When one hears “Milan” they might be likely to think “Fashion”, and with good reason. Milan is the most financially important city in Italy and the second most populated. The city is also home to such fashion icons as Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Armani, Prada, Gucci, Pucci and many other designer labels. Milan is a very desirable destination whether one is a model, designer, photographer, fashion student or a fashion enthusiast. Milan is not only home to many a runway, but also designer boutiques, outlets with last season’s finds and concept shops for new and emerging designers’ works. All of these street novelties combined make Milan a prime shopping hot spot. What better way is there to get what you want than to purchase it from the source?
City dressed-up to the nines
While Milan is known for its fashionable side, not many would think this to extend farther than the cosmetic quality of the people in it. The city itself is also dressed up as though ready for a “night on the town”. Together with the bright colors of the buildings and shops, the seaside boardwalks, cathedrals, statues and fountains, the city of Milan boasts architecture completely unique in its artistry and mixing the old with the new. The Duomo di Milano, for example, is Milan’s own gothic-style cathedral. Complete with shard-like spires, it is the fourth largest cathedral in the world and the seat of the Archbishop of Milan. The Piazza della Scala, a central square in Milan, is home to a monument to Leonardo da Vinci and built in front of the Teatro alla Scala, one of the world’s most famous live theaters.
Modern Milan
All of its old structures aside, Milan is the most modern of the Italian cities. Milanese culture thrives on the concept of pushing art to its very outer edges and then a bit further to the near-impossible. Certainly this is exemplified in the clothing and architecture, but believe it or not, the inventiveness does not stop there. Beside the famous paintings and inventive theaters are Milan’s less glamorous, slightly overlooked accomplishments: Home wares, food and sport. The beanbag, for example, was invented in Milan.
Milanese food is unexpectedly simple and after many fashionable transitions from Chinese food to Indian food to African food to Japanese and Middle Eastern food, has finally returned popularity to the original idea of enjoying hearty, delicious meals after a long, hard day. There are now hotels, cafés, and restaurants that cater to this old world Italian ideal. Milan is also home to two of Italy’s top football (futbol or calcio) teams which share the San Siro stadium and play for thousands of roaring fans every Sunday during the season.
While fashion tends to be considered a shallow endeavor by some, and the world’s fashion capitals shallow by extension, Milan has far more to offer than simple prettiness. Milan is fashionable with a drive and purpose that is exceptionally modern and unique. Milan holds true to the Italian ideal of doing everything passionately and with full commitment to the experience itself.