Travel Guides To Your Milan Holiday

One of the most beautiful cities in the world is Milan. This holiday destination has a love affair with luxury, from the finest houses of design and fine dining. The place though remains in touch with its past and never loses its charm.

What to see

Here are some of the best destinations in Milan:

Duomo cathedral – The Duomo took about six centuries to finish. It was synonymous to an impossible task during its time. We should be thankful though that the builders pushed on putting the white and pink marbles together incorporating about 3,200 statues, 135 spires, and about 146 sets of stained glass for its windows.

Teatro all Scala – Milan is the home of the opera. It is fitting therefore to see the most renowned opera house in the world here, the Teatro alla Scala. The most famous opera singers have performed here to the amazement of the six-storey high galleries. The opera season usually start on the first week of December.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II – These are nineteenth century arcades that bridge the Teatro alla Scala and the Duomo. It houses classy boutiques that sell paintings and designer clothes.

The Last Supper – Your journey to Milan is not complete without seeing one of the masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci. You can find the Last Supper at the Santa Maria dell Grazie church.

Parco Sempione – This is the best park in Milan. It has a steel tower known as the Torre Branca and an aquarium. There is also the Palazzo dell’Arte that hosts the best of Italian designs.

Where to dine

The nightly servings of beer or wine comes with a ton of choices to accompany them down your tummy, from seafood, cured meats, bruschetta, or antipasti. If this suits your taste, head to 10 Corso Como for a good selection of food and and a nice courtyard ambiance.

A tavern called Trattoria Abele la Temperanza is a haven for those who are craving for a serving of risotto. Here, you will have a hundred variations to choose from. If you are not sure what to order, just ask for the "three rices", a combo of rissottos.

Try authentic Milan flavors at Peck, which has been in business since 1883. It started as a deli and now has evolved to have a dining room and a wine bar. They have a wide variety of cheeses, chocolates, gelato, pralines, seafood, pates, and meats.

If your taste buds are looking for some gnocchi and home-made pasta, head to Osteria della Lanterna. You will be introduced to the dishes by the owner-cook using the native Milanese dialect.

Where to stay

Travelers to Milan who are looking for great value can find a non-flashy but comfortable accommodation at Hotel Casa Mia. It is located near the Piazza della Repubblica. The rooms here does not offer luxurious amenities but very homely. You can book a room for a night starting at 50 quids.

Among Milan's first art hotels, the Hotel Spadari Design offers rooms that actually double as an art gallery. The hotel plays host to the works of emerging local artists. The guestrooms start at 190 quids a night.

The bed and breakfast called Vietnamonamour has several rooms atop its great restaurant. The tone is set by the Vietnamese interiors and the old timber floors. The location is also nice since its just a few hops from the Piola train station. Rooms start at 80 quids.

Foresteria Monforte is a smart and classy guesthouse with wardrobe wallpapers bearing the Gucci branding. The rooms have antique furniture and have unique design elements. It is roughly twenty minutes away from the Duomo.

Going around

Your best way around Milan is by taking the Metro. You can buy urban tickets that will be accepted on the Metro's urban network. There are also intercity tickets for long distance journeys on the metroline, special tickets for the urban and intercity network, and tickets for tourists that basically give you access to public transport of Milan.

When to visit

The weather between July and August will require air-conditioning in the hotel but around September, the weather is still warm but bearable. The winters are not harsh plus a holiday in December will give you a chance to catch the opening of the opera.