Milan has some of Italys top clubs, bars and cinemas. A fabulous year round cultural calendar is topped off by La Scalas opera season, which opens each year on 7 December, which is the citys patron saints day.
The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is the worlds oldest shopping mall. The mall is covered over by an steel and an arching glass roof and the central point is topped with a glass dome. The Galleria connects two of Milans most famous landmarks, The Duomo and the Teatro Alla Scala. More than 120 years after its inauguration, the four story arcade includes elegant shops as well as restaurants, bars and cafes. Directly connected to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is Milans ultra luxurious Park Hyatt hotel, offering the citys most luxurious and most expensive rooms and facilities.
Milan is one of the fashion centres of Europe and shopping here is like heaven. If you are lucky enough to come here during the sales there will be some bargains to be found. If you are serious about your shopping and looking for some real bargains head out to the out let malls. There are 2 near Milan. One is across the border in Switzerland at Mendrissio and there are bus trips that arrange the shopping trips here.
Bars and cafes come into their own as the after work crowds seek out the perfect aperitivo as well as the best place to see and be seen. Many bars offer free finger food with aperitifs. Classic cocktails often involve Prosecco dry or sweet sparkling wine or Campari.
Milan has its own typical food. This includes Cotoletta alla Milanese, a fried veal fillet in bread crumbs. Other typical dishes are Cassoeula stewed pork rib chops and sausage with Savoy cabbage and tomato sauce. Season related pastries are Chiacchiere fried flat cookies and Tortelli fried spherical cookies. The most famous Milanese cheese is Gorgonzola.
Milan is a sprawling metropolis, but most of its attractions are concentrated in its centre. Its hub is the Duomo, a fantastic Gothic confection topped by the Maddonina our little Madonna, Milans protectress.
