Why Milan?
Milan is well-known for its thriving and long-standing fashion industry, which has always granted it a certain amount of aspirational appeal. For the sophisticated traveller, this, and many other things besides, have made Milan an ideal destination for a premium stay, which a self-catering apartment rental experience with Urban District well and truly caters for. The city is home to the Quadrilatero d'Oro, one of the world's most famous shopping districts, as well as being the location of numerous world-renowned fashion festivals throughout the year (including, of course, Milan Fashion Week, which takes place twice a year). Visitors can also enjoys some splendid examples of Gothic architecture over the course of their stay or during the free hours of their business trip, and Milan also bears the rich history of the former Roman imperial centre of trade that once stood in its place. In Italy, the city is also famed for its especially exuberant nightlife. Modernday Milan is a bustling metropolis, with diverse districts exhibiting their own distinct character, all in a city that possesses one enchanting soul. If you elect Milan as your urban getaway of choice, you can also marvel at works of both classical and contemporary art in many of the city’s great cultural institutions, such as “The Last Supper”, the late 15th century mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci. Or indeed, your stay may be used to take a trip to the opera at Teatro Alla Scala for an elegant evening of high-brow entertainment. If you’re a fan of football, you’re also in the right place, as football flows right through this city’s veins, as the home of famous teams AC Milan and Inter. Furthermore, as the capital of the Lombardy region, Milan is the perfect place to enjoy some hearty Lombard food.
As a business destination, the city is also a national heavyweight. Milan is regarded as Italy’s economic capital and driving force, being home to the Italian stock exchange and the headquarters of many Italian corporations, from the national electric concern (Compagnia Generale di Elettricità) to Telecom Italia Mobile, from car brands like Alfa Romeo to fashion houses like Missoni. The city’s transport system is good and is operated by Azienda Trasporti Milanesi, which offers you the possibility of switching between a comprehensive metro network, buses and trams, all of which can happily ferry you from one district to another with great ease. There really is something for everyone in Milan, making it an ideal urban destination for a short break or a business trip.
Major Attractions
Duomo di Milano, the third largest church in the Christian world, which took almost 500 years to complete, is one of Milan’s biggest attractions. Originally built in brick, the church is now adorned with intricately detailed Gothic spires, statues and an enormous variety of styles that have accumulated over the years. Nearby, in what is colloquially known as “Milan’s living room”, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is an upscale shopping complex opened in 1867 by King Vittorio Emanuele II where international brands like Louis Vuitton and Prada display their products today. After a dose of intensive shopping and retail therapy during your stay or on your free time away from business affairs in Milan, you can educate yourself thoroughly on a variety of subjects, ranging from the Iron Age right through to 20th century furniture design at the Castello Sforzesco, an impressive 15th century castle housing twelve eclectic collections. If art is your thing, while renting an apartment in Milan, we recommend visiting the Pinacoteca di Brera, a major public gallery boasting an impressive collection of paintings. As evening settles in, you can reward your studious afternoon of culture with some operatic entertainment at the Teatro Alla Scala, where Italy's greatest opera legends have been performing over the last two centuries.
For those travelling on business, there are numerous reasons why you might end up in Milan, and choosing the comfort and convenience of a serviced self-catering Urban District apartment rental for the duration of your stay is most definitely a wise choice on such occasions. Many international conferences take place in Milan each year and the city’s main fair and exhibition organiser, FieraMilano SpA, operates three major conference venues: Fieramilano, Fieramilanocity and the MiCo. The latter of these is today Europe’s largest conference centre, with a capacity of up to 18,000 people in 70 different conference rooms. These locations host large-scale business and trade association events right through the course of the year, while smaller conferences take place in more diminutive venues throughout this business-friendly regional capital.
What to eat?
Situated in West Lombardy, Milan’s cuisine mainly centres around meat and rice, and in winter, you can expect a lot of polenta, as well as rich and hearty stew varieties. Lombardy is also home to famous cheeses, such as Gorgonzola, Mascarpone and Gran Padano. One traditional dish to try during your trip to Milan is Ossobuco alla Milanese, veal shank braised with vegetables, white wine and broth. Cassoeula is another traditional Milanese dish consisting of cabbage and pork, slow-cooked for about 3 hours. For dessert, try the delicious Panettone. This delicacy is usually consumed around Christmas time, and the iconic cake is Milanese through and through! Milan boasts a number of wonderful restaurants where such local or regional specialities can be sampled in all their essence. For a romantic meal, visit La Brisa and sit beneath the centuries-old linden trees in a courtyard covered with ivy and pink hydrangeas. Basara is essential for Japanese food enthusiasts, and for authentic Milanese food, look no further than Trattoria del Nuovo Macello in the Nuovo Macello district.
Where to go out?
Milan enjoys a number of trendy neighbourhoods, such as the bohemian Brera, the lively and boho-chic Navigli and the forward-looking quarter around the Stazione Centrale. Each of these localities make for a distinctive rental experience when visiting the city. For the true Milanese experience, it is advisable to explore these urban districts on foot before heading over to the 10 Corso Como shopping and dining complex, where you can enjoy decadent cocktails in lavish surroundings, and where you are sure to rub shoulders with Milan’s fashionable glitterati. It is rumoured that the likes of Giorgio Armani and Madonna frequent this stylish haunt on a regular basis. If an amusing gay bar is more to your liking, Afterline is a baroque pub with a variety of themed evenings. In the summer, be sure to hit Café Solaire, a perfectly glamorous club situated right on the lake. The diverse options in terms of year-round entertainment in Milan make it the perfect destination for a seasonal rental.
When to go?
The best time of year to visit Milan is September, when the humidity of the summer months has lifted and just before the autumnal rains set in. However, being an enclave, Milan is relatively wind-free, making the winters decidedly more pleasant than in other parts of northern Italy.