Think you know Milan? Hire a car in Italy's style capital and think again! Once you've rented a car in Milan, you'll see a whole new side to the city. Not only does car rental in Milan allow you the freedom to shop ?til you drop all over the city, you'll also have somewhere safe and convenient to store all those fabulous purchases. It's not just the shopping in Milan that car hire facilitates, renting a car also gives you the freedom to tour the magical countryside of Lombardy.
Milan Mini Guide:
Milan is one of Italy's most popular city break destinations and it's easy to see why. The city not only boasts a fascinating historical heritage, it is also renowned as being one of the world? s top fashion capitals.
Things To See/Do in Milan:
Once you've arrived in the city, it's worth stepping out of your hire car for a while and taking a walking tour. This is one of the best ways to see what Milan has to offer in terms of cultural and historical attractions. Piazzo del Duomo is a great place to start. Here the impressive Duomo cathedral is a must see. Duomo is home to some 3,500 statues and offers a spectacular rooftop view of the Alps. Heading north of the Duomo brings you to the absorbing Pinacoteca Brera, where masterpieces by Titian, Canaletto, and Caravaggio are on public display. Meanwhile, Leonardo da Vinci's priceless ?Last Supper? can be viewed at Santa Maria della Grazie, however demand is such that up to four weeks booking is essential.
It's impossible to visit Milan without indulging in some retail therapy. No matter what your budget is, shopping in Milan is guaranteed to be a stylish affair. Serious fashionistas will find everything they're looking for on via Montenapoleone, via della Spiga, via Sant?Andrea and via Manzoni. Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton are to to be found on Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Those on a restricted budget are also well catered for. Milan's designer outlet stores, D-Magazine and Salvagente ensure that thrifty followers of fashion pay less for up to the minute threads through special offers and generous discount prices.
Eating Out in Milan:
Counting the pennies? Don't worry, it's easy to eat out on a thrifty budget in Milan. Cheap happy-hour deals are popular at establishments such as Bar Brera, the Dom Caf? and Le Biciclette on via Conca del Naviglio. Pizza is a great option for those looking to pay less for lunch or dinner. Top pizzerias include Anema e Cozze on Via Palermo, Primafila on via Ugo Foscolo and Pizzeria Dogana on via Dogana.
Traditional pasta is another cheap and cheerful snack at homely restaurants such as Osteria Giulio Pane e Ojo.
Day Trips/Events in Milan:
Milan's surrounding countryside offers plenty of scope for touring by hire car. Lombardy's mountain valleys and lakes lend themselves to a range of active outdoor pursuits including sailing, hiking and walking. The scenic Lake Como also makes for an especially pretty drive.
As a design capital, Milan is no stranger to trade fairs and fashion shows. The city's famous fashion shows take place in February and September for womenswear and late June and mid January for menswear. The Milan Furniture Fair takes place annually in April and exhibitions are open to the public at specially allocated design showrooms.
If the food is anything to go by, Lyon certainly knows how to welcome its guests. Now the gastronomic capital of France, Lyon's prowess in the kitchen stretches as far back as the first half of the 20th century when many families got rid of their in-house cooks. Instead of scurrying away to factories, these newly redundant women brushed themselves down and set up their own restaurants, finishing their careers up with the distinction of cooking for some of the finest French dignitaries of their time. Today visitors to Lyon can still dine like kings and queens at restaurants, bistros and bars all over the city.
Apart from its many fine-dining establishments, Lyon also offers a range of wonderful tourist attractions. As France's second largest city, it's not surprising that there's plenty to see and do. Take your pick from three large parks, 30 museums and scores of monuments referencing Lyon's historical heritage. Lyon is known as the ?city of light? due to its history that first began on Fourvi're Hill, when the city was ruled by the Romans. Back then, Lyon was regarded as the capital of the three Gauls and it was during this time that Lyon underwent huge change in its economic, political, religious and military development. The spirit of ?Lugdunum? (city of light) as it was known by the Romans lives on today when every evening over 100 sites across the city are lit up to show the beauty of the city's architecture.
The city's Lyon Opera House is also a great place to discover Lyon's musical riches.
Located between the City Hall and Rhone River, the building itself is a magnificent piece of engineering. The first five levels of he opera house are underground while the glass exterior of the six higher levels sparkle in the sunlight. Opera-goers say the acoustics of the hall are so good that the opera house currently makes more recordings than any other opera house in France. While in town it's worth making a special effort to attend one of the many ballet and symphony performances that take place there throughout the year.
Residents of Lyon may take these places for granted but UNESCO certainly doesn't. The city is listed as a World Heritage site because of its lengthy and fascinating 2,000-year old history which is to be seen most obviously in the city's spectacular Romanesque architecture.
Renting a car in Lyon means you can sample the food, culture and history of Lyon at a pace that is entirely up to you.
Getting there: It's easy to reach Lyon from Paris. Simply follow the A8/E1 to Lyon and then take the E1/A7 west to Aix-en-Provence. If you find yourself driving to Lyon from Grenoble or the French Alps, take the A43 and you'll come to Lyon via the northwest of the city.
Fiona Hiliard has sinced written about articles on various topics from Car Rental, Travel and Leisure and Portugal Holiday. Fiona writes for Argus Rent A Car and . Fiona Hiliard's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.