I visited Milan with Raul in October 2018 after our Backpacking through the Balkans journey. Slovenia was the last country in our Balkans Journey, but our Backpacking journey was still not over yet. Slovenia was my 98th country, so Raul and I decided to complete 100 unique countries. We made a plan to come to Milan by bus from Ljubljana and take a flight to Malta. Both Raul and I had been to Italy before, but flight to Malta was less expensive from Milan than from Ljubljana.
Milan (Italian: Milano), the second largest city in Italy, is a global capital of fashion and design. Home to the national stock exchange, it’s a financial hub also known for its high-end restaurants and shops. Though not considered as beautiful as some Italian cities, having been partly destroyed by Second World War bomb raids, the city has rebuilt itself into a thriving cosmopolitan business capital.
If Rome represents the “old” Italy, Milan represents the “new” Italy. Milan is the most modern of all Italian cities, and it still keeps most of its past history intact.
We had only two days in the city before flying to Malta, so we spent most our tine walking around the city center, historical part of the town.
Welcome to Milan! A beautiful Manhole Cover with Milan’s Coat of Arms.Santa Maria delle Grazie (“Holy Mary of Grace”), built from 1463 to 1497, famous for the mural of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. The church is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. Nope, you can’t just stroll in to see the Last Supper: Instead, tickets must be reserved months in advance.Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano), the cathedral church of Milan, dedicated to the Nativity of St Mary. The cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete: construction began in 1386, and the final details were completed in 1965. It is the largest church in Italy—the larger St. Peter’s Basilica is in the State of Vatican City, a sovereign nation—and the second largest in Europe.The Main entrance of the Cathedral.The current iteration of the Cathedral’s organ was added in 1938. It comprises five bodies and 15,800 pipes, making it the second-largest in Europe.Stained glass window over altar in Milan Cathedral.Colorful Stained glass windows of Milan Cathedral.Interior of the Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano).A replica of the Madonnina, a statue of the Virgin Mary atop Milan Cathedral in Italy. By tradition, no building in Milan is higher than the Madonnina. When Gio Ponti’s Pirelli Building was being built in the late 1950s, at a height of 127.1 m (417 ft), a smaller replica of the Madonnina was placed atop the Pirelli building, so the new Madonnina remains the tallest point in Milan. In 2010 another replica was placed as well on the top of the Palazzo Lombardia, at a height of 161 m (528 ft), being then the tallest building in the city. In 2015 still another replica was placed atop the Allianz Tower so that the Madonnina still occupies the highest roof in the city, now at 209 m (686 ft).Altar of the Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano).Artwork above one of the doors of the Cathedral.With Raul in front of the Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano).Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) after Dark.A beautiful Manhole cover with Milan’s Coat of Arms.Piazza del Duomo:: Milan Cathedral and The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, designed in 1861 and built between 1865 and 1877, is Italy’s oldest active shopping mall and a major landmark of Milan. The Galleria is named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy.Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II from inside the arcade,The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: A beautiful floor mosaics of Roman wolf legend of Romulus and Remus.The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: A beautiful floor mosaics of Coat of Arms of Milan.The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: The coat of arms of the Savoy royal family; the family of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy. One of the side streets of Piazza del Duomo.Church of Santa Maria presso San Celso, a Catholic Church opened in 1493. The façade (remade in the 19th century) has a rose window and a Romanesque portal with animal figures decoration.The front gate of Sforza Castle (Italian: Castello Sforzesco), built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, on the remnants of a 14th-century fortification. Extensively rebuilt in 1891–1905, it now houses several of the city’s museums and art collections.Sforza Castle, built in the 15th century, on the remnants of a 14th-century fortification, extensively rebuilt in 1891–1905, now houses several of the city’s museums and art collections.The basilica of Sant’Eufemia, founded around 472. The church was then rebuilt in the fifteenth century, renovated again in the 19th century giving its present Neogothic look.Vintage yellow tram on the street of Milan. The Milan tramway network, In operation since 1881, is currently 181.8 km (113.0 mi) long, making it one of the biggest in the world.Enjoying house wine and Italian Cuisine at one of the local, non-touristy, restaurant with Raul and my Chinese friend who was studying in Milan at that time. One of the simple Manhole cover in Milan.
After two days in Milan during October 2018, we took a flight to Malta, my 99th country.
In May 2017, 23 days before I was going to complete 50 years, grabbed an opportunity and took an early retirement.. Picked up a backpack and traveling ever since.. Love to travel around the world, experience different culture, local cuisine & drinks .. and take pictures.. so far been to 108 countries and still counting...
Window on the World 