Y3 Store Milan

Milan is a fantastic shopping experience, no matter which part of town you go to. The main districts that everyone visits are Via Montenepoleone and Piazza della Duomo for the premium retailers and high street stores.
One of my favorite areas, like many is Corso Como near Garibaldi station. The street has some great boutiques, and is more of an independent area compared to those already mentioned. Just around the corner is the Y3 store, which opened around December 2010 and is very cool in layout with more of an independent feel.
The store is certainly worth a visit, and then you can follow on with a nice cocktail on Corso Como itself.

Y3 store, milan

Naviglio, Milano

If your not 100% percent familiar the Navigli area in Milan, it's somewhere certainly worth checking out.

Navigli is a small district made up of a few canals, that now is bustling with bars, eateries and indie shops. Originally it used be full of manufacturing businesses and dying houses for the clothing industry, but it still retains some of it's original charm and charisma.
The first time I ever went to the area was back in 2001, and it had a few businesses cropping up and the feel of a new Soho, like London and New York. Now it's a famous area to visit with the Milanese, and obviously the occasional tourist.

Certainly worth a trek down to the south of the city, but make sure you leave yourself all night as you can't walk two metres without stopping at another bar, eatery or cool little store!

Easy to get to by the Metro, train or tram. 'Porto Genova'

Navigli, Milan

Bar Magenta, Milano. Pubs in Milan

Real pubs are hard to find in Italy, but if your visiting Milan in worth dropping into Bar Magenta.
Magenta has the large old fashioned bar in the centre of the room, and serves beers from the bottle, and on tap. The building has a beautiful art deco interior, and Magenta also shows the football or (soccer) if your American.
The place has a lovely feel to it, and they do serve wines and other spirits if you don't fancy a lager. Magenta is located on Via Giosuè Carducc, which is a lovely part of Town and is very busy after working hours.

Bar Magenta, Milano

Castello Sforzesco, Milano

The City of Milan isn't one of the top destinations in Italy compared to other parts of the Country, and the concusses seems to be that it's an ugly City compared to the likes of Rome, Sorrento, Florence and the other tourist traps.
The truth is that City did suffer in World War II, but the streets are still full of beautiful buildings and monuments along with a fantastic choice businesses and cultural centres to visit.
One building certainly worth a view is the 'Castello Sforzesco' which is based only ten minutes walk from the piazza Duomo and next to Parco Semione and Brera district.
The Castle is absolutely vast in size, and was built in the 14th century, but to most people visiting the City for the first time this is must, certainly take a little time out to visit the building and maybe go and relax in the park?!    

Castello Szforzesco, MIlano

 

English Films at the Cinema Milano

Milan and the surrounding area has a multitude of Cinema's in and around the City.
Six days of the week show National and International films with voice overs, but on selected days Cinemas show the films in their native languages.
If you struggle with the full linguistic side of the Italian experience, and fancy watching a film then it's worth checking out 'Coming soon.it' for film listings.
From what I can tell most of the Cinemas seem to be part of a small chain called 'Spaziocinema' and always have the same night dedicated to the Original language, and pretty affordable. The chain does a program to take away, and usually tells you the films for up to three months in advance. 

www.spaziocinema.info

Cinema, Milano

 

 

Bars in Milan

Milan like most major Cities has many places to drink, and previously I mentioned about Sempione for an array of cafes, eateries and restaurants. 
One of the other cool, but better known districts is 'Corso Como' which has become famous because of it's namesakes shop and restaurant '10 Corso Como'. The pedestrianized street is full of fantastic shops, bars, cafes, restaurants and located next to Garibaldi metro and train station.

It is quite expensive to eat and drink on the main street, but it's certainly worth indulging yourself for a cocktail in '10 Corso Como' courtyard.
This area has changed beyond all recognition since eleven years ago when I first visited this street. But it certainly is worth visiting. 

Corso Como

 

Bars in Monza, Italy

Like most Towns and Cities around Italy, Monza is blessed with lots of eateries, bars and a pub or two!
Monza is a beautiful City, and is much bigger than first impressions. Most of the places to visit are in and around the Centre, but just across the river on Via Bergamo, to the east of the City is a great venue called 'Turne'. The place has a bit of an English feel to it, and is multi venue bar with live bands often playing and a cool little Bistro on the other floor.
It instantly felt quite cozey when I walked in and the staff were really nice. The prices are really reasonable, and as previously mentioed a lovely feel to the place with a great courtyard at the back.

Worth a visit!

Pizzeria in Milano

Milan is brimming with Pizzerias, making it difficult to choose the best place to visit as they all have so many styles and specialties. Due to the volume of choice it's probably worth suggesting different eateries for different moods and occasions.
One of my favorite Pizzerias would a small Neapolitan chain called 'Anema e Cozzie' there are a good few around Milano, my favorites been on 'Via Pietro Orseolo' near Parco Solari or 'Corso Sempione'
The service is always good and the bases are excellent, light and fluffy and it is very reasonably priced compared to the likes of Pizza Express or ask in the UK. Most of the Pizzas are around eight to ten euro and pretty big, so be careful unless you suffer with a huge appetite. 
Anema e Cozzie always offers great quality food, and specialize in Seafood in typical Neapolitan style.

Pizzerias in Milano

For Pizzerias 'Anema e Cozzie' is good for families or couples dining out, although as a couple, Navigli is less family, and generally more of an adult environment due to it's bustling location.
   

Brera, Milano. Italy

Within a short walk of the historic buildings near Duomo and La Scala, is the area of Brera. This part of town is the picture postcard district of Milan in my opinion, and is blessed with beautiful cobbled streets.
Brera is home to lots of Independent retailers, restaurants and businesses and simply is stunning to walk around.
It is easy to get to on foot from Duomo, Lanza Metro or the tram (which there are many of) but I would certainly recommend walking around if you can.
Walking from Moscova to Brera in the direction of the centre would be my suggestion, starting from Moscova Metro I would walk up Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi. There is lots of bars, eateries and stores along the way, but follow the street across the junction towards Brera.
The majority of the businesses are hidden down small back streets, but if you go down where the Mozzarella bar is located, your on the right path.

One of my favorite places to eat around there is the 'Rossa di Brera' Stunning traditional Italian food in a great setting and with seating in the Piazza next to the church. Located off Via Fiori Chiari.

Brera District. Milan

Designer Stores in Milano

There are so many designer retailers in Milan that it's difficult to know where to start. Brands from Gucci, Miu Miu, Prada, Moncler and Ralph Lauren are here in abundance.
Most people head for the stores on Via Montenapoleone and Via Corsa Emanuele II. These streets are bang centre to the Duomo and Galleria, and feature most major retailers from Niketown, Diesel, Replay, H&M, Banana Rebublic, and three different Zara stores that probably sell the full Zara collection between them.

Locarted on Via Montenapoleone are the plush showrooms of Versace, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, McQueen and many many more high end retailers. This really is the town to buy everything and anything.
My personal favorite is the Bikkemberg store. The showroom is located near Montenapoleone Metro station, and is fantastic inside. This vast store is so cool in design, with walls of replica football trophies, TV's showing football matches and clothes that are slick and not excessive, despite the look of the shop.
This Belgian designer has been one of my favorite designers for many years, and was part of the pocket of great designers to come out of Belgium with Margiela and Dries Van Noten.

Even if your not a fan of Bikkembergs clothing, it's worth a look at the store!

Bikkembergs. Milano

Gelatoria or Ice Cream in Milano 'lato G'

Following on from my previous suggestions of Gelatoria's in Milan, I decided to add a couple more small independent chains and franchises to the rostrum of Ice cream parlous in the City to accompany 'Chocolat' and 'Grom'
Llato G is another quirky little chain of Gelatoria's based all over the City, generally within a hop skip and a jump of Grom? They serve up great Ice cream, and will be more recognizable by the stools made out of garden gnomes and the multi coloured wood flooring, but certainly worth a try.
There seems be several based around the City now, near La Scala, Cadorna, and Brera.

Lato G. Moscova

Milano's Best Ice Cream *Gelateria*

One thing you can't miss out on when you visit Milan is the wonderful Gelataria's. There are hundreds in and around the City and many of them have there own unique flavor's and textures.
For me the best places to visit in the centre of Milan are 'Grom' and 'Chocolat'. My partner along with many Milanese loves 'Grom' which is all over the City, and they use natural ingredients which have the perfect texture. 
My choice would be 'Chocolat' which has a great choice of flavor's and is located near Cadorna train station. Generally there is people standing outside on the pavement (you've guessed it, eating ice cream) even in winter!
Chocolat do quite a big variation of Chocolate flavours, which isn't my normal choice in other Gelateria's, but usually due to the fact they are too sweet for me.

Chocolat. Milan

Great Places to visit in Milano

Milan is a huge City with millions of inhabitants. Like all major Cities around the World, Milan is split into many areas, the main and most popular is the historic centre around the Duomo cathedral and Sforza Castle.
Outside of the historic centre is many diverse districts, the closest being 'Corso Sempione' which a major avenue leading to the edge of the main central park of 'Parco Sempione'.
At the top of the avenue is Arco della Pace, the 'Arche de Triomphe' of Milan, and was in fact built under Napoleons rule, and started the connection of a route from Milan to Paris which still exists today.
Under the shadows of the Arch is a contingency of cool and traditional bars and restaurants that come in all shapes and sizes.
From a Friday onwards this area is non stop, with locals and a few tourists eating and drinking from five o'clock onwards.

It's easy to reach the area by jumping on the tram from near the Duomo.

www.atm-mi.it

Corso Sempione

The Lakes. Como, Menaggio, Bellagio

Some of the most popular places for tourists to visit are the great lakes of Italy. Amazing Alpine backdrops, beautiful buildings, great weather and wonderful food.
Como seems to be the main lake for International visitors to be attracted too, with inevitably Como Town at the forefront of everyone's visit to the area. Como benefits from being one of the easiest destinations outside of Milan to travel too, and other destinations around the lake can be reached from there on.
The Town of Como has trains and boats onto places like Bellagio and Menaggio, and sits less than three miles from the border of Switzerland. Como Town itself is probably not the most stunning of places to visit in Italy, but it does have some of the usual ancient Italian buildings next to the lake and around the Duomo area, that are very nice to take some pictures of, but generally it's all a bit too touristy for me.
Personally the best thing about Como Town is getting on the boats and going up the lake. From there on the scenery is stunning, some the houses along the lakeside are amazing and it leads you to likes of Menaggio and Bellagio, both of which are worth a visit and sit on different parts of the lake.
If you feel brave enough to drive in Italy, this would be the place to do it, as the lakeside drive upto Menaggio is totally stunning.

Lake Como

Eating out in Milan, Monza and Pavia

Milan is awash with excellent eateries, bars and cafes. No matter where you go or turn to there is an excellent choice of places to eat.
As with most big Cities the most expensive places to eat are around the tourist areas of Duomo, Castle Sforzesco and Via Dante. This is not to say that their aren't good places to eat, just generally expensive compared to other places in Milan. Duomo, Via Dante are great places to sit and people watch, but drinks usually come at a premium in most bars around those areas, generally costing around 8 euro for a large beer.

If you move onto some of the back streets of the historical centre around Duomo you'll find some good places to eat and one or two quite bad ones trying to take advantage of the non to clued up tourists.

A great place to try around the historical centre is 'Princi' located on, Via Speronari within a few hundred metres from the end of Duomo square. Usually it costs me 2.20 -2.50 euro for a coffee and brioche (Lovely environment). There are also other branches around Milan, but the Duomo branch is beautiful.

Via Speronari, Milan

Welcome to Lombardy and Milan!

The idea of this blog is to help you find your way around Lombardy as an Tourist, Student or Expat? 
Having lived in the region for some time you get to discover the places you wouldn't as a tourist on a short visit, things that you might miss from your home Country and great places to eat.
Milano is the capital city of Lombardy (Lombardia) and by far the money pot of the Country, despite only being Italy's second city.
Milan has generated most of it's money through it's proximity to the rest of Europe, helping it attract major International Businesses in recent years, especially through the banking sector. The City still has it's strong fashion and design industry attracting tourists from all over the globe.