Milan, Italy
Teeming with history, the city itself has been conquered, destroyed and rebuilt on three different occasions. The Goths got to Milan first circa 600AD, then the rebuilt city was destroyed by Barbarossa in 1157, and the final destruction to the city took place during the 2nd World War by the Allied forces. The current state of the city reflects the history of destruction and reconstruction as different architectural styles from different eras exist in the buildings throughout the city.Milan"s most visited and impressive attraction, the Duomo Cathedral, exhibits an intricately detailed gothic style design, complete with flying buttresses and over 130 spires on the roof. This mammoth cathedral, which can boast as being one of the world"s largest, stands out from the low lying skyline of Milan, making it appear even bigger than it is. Construction began in 1386 and took over 500 years to complete, finally commencing around the 1880"s.
Adding to the Duomo"s storied history is the fact that it narrowly escaped the devastation of the bombs dropped by the Allies in WWII, which destroyed a lot of the buildings and area that surround the cathedral. The prized possession of the Duomo has to be the nail that was removed from the cross of Christ and now hangs on its own cross high above the main alter. The nail is taken down twice a year in a unique ceremony, where the bishop is lifted up in a basket to remove the nail. Also be sure to pay the small fee to either climb the stairs or take the elevator up to the roof for impeccable views of Milan, as well as an up close look at the structures and gargoyles that sit atop this beautiful church.
While not a religious building in the traditional sense, Milan is home to another landmark where people come to worship. Home to two of Italy"s most decorated futbol clubs, AC Milan and Inter Milan, legendary stadium San Siro is a true futbol mecca. The stadium first opened in 1926 and underwent major renovations in 1955 and 1990, with the latter to prepare for that year"s World Cup. The first game held in the stadium, September 19, 1926, pitted the two Milan teams against one another, with Inter Milan being victorious, 6 goals to 3. The stadium was officially named Stadia Giusepe Meazza, who is the greatest Italian futbol player of all time, in a ceremony held in 1980. Be sure to visit the museum inside the stadium to learn about both club"s storied histories as well as view the 24 life sized statues of some of the greatest players in Italian history.
A trip to Milan is not complete without a trip to the Quadrilatero d"Oro (Golden Quad) where you will find the who"s who of fashion. Names like Gucci, Prada, Dolce & Gabanna, Armani and Versace line the streets in this area of Milan. Milan has been touted as one of the fashion capitals of the world and this will be evident upon first sight of the Golden Quad. Milan can also cater to the more budget minded shopper, with the L"Armadio de Laura area of town. It is here that you will find last season"s fashion at bargain prices. It is also worth checking out Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, which is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest shopping arcade in the world, which has seen little changes since it opened in 1867.
Whatever it is that you fancy, Milan is sure to satisfy. Book your cheap tickets to Milan and see what this city has to offer.