To me, Milan is a nice, clean and charming city with a special pulsing atmosphere as well as majestic architecture. In my last post, I told you the reason for my stay: IFIS’s World Computer Congress and I promised to show you the city from a Norwegian prospective – so of course I’ll keep my words; From my hotel it took me 15 min by taxi to get down town, so let’s start with my observation on the traffic (click all pics to enlarge and enjoy:
The city was obviously built before architects start planning for the car invention. The streets are narrow, the cars are small and the most effective vehicles are their scooters.
Milan is one of the largest cities in Italy, located north, in the plains of Lombardy, the capital in the Province of Milano. This municipality has a population of 1.3 million. The city is renowned as one of the world capitals of design and fashion. The English word milliner is derived from the name of the city. The Lombard metropolis is famous for its fashion houses and shops like at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in the Piazza Duomo (reputed to be the world’s oldest shopping mall). The city hosted the World Exposition in 1906 and will host the Universal Expo in 2015. So of course I asked the driver to go to the Piazza:
The first thing to notice is of course Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano): Built from the late 14th well into the 19th century (and in a sense, never completed as work continues), the Duomo di Milano is one of the world’s largest churches, being second in size within Italy only to Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and being the second largest Gothic cathedral in the world, after the Cathedral of Seville in Spain.
I came there around 7PM and while walking around to capture the atmosphere, I also noticed how soon it gets dark, but it was still beautiful:
Then I spotted the entrance of the only ‘mall’ in the world, I consider beautiful:
On both pics to the right: The oval opening to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele; A large and elegant arcade, lined with shops, bookstores, cafés and restaurants. Designed to join the Piazza della Scala and Piazza del Duomo, construction started in 1865. The gallery was opened just two years later by the king, Vittorio Emanuele II, its namesake. It features a 47 metre (155 foot) high glass dome, standing above the central octagonal area and also some beautiful mosaics on the floor. Let’s walk inside:
Left: The golden pulse atmosphere. Right: Concerto Musica Classia
Left: The shopping street with mosaic floor. Right: Ristorante Galleria.
At that very restaurant, I had the most wonderful dinner:
As a Norwegian, I chose seafood pasta of course, with scallops, shrimps, calamari and mussels. Wine: Michelle Chiarlo from Dolchetto D’Alba.
For dessert I order wild berries: Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries with vanilla cream and of course double espresso and Italian brandy: Wecchia Romagna.
So this was some glimpse of a Norwegian’s adventure in Milan and around Piazza del Duomo. I hope you got a clue of the lovely atmosphere and enjoyed as much as I do sharing with you.
What a great trip and what a great meal. See I too love pasta and seafood. That’s why I always love to see what you eat. I don’t get these things very often, but they are indeed my favourites. The wine and the dessert are an excellent pick as well. Now I’m hungry. Thank you for yet another wonderful excursion, both to the eye and the pallet. Big hug to you and Diane. :)
RennyBA
I know you are a seafood lover too Sandee and I don’t get it the Italian way that often either. Glad you like the pics too and hope you’ve found your way to still your hunger anyway :)
Oh this looks yummy! I love to try new things. On my trip to St. Louis I tried Elk! It was very good!
RennyBA
I know you are open-minded when it comes to food too. I assume you mean Elg (moose) and thats just delicious!
I loved the Duomo when we were there too. It’s magnificent. And I see that it was nice weather too since people were in summer clothes. Lovely.
I’m not so used to eating some seafood, like that ones – Mr L loves calamari, but I can imagine that it tasted extra good while being there :-)
Tomorrow, or today actually, our trip to Norway starts, so it’s not long now before we meet!!! Looking forward to finally meeting you and Diane too!!!
Our bags are packed, now off to sleep before begin the trip. We have 2 stops on the way there.
RennyBA
Yea its magnificent and extra delightful to experience it in a nice warm weather you know.
Seafood is always good you know :-)
Have a nice trip, welcome to Norway and I can hardly wait for that big hug!
Boy, you do get around!!
That dessert looks delish!
RennyBA
Sometimes I get around you know – it was just great!
I always get very hungry when I visit your blog Renny…that dessert !!! yummo!!
sensational photos and sights…..
makes me want to visit Italy :)
RennyBA
Glad I can tempt you and that you liked the pics and the view – go for Italy Kim!
Lovely post on Milano, Renny!! I was there only once visiting friends overnight so there wasn’t much time for sightseeing.
Alba was a disappointment but the wine is always excellent!
RennyBA
Thanks Mar – glad I could give you a glance since you did not had time yourself then.
I love the elegant buildings in Milan! What a lovely place on earth! And the food looks too delicious, especially when I saw oven pizza.
RennyBA
Elegant buildings is a great way of saying it! Yea, the Italian know how to make it right.
definitely a fun adventure, and tasty too, by the looks of it.
RennyBA
Glad you liked it too Lime :)
Looks fabulous! I’d love the pasta and pizza but I’d hold the seafood! It would be neat to go and look at all the fashions in the shops there! Aren’t you going to a fashion show?!!! What will you bring Diane from your trip?!!!
RennyBA
I know you are reluctant to seafood Ruth, but believe me: the Italian makes it delicious.
No fashion show, but I loved the classic performance in Gallerina.
I brought a bag with The Concerto Musica Classia logo :)
Bring Diane something gorgeous!
I was hoping you were going to visit the Duomo area as this is where I’ll be staying with my mother. We do have to drive to our hotel in the city (YIKES!), but once at the hotel, we have a parking spot and can leave the car until it is time to go to the airport early Sunday morning.
Any other restaurants or cafes you would suggest?
RennyBA
See my answer to Ruth!
It a great area and still much more to explore – the very old part of the city you know. Yea: Leave the care – the public transportation service is great including the nice old trolleys.
We had a nice dinner at Bagutta too, so try it if you can.
I totally love your life, Renny. It’s like a fairytale! :)
RennyBA
Thanks Ginnie – I do too :-)
Looks Lovely Renny…you can take me for a tour and dinner anytime!
Hope you and Diane are doing well.
RennyBA
Then I suggest Oslo Jessica, I’m more often there :-)
We are doing fine, thank you!
Yum & Wow!! :D I can see that you are having a great time time Renny and those wild berries oh gosh…..when are you heading home????
*drooling over the food as usual…*
It’s been a while since my last trip to Italy. I love this country and I miss it…
Oooo….I missed Milan on my last trip to Italy due to time constraint:)
Most of the buildings and architecture are pretty much influenced by each other in Europe…but it was still a wonderful trip nevertheless!~
Hey Renny, I just got back from Seville and seeing the very Cathedral you mentioned. I’ve never been to Milan so thank you for the tour :-)
I love Milan. Well, I love Italy actually, your photographs have captured the Piazza and the Duomo perfectly. The food is fabulous, not to mention the shopping :-) but the traffic?! I wouldn’t dare to drive there – far too scary!
Thank you for sharing your trip.
Oh , I have always wanted to visit Italy! It looks like such an interesting place – and the food looks great Renny! Thank you for sharing.
Oh that looks incredible! Makes me miss Europe so much. But yes I do enjoy being back in a European type city again. :)
Fabulous sites!! I love the Cathedral. I am definitely coming with you next time.
Wow wow wow! Beautiful!
;)
WOW! what a fabulous trip! Italy is a dream place to go. The foods you’ve show looks delicious! Great photo’s!
a european tour is too far-fetched for me at this time. at least you’re making me see the sights through your eyes.
You are simply the best travel guide on the net;)
It just looks yummy…the food! Viva Italia! :-)
Dolcetto d’Alba with seafood pasta? geez! Isnt the best pairing, mate:)
woooow! milan… and check out the food: so dreamy!!!
thanks for this great time in Piazza Duomo! I always like reading about Italia as you know Italian and french people are like cousins even if in football stadiums the atmosphere between the players isn’t always quiet!
Wow, I wanna go to Milan. Thanks for sharing these wonderful pics!