Things to do in Milan,Top 10 Things to do in Milan

Milan is one of Italy’s richest and largest cities, and situated on the fertile plains of the
Po Valley in Lombardy. This was originally a large Celtic settlement back in the 7th Century BC, and it was known at that time as Mediolanum. It has always been a successful and affluent place, and has been overseen by many different rulers in its time including the Goths (600AD), French, Austrians and Spanish. Milan was heavily bombed during the Second World War, and over a quarter of the city was completely
destroyed, but despite this many of the cities greatest historic, religious and architectural treasures survived including several priceless masterpieces by world famous Italian artists such as Leonardo da Vinci.

Milan has long had a strong respect its major religion (Catholic), and the city itself was designed with the cathedral (Duomo) as the central hub, with the gilded statue of the Virgin Mary on the top of the cathedral being one of the most symbolic images of Milan. There is a network of canals leading in and around the city and this was long a source of wealth for the Milan, allowing large volumes of goods and materials to be
brought into the city for very low costs, and Milan held strong trading links with the rest of Italy and throughout Europe. However the waterways were gradually replaced by rail and road, and the industrial strengths of Milan were soon driving the economy.
Since the end of the 20th Century, Milan has been the capital of the Italian car manufacturing industry, and has also dominated the global fashion scene, with the fashion designers trained here being among the most sought after in the world.

There are lots of different entertainments and attractions in Milan, and here are just a few of the most popular:
* Duomo – the cathedral was originally designed to be the heart of the city and truly that still is the case, and this huge, gothic masterpiece is well worth a visit. Many people visit in May and September to take part in the holy ceremony that involves one of the most important relics in Italy, a nail said to
be from the cross of Christ, which is brought down from its permanent display over the high altar (it has been here since the 15th Century) by the bishop.
The magnificent flying buttress, soaring archways, intricate spires and ever vigilant gargoyles are stunning examples of the skill of the master stonemasons who have worked on the cathedral over the centuries.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

* Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – this stunning shopping arcade has some of the most exclusive shops, wine bars and coffee houses in the city, and is a wonderful place to wander around during the heat of midday and stop for a sophisticated lunch.

* Theatre Museum at La Scala – Milan is famous for its world class opera house La Scala, and as well as seeing one of the performances you can also visit the excellent Theatre Museum, which has exhibits devoted to memorabilia from prominent operas and also the legendary composer Verdi, including some of his original hand written scores.

* The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci – this painting is one of the most famous pieces of art in the world, and was painted by da Vinci in the 15th Century on a wall in the Dominican church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Despite the degradations of the years, the masterwork of da Vinci’s skilled hand can still be seen, and the painting attracts thousands of visitors every year.