Spend some time in a city that can offer you more than a standard weekend
Milano, internationally known for fashion and design is a city with lots of nuances, a city that can be experienced in a thousand ways. Here are the top 10 reasons, suggested by YesMilano – the official promotion agency of the city, to spend some time away from home, with friends, family or even alone, enjoying the city.
- A multicultural city
Milano is a city composed of diverse and distinctive neighbourhoods, which surround the historic city center in a variety of social identities and functions. For example, Ticinese with its Roman columns and Navigli with its Medieval canals offer much-appreciated hangouts to Milanese and out-of-town youth. Porta Venezia in the east of Milano is the home of LGBTQ+ bars and African cuisine while in the north, Isola tends to be liked by people that are into alternative crafts and culture and Porta Romana in the south of the city attracts foodies and students. Then there’s Chinatown, and artsy NoLo and that’s just the beginning of it.
Going beyond entertainment and socializing, and considering economic development, most of the new urban expansion of Milano for the Olympics will take place in Scalo Romana, while the MIND district near Rho Fiera Milano is accelerating biotech research on a vast scale.
More information on the city’s neighbouhoods can be found here.
- City of culture
Milano’s cultural heritage is invaluable, the Last Supper in the Refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Brera Pinacothèque are strong examples. Milano is famous for modern art, too. Futurism was born here and some of the key masterpieces can be found at Museo del ‘900.
This year, key exhibitions not ot be missed include “Titian’s vision of women in the Venetian Sixteen Century” at Palazzo Reale and Steve Macqueen’s Sunshine State at Hangar Bicocca.
Interesting exhibitions are constantly scheduled in the city and attract a lot of visitors everyday. Check out the 2022 schedule here.
- A symbol of urban regeneration
Design and architecture enthusiasts will love the new developments in Milano, including Il Bosco Verticale: an ambitious metropolitan reforestation project that aims at increasing the plants and biodiversity of the city. City Life is another magnificent urban redevelopment project featuring three towers created by renowned architects including Zaha Hadid, Arata Isozaki and Daniel Libeskind.
- International Capital of Design
Milano is recognized as the International Capital of Design. Its designers have created the industrial products and home furniture that have been changing everyday life since the 1950s.
Milano manages to combine craftsmanship and creativity, industry and talent to design everything from scooters to lamps, from armchairs to phones. The city features two museums devoted to design the Triennale and ADI Design Museum; while every spring Milano becomes the world magnet for buyers and designers, enthusiasts and creatives, thanks to the Milano Design Week, which revolves around the Salone, the world furniture fair at Fiera Milano. The program of design-related events and vernissages, originally in the ateliers of the Tortona Design District, now spread all over the city, particularly in the classy Brera art district, and in the Isola alternative neighbourhood, in the shadow of the Vertical Forest and Piazza Gae Aulenti’s skyscrapers. In 2022, the Salone del Mobile will be held from 7 June to 12 June in the pavilions of Rho-Fieramilano.
- A taste of Milano
For those searching the best Risotto alla Milanese, Milano created the DeCa label in 2006 to promote Milanese history and gastronomic culture and recognise the restaurants that use high-quality local and seasonal produce and follow original preparation methods. The city’s restaurant scene, however, is diverse and every type of cuisine is represented from Italian to Eritrean or Peruvian. The city also boasts 16 Michelin starred restaurants in 2022.
Foodies should not miss the second edition of Milano Restaurant Week which will be launched on May 2nd, a festival to celebrate restaurants and traditional dishes from the many neighbourhoods of the city. A dedicated platform has been created by YesMilano to allow visitors to book a table with a discount. It is a way to encourage people to try and discover new places while exploring the different districts of the city.
- Where luxury was born
Milano rhymes with luxury shopping, this is THE place to renew a wardrobe.
The city is home to the highest concentration of fashion stylists and fashion stores anywhere in the world.
The Quadrangle around Via Montenapoleone is renowned for its stylish stores, especially during the fashion weeks when models, designers, buyers, bloggers and fashion critics from around the world come together to celebrate Fashion.
Be it Armani, Prada, Gucci, the culture of fashion infuses the whole city, cross-breeding other areas of urban life, for example, Prada has established the Prada Foundation with its astonishing exhibit space showcasing the best in contemporary art; Giorgio Armani has invested in the Olimpia Basketball Team, while having established a museum for the house’s historical collections, Armani Silos, in the Design District; and Gucci has recently opened one of its experiential spaces, Circolo, in Milano.
- City of sports
Milano is a major sports capital. Its football teams, FC Inter and AC Milan are both historical clubs: AC Milan has won more FIFA recognised international club titles that any other club in the world with 18 titles, meanwhile FC Inter in 2010 with Mourinho was the treble winning squad.
The arch-felt rivalry splitting friends and families across the city reaches a climax during “il derby”, the direct match between the two Milanese teams, which is usually full of suspense until the very end. Going to Stadio di San Siro to watch a football match is an experience not to be missed while the AC Milan Museum is also a must.
Other sports are also very popular and running is the activity of choice in the city parks. The Milano Marathon on 3 April is a major event where professional and amateur runners compete. The 42-kilometer circuit stretches from the center to the northwestern and southwestern periphery, touching San Siro and Tre Torri.
Many ski resorts are easily accessible from Milan including Pila, Madesimo and Foppolo and the 2026 edition of the Winter Olympics will take place in Milano.
- A compact metropolis
Milano is a metropolis but also a city of proximity, a compact metropolitan space where it’s easy to walk, bike or take a tram, where ethnic and regional identities mix in the neighborhoods and piazzas located in the three concentric rings that compose the city. A place easy to visit for a long weekend. Milano’s current development strategy is oriented towards sustainability and inclusion. Green mobility based on electric-powered public transportation and bike-sharing services is changing the face of the city. Within 15 years, Milano will have one of the most comprehensive networks of protected bicycle lanes in all of Europe.
- Gateway to Italy
Milano is the gateway to Italy. The city is near Lake Maggiore and Lake Como with their rich cities, large palaces, decorated churches and lakeside villas. It is close to the seaside and perfect to visit glamorous Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure. Milano is also a travel hub to reach major tourist destinations across Italy including Venice and Florence.
- A musical experience
One of the most Milanese experiences is attending the opera at La Scala, one of the most famous opera house in the world and a must for music lovers.