The Modern Nomads

You can’t help but live “la bella vita” (a beautiful life) while in Milan. Milan is the epicenter of italian fashion and design and everywhere you turn, you see it. From the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the chic neighborhood of Brera, or Milan’s luxury fashion district known as the Quadrilatero della moda. This place is a shoppers paradise!

Now don’t get me wrong, not everything beautiful in Milan is fashion. There are other beautiful things to see and the most prominent being the Milan Cathedral (Dumo). But we will get to that later, first let’s talk about some fashion!

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is iconic to Milan. Here you will find the luxury brands no matter which way you turn. This massive structure is Italy’s oldest active shopping gallery and major landmark of Milan. It is a four-story double arcade. There is lots to see, and do for that matter. You will see tourist posing for selfies but the funniest is those doing the old Milanese tradition known as the ritual of the bull. This is where you spin your heel three times on a specific spot (I won’t say which part but just use your imagination)of the mosaic of the Bull positioned on the floor of the Galleria to bring you good fortune.

The architecture of this building is impressive as much as it was beautiful. But of course, the high-end boutiques that line the halls of this building are a site to see. Each store has their newest collections showcased in the windows that are designed like works of art or an exhibit at a museum. And keep in mind, most of these are just the boutique store and you can find the same designer stores in the luxury fashion district as well.

The bohemian spirit of Via Brera

If your vibe is small boutiques, handmade creations, antique stores or happy hour then Brera should be your go-to place in Milan. You can spend hours walking along the cobblestone streets of this district and I give it an A+ for their restaurants.

Brera is the more artistic district of Milan and has been referred to as ‘Milan’s Greenwich Village’ or ‘the SoHo of Milan.’ Brera’s boho vibe, along with its social scene and concentration of boutiques, museums and galleries, could be compared to the lower west side of Manhattan. We really enjoyed this area and would recommend checking it out if you happen to be visiting Milan!

Oh, almost forgot to mention, when Giorgio Armani is not at his many other homes across Europe or the Caribbean, or at his weekend retreat in the Italian countryside, or on his mega yacht, he can be found at his home here in the Brera Neighborhood – so that should tell you it must be a cool place to hang out!

Milan’s Luxury Fashion District

You can’t go to Milan without walking through the streets of the luxury fashion district. Via Monte Napoleone, Via Della Spiga, Via Manzoni and Corso Venezia are the streets that make up this iconic fashion district. Known throughout the world, this is where the who’s who of fashion will have their store. You will find flagship stores of all the Italian brands like Armani, Versace, and Prada. There are so many I can’t even list them all but they are there, I assure you!

We didn’t walk into all the stores but we did check out the TOD’s Studio. If you aren’t familiar with Tod’s, it is a boutique store selling luxury Italian shoes and footwear. And their store is more like a museum. It is 1,000 square meter (almost 3,300 square feet) of gallery like displays of their handmade shoes and accessories. It was absolutely beautiful inside and I assume every store in this district is the same way!

While walking through this area we came across one of the most unique street art exhibits I have ever seen. This street art was completely made with fresh flowers and organic matter. The street carpets, for lack of a better term, depicted scenes iconic to Milan and its fashion district. Because this artwork would only be alive for 3 days we were lucky to see it!

Milan Cathedral (Duomo)

Located in the Piazza del Duomo, you will find the Milan Cathedral (Duomo). It is no question the most impressive structure in Milan! Today it still holds the title of the largest church in Italy. It is massive and its Gothic architecture is definitely a sight to be seen!

Milan means Business

While Milan is considered one of the world’s fashion capitals, it is also considered the economic heart of Italy. Of course many of the famous luxury fashion brands have their headquarters in the city, but it is also home to the headquarters of many companies in the financial industry. In certain areas of the old town you can see the business district peaking out into the skyline.

Porta Nuova is the main business district of Milan and is easy to get to by public transportation from the old town. We didn’t have time to make it over there but it is said that if you want to experience the new and modern Milan, this is where you need to be! What you will find is beautiful modern architecture, upscale restaurants, gardens, and of course shopping.

Nom Nom Nom

Traditional dishes you will find in Milan are Risotto Alla Milanese and Veal Milanese. And we tried both and they are great!

One other thing we tried was a panzerotti which is an Italian savory turnover. And there is no better place to get one than Panzerotti Luini which has been serving these since 1888. And while there is always a line, it moves quick and worth the wait. It is counter service only so you wait your turn and grab a few (for only 2.50 euro each you should try more than one) and enjoy while strolling the streets of Milan!

Where to stay in Milan

There are many options when looking for accomodations in Milan and if you are wanting something located in the heart of Milan and Old Town but with a more contemporary modern design, then The Corner Duomo Hotel is perfect!

We truly enjoyed our stay at the The Corner Duomo Hotel. It was tucked away from the busy and sometimes noisy main streets but literally in the center of everything we were there to see.