A Quick Tour Of Italy - Milan

If you are planning a European tour, you should consider the city of Milan in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. We won't try to tell you that Milan whose population exceeds 1.3 million (the urban area is well over 5 million) is undiscovered by vacationers. But as Italy's media and finance capital it is definitely less tourist infested than many, many other Italian cites. Milan is often considered to be Italy's most European city. Is that a reason not to go visit? On the other hand, Milan is Italy's fashion capital and one of the great fashion capitals of Europe, which is an excellent reason for stopping by. (We'll leave it up to you to decide which is more chic, Milan or Paris.) Please don't forget that Milan is home to Europe's greatest opera house, La Scala. You really should consider visiting Milan, as well as other Lombardy destinations, described in companion articles in this series.

Over the millennia Lombardy has been invaded by many including the Etruscans, Gauls, Romans, French, Spaniards, and the Lombards. Keep the region's history in mind as you tour this impressive city.

We start our tour at the Gothic Duomo (Cathedral) built from 1386 to 1809. With a capacity estimated at forty thousand it is Italy's largest church after St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. The Duomo's architecture and art really call for an extended visit. Let's quote Mark Twain in his famous travelogue Innocents Abroad: "...Some say that the Cathedral of Milan is second only to St. Peter's at Rome. I cannot understand how it can be second to anything made by human hands."

Next door is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, an enormous Nineteenth Century upscale shopping mall named for the first king of united Italy. The Galleria is one great place for shopping and people watching, but bargains are to be found elsewhere.

La Scala Opera House is another type of cathedral. Its season runs for about six months. Because there are only 2800 seats you have to scramble to get a ticket. La Scala's beauty is matched only by its magnificent acoustics. The performances are top of the line. And make sure that you visit the Museo Teatrale alla Scala.

See the Fifteenth Century Saint Mary of the Graces Church and its refectory which houses a recently restored da Vinci masterpiece, Il Cenacolo, better known by its English-language name, The Last Supper. You must reserve well in advance to catch a fifteen-minute glimpse. Make sure that you visit the Municipal Natural History Museum with its adjoining planetarium and Public Gardens that provides pony rides, merry-go-round, and miniature train.

Among Italy's twenty regions Lombardy trails only Emilia-Romagna in food production. Much of its food originated abroad, for example, the Spanish brought saffron and rice, two major components of Milan's saffron risotto. Lombardy produces the sparkling Franciacorta, said to compete with French Champagne and priced accordingly. Not long ago I shared a bottle of rose Franciacorta with my wine tasting group - we were quite disappointed.

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Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but between you and me, he prefers fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods and good company. He knows what dieting is, and is glad that for the time being he can eat and drink what he wants, in moderation. He loves teaching computer classes at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel, wine, and food website www.travelitalytravel.com and his global wine website www.theworldwidewine.com.

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