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European Vacations -
Italy Vacation Packages &
Travel Information |
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Overview |
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Imagine the view from the roof of
the Duomo, looking out over the city
of Milan. The graceful porticoes and
ornate friezes of medieval Milan
blend and fade in a symphony of
color and texture up against the
stark definition in steel and
concrete of the modern rendition of
that venerable city. This magical
yet understated metropolitan center
is fairly bursting with energy and
vitality as well as carefully
preserved mementos of centuries
past.
Milan is a joy to visit. It doesn't
draw the crowds of tourists that one
finds in Rome, Florence and Venice.
Visitors can leisurely explore
streets that are lined with famous
sites, from the beloved opera house,
La Scala, and the spired Gothic
splendor of the Duomo to the
beaux-arts filigree of the Galleria
Vittorio Emanuele. The museums and
galleries of Milan hold many
treasures, from Da Vinci's Last
Supper to Michelangelo's Rondanini
Pieta. Milan is a city that reveres
its history, yet it is up to date
and always ready for something new
and exciting. In Milan one may meet
models wearing the latest designer
styles enroute to casting sessions
and runway shows. Milan is filled
with smart, shops and trendy
restaurants situated right at the
heart of its ancient past.
Located at the point where northern
and southern Europe meet, Milan's
name is derived from the Latin for
"middle lands The original Celtic
village became part of the Roman
Empire around the first century BC.
In AD 313 the emperor Constantine
issued the Edict of Milan, making
Christianity the official religion
of the Roman Empire. After the
collapse of the Empire and centuries
of barbarian rule, Milan once again
became independent and prosperous as
a city-state in the 13th and 14th
centuries.
Spanish, French and Austro-Hungarian
rule finally gave way to
independence in 1861, when Milan
became part of the kingdom of Italy.
The city was the birthplace of
fascism in Italy in the early years
of the 20th century, and vestiges of
that autocratic period survive today
in its architecture of which the
massive Central train station is an
excellent example.
After World War II, Milan overflowed
its prewar borders to become a
sprawling metropolis. In the 1970s
and 1980s, the city prospered,
becoming the industrial, financial,
fashion and design center of the
country. There are so many sites in
Milan that should not be missed: The
Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of
Science and Technology is a favorite
for children, but its hands-on
exhibits will be of interest to the
whole family. Take a walk down Via
Dante to the Castello Sforzesco, and
on to the castle grounds for more
exploration and an opportunity to
view the museums and collections of
this fully restored masterpiece of
architecture. The Milan Cathedral,
in the Late Gothic style, is white
marble, over a brick core, and has a
cruciform plan. One of the largest
cathedrals in the world (14,000
square yards) it was designed to
accommodate 40,000 worshippers. A
climb by stairs or a ride up the
elevator on a clear day will result
in an incomparable view of the city
from the Cathedral dome. Teatro alla
Scala, known throughout the world
for its architecture and for the
quality of its operatic productions,
along with its accompanying museum
are also not to be missed.
Milan is a center of culture and
commerce. It is a city of charm and
ageless beauty. It is a delight in
all seasons. |
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Facts |
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Population: 1.4 million
Area: 765 square miles
Language: Italian
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Time zone: GMT + 1 hour (8 hours
ahead of Eastern Standard Time).
When it is Noon in New York City; It
is 8:00 (20:00)in the evening in
Milan.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, flat two
or three pin plugs are used
Telephone Codes: 39, country code;
02, city code.
Country dialing code: 1
Summer temperatures, which often
extend into September, average in
the 80s (high 20s C), but can feel
warmer because of the humidity.
Winter is cold, with little rain and
temperatures usually in the 40s
(5-10 C). Snow is uncommon. April
and May tend to be rainy. The best
time to visit Milan may be in
autumn, when the weather is crisp,
cool, sunny and breezy. Smog is
almost constantly present.
November-February temperatures
require a heavy coat. Spring is the
rainy season and is cool, so a
raincoat or rain jacket is a good
idea. The summer months are hot and
humid, but many establishments are
air conditioned.
National Public Holidays
1st January - New Year's Day
6th January - Epiphany
Early April - Easter Monday
25th April - Liberation Day and St.
Mark's Feast Day
1st May - Labour Day
29th June - Local Feast Day
15th August - Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary
1st November - All Saints Day
8th December - Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
24th December - Christmas Eve
25th December - Christmas Day
26th December - Boxing Day / St.
Stephen's Day
Getting There
By Air
Two main airports serve Milan. Most
international flights land at
Malpensa Airport (MXP), which is
approximately 30 miles northwest of
the city, and about an hour by car
or train. Linate Airport (LIN), 4
miles to the east, is used for
domestic and some European flights.
Airport shuttle buses transport
passengers between Malpensa and
Linate. A free shuttle between the
two terminals at Malpensa runs every
10 minutes.
A third airport, Orio al Serio,
handles charter flights: close to
Bergamo and is about 30 miles
northeast of Milan.
By Bus
For long-distance trips, trains are
preferable to buses because they are
more comfortable and faster, and the
connections are usually more direct.
The main departure point for buses
traveling to other Italian and
European cities is the Garibaldi bus
station. Buses line up along the
sidewalk and are not well marked as
to destination. The Autostradale
(bus station) sells tickets. Phone:
02-637-901.
By Car
Congestion in the city center is
intense, and parking is difficult.
If you drive into the city, park
your car at your hotel and plan to
use public transportation. Avoid
rush hour, 7:30-9:30 am and
5:30-7:30 pm.
By Train
When visiting from another European
or major Italian city, you will
arrive Central Train Station (Stazione
Centrale) on Piazza Duca d'Aosta.
The smaller Stazione Nord (sometimes
called Cadorna Station) handles
trains heading to smaller cities to
the north and the lake cities of
Como and Stresa. Stazione Garibaldi,
another regional station, handles
trains to smaller cities within a
few hours of Milan.
Buying a train ticket does not
reserve a seat. It allows you to
board; you sit only if there's an
unclaimed seat. To reserve a seat,
you must purchase a reserved seat at
an extra cost. IC and EC trains are
more comfortable and their use
entails an additional surcharge. Be
sure to purchase the correct ticket
for the train you will be taking.
Otherwise, there is a fine plus a
penalty. Tickets must be validated
at a machine on the platform before
boarding. Otherwise, there is a
separate penalty on board at the
time of ticket collection.
Local Transportation
Central Milan is quite small, and
most of it can be covered easily on
foot. In the alternative, Milan's
extensive transportation system is a
convenient way to get from place to
place.
Milan's public transportation system
includes buses, electric-rail trams
and a subway (the metro, with lines
denoted MM1, MM2, MM3 or FNME). The
system is safe, even at night. The
same tickets are used by all three
systems, and you can purchase
tickets at newsstands, cigarette
stands and some bars. Most metro
stops also have machines that
dispense tickets
You can ride the metro system for 75
minutes from the time you first
enter the system, and transfer to a
bus on the same ticket provided you
complete your bus ride within the 75
minutes.
Buses and many tram lines operate
daily 6 am-12:30 am. All subway
lines run daily 6 am-midnight. Phone
02-8901-0797 for information.
By Taxi
Metered taxis are white. They will
not stop on the street except at
designated taxi stands, which are
usually located near hotels, train
stations and sometimes major squares
or intersections. |
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