Milan City Guide - overview

Sophistication reaches new levels in Milan. The financial and commercial centre of Italy attracts fashion fundis, opera lovers, the young, the beautiful and the bold. Shopping, eating and clubbing is serious business here and it is no surprise that the city boasts the world's most beautiful shopping mall, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Equally vying for admiration are the Milanese icons of La Scala Theatre (Teatro della Scala) and the Gothic Duomo, one of the world's largest churches. Milan's frenetic pace surges ahead in its drive towards progress, forsaking the lengthy siestas enjoyed in other parts of the country. The city's urban tentacles stretch for miles, although the significant historical attractions are contained between the two landmark sites - the Duomo and the Sforzesco Castle. These reside within the inner loop of the city's concentric design, which is split into four squares: Piazza Duomo, Piazza Cairoli, Piazza Cordusio and Piazza san Babila. The modern civic centre lies to the northwest, around Mussolini's colossal train station built in 1931. The area around here is dominated by a skyline of skyscrapers from which the sleek Pirelli Tower emerges. The Fiera district that stretches around Porta Genova station is the nub for trade and fashion fairs.

Getting around: Milan has an extremely efficient and well-established public transport system, covering nearly 870 miles (1,400km), which is fortunate because the city's roads are congested and local drivers frighteningly reckless. The Azienda Trasporti Milanesi operates the metro, bus, tram and trolley services, which have the advantage of being integrated. Tickets, which can be bought from tobacconists, coffee bars and vending machines throughout the city, are validated on board and then have a time limit of 75 minutes travel on any of the transport options. Day passes are also available. The city's metro is particularly efficient, inexpensive and user-friendly with three lines. Linea 1, the red line, covers the most important tourist area near the Duomo. Taxis are freely available but require to be hired at marked stands. Expect extra charges for luggage, late-night or Sunday travel.