fashion where fashion textiles and collections are produced, with which designers set fashion trends. You can learn all about what Milano has to offer in this article.

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Milan Cathedral and Rooftop Ticket is an offer that will introduce you to the 600-year-old Milan Cathedral – Duomo di Milano. The ticket provides access to the Milan Cathedral and the terrace where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city, the Alpes and the Apennines. You can learn all about the Cathedral’s history in the Duomo Museum, which first opened its doors to visitors in 1953. With Milan: Brera District & Pinacoteca Guided Experience, you’ll explore the Brera district and the Brera pinacoteca art gallery with a collection of works of famous artists, such as Raffaello, Caravaggio and Hayez. Included are headphones for a group of eight participants.

The Sforza Castle and Michelangelo’s Pietà Rondanini Tour reveals the last masterpiece Michelangelo Buonarotti created at the age of 89, just before his death. The Sforza Castle is located in the heart of Milan and the guided tour includes a visit to both the courtyard and the castle’s interior. The Cimitero Monumentale can be visited as part of Milan: Monumental Cemetery Group Walking Tour. Discover the open-air museum and learn about the city’s historically notable people who have made Milan great both economically and artistically. At the final resting place of these people, you can find out how art, economic, religious and social history are all intertwined.

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Milan: La Scala Theatre and Museum Skip-the-line Ticket provides access to the opera house and the La Scala museum. The museum library contains more than 150,000 volumes, thirty manuscripts and a few single sheets from composers, such as Beethoven and Mozart. Choose the Milan: Da Vinci’s Last Supper Guided Tour and take a look at the Last Supper, a mural painting in the Dominican convent right next to the Santa Maria delle Grazie church. You can admire the masterpiece for up to 15 minutes. And if you want to experience Milan as the capital of fashion, you should take a look at the Milan: Private Fashion Tour, where an experienced fashion guide will take you to concept stores, vintage ateliers, exclusive boutiques and a fashion studio.

Why is Milan a historical city?

The historical records about the first people to inhabit the present-day city area date back to 600 BC. The first settlement was founded by the Celtic people known as the Gauls who gained power and influence during the reign of the Roman emperor Augusts, until they became part of the Western Roman Empire in AD 395. In AD 452, the city was attacked by the army leader Attila the Hun and later, in AD 539, during the Gothic War, it was attacked by the Goths. In AD 569, the present-day Milan area was conquered by the Lombards, also known as the Langobards, after which the Italian region of Lombardy was named. The city was thus inhabited by the Germanic people of Lombards who succumbed under the attacks of the Franks and their king Charlemagne or Charles the Great in AD 774.

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Milan faces various conflicts in the next thousand years, which also affected the city’s development. However, it always seemed to retain its character as a major influential city and has remained one of the most influential metropolises in the world. Starting in 1980, major fashion lines, such as Versace, Valentino and Armani have contributed to Milan becoming the world’s fashion capital, which attracts numerous fashion aficionados and designers from all over the worlds to the Milan Fashion Week, helping boost banking, finances, fashion design and tourism. At the Milan Fashion Week, designers present the world trends in February and September.

How to best explore Milan?

The Milan: 1-Day Open Bus Tour will take visitors on a 90-minute tour of the city’s major attractions where they can learn about cultural landmarks and Milan’s heritage through an audio guide that’s available in various languages. You can see the Sforza Castle, the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, the Milan Cathedral, the Palazzo Lombardia and other landmarks while driving around the city. All travellers who want to experience the city more actively can join the Milan: Grand City Highlights E-Bike Tour where you’ll explore Milan on a bike. The tour starts at the Sempione Park and continues to the Vittorio Emanuele Gallery in the city centre. The bike tour will help you explore the old town and learn about the 21-century urban part of Milan.

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The Milan: Private and Personalized Highlights Tour lets you choose your guide based on your personality and wishes. After contacting you, the provider will ask you questions to learn more about your interests and find out which guide is the most suitable for you. Visit art collections and medieval castles with your chosen guide. You can enjoy a culinary experience with the Milan: Evening Food Tour. The social event begins in the evening and comes with an English-speaking guide who will show visitors the Brera district where they can taste traditional food, ice cream, coffee, beer and wine. The tour is also suitable for children.

You can read all about Milan and Italy in the travel articles of Hostelling International Slovenia, who brings together travellers from all over the world. The article Dreamy Milan in winter clothes with our journalist’s experience tells a story of a winter trip to the city. It introduces the reader to the city and provides useful travel tips for Lombardy’s capital. You can also gain some valuable travel tips from the article Milan where you can learn about typical tourist attractions, cuisine, nightlife and public transport for a quicker access to various city districts.

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Milan and Lonely Planet

It’s good to be prepared with travel tips when travelling to the metropolis that is Milan. You can find them in Lonely Planet’s pocket guide – Pocket Milan. The 160-page book holds information about planning the trip, accommodation, cuisine, attractions, shopping centres and other points of interest. Pocket Milan introduces you to the city through colourful photos and 16 city maps, while Milan City Map shows the city’s layout on a large map, helping you explore the Sempione Park, Porta Garibaldi, the Brera district, the Milan Cathedral, Porta Romana, the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio and other landmarks. The Milan City Map offers an array of tips and comes with an index for exploring the city.

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