If you are thinking of a holiday in Italy then there are too many places to pick from. Let us see what we can find in one of the most famous cities, Milan.



Milan is not only about fashion and about shopping; plenty of cultural sights you do not want to miss if you are seeking history. Duomo is the biggest cathedral in Milan and found in Central Square. With its late-Gothic style, construction on the cathedral, which started in 1386, took many centuries to complete. The famous opera house, La Scala, open since 1778, has an interesting museum next door where you can view Verdi's death mask. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II designed by the famous architect Mengoni and is now a shopping avenue where you can glance through its stylish cafes, restaurants, shops and buono Milan accommodation. You can view the Santa Maria delle Grazie that is a famous church and convent with Leonardo da Vinci's mural of the Last Supper, a sight you will not want to miss.

Yes, we all know that shopping is Milan is heaven. Versace, Christian Dior and Versace, are just some of the names you will find in the upscale area of Quadrilatero d'Oro. If these are beyond your budget try Corso Buenos Aires with its high street prices or, for a unique and individual choice with a selection of second hand and handmade clothes shops, take a trip to Corso di Porta Ticinese. Come with your credit card or even better, cards, and you will not go home disappointed! After a day of walking around and shopping, there is no place then your hotel bed. The accommodation in Milan is variable form high-end hotel to very low budget hostel, from bed and breakfast to the cheaper hotels. You can spend most of your budget either on your new Italian cloths or on a stylish Italian accommodation. Milan is an alluring city, attracting artists, photographers, designers and models to its famous fashion houses, ancient city centre and architecture or top designer stores.

Many of the creative fashion designers have exhibited their designs in this glamorous city, some of them transforming the face of fashion with their own individual style. Giorgio Armani, born in Piacenza, is the king of Italian fashion. Prada took control of the family company in 1978, which focused on bags and leather accessories. Her bags became fashionable and in high demand. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were born in the province of Palermo and Milan respectively and have to be the most famous couple in the Italian fashion world. Gianfranco Ferr? was born in Milan in 1944 and gained a degree in architecture from the Milan Polytechnic. Versace was born in Reggio Calabria, moving to Milan in the 1970s to work in the fashion world. The Versace label was set up a few years later and since Gianni's death in 1997, the company has been run by his brother and sister, Santo and Donatella.

Deciding in which hotel in Milan you want to stay will depend on your budget. If money is no problemo then the fashion streets of Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and Corso Emmanuele II all have smart, plush and expensive Italy accommodation. To be near to the attractions and shopping areas head to Centro Storico, a historical part of the city. Amendola Fiera is a district fashionable with business visitors and tourists as hotels here are less expensive but within easy reach of the city centre. Isola and Brera have the majority of typical Milano hotels, with prosperous Brera the closest to the galleries and sophisticated boutiques. Navigli-Ticinese is a lively part of the city with the canal running through it; restaurants line the canal banks and the site of a Saturday street market.

There are many types of accommodation to choose from in Milan. From the larger well established luxurious hotels to small pensions and youth hostels. Book well in advance if you don't want to be disappointed as in busy periods the luxury hotels are in demand due to the frequent national and international events taking place in the city, especially when trade fairs or Milan fashion week are on.