Milan City

Introduction
Frock up to fit in when visiting the world fashion and design capital. The now and the next are invented daily in Milan, the engine room of the country's economy. Milan is Italy's city of the future, a fast-paced metropolis where creativity is big business, looking good is compulsory and after-work drinks, aperitivi, are an artform.

This city is all about worldly pleasures. Shopping is of quasi-religious significance. Theatre and cinema flourish in this fashionable milieu, as does a hopping club scene and a slew of tempting restaurants. Apart from a few gems, the city is not renowned for its looks; it's lifestyle that counts. 'Travelling is the ruin of all happiness! There's no looking at a building after seeing Italy.' - Frances Burney

Central Milan's spider's web of streets radiates from the city's geographical and spiritual heart, the Duomo (Cathedral). North of the Duomo is the Quadrilatero d'Oro (Golden Quad), Milan's designer shopping precinct. Northwest is the gentrified, former bohemian quarter of Brera, with narrow cobblestone streets, upmarket antique shops and alfresco caf é s. The city's best nightlife is on and around Corso Como, further northwest, beyond which is the edgy Isola design district. Northeast of the Duomo is the Stazione Centrale (central station). To the Duomo's south lies the Navigli canal district, while the Castello Sforzesco stands in the Parco Sempione to the west.

Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT/UTC +2
Area: 1980
Coordinates: 45.46427 latitude and 9.18951 longitude
Population: 1307000
Languages: A Latin language related to French, Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian. Standard Italian and numerous dialects are spoken.
Currency: Euro (€)
Daylight Saving: From last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October
Area codes: 02

Getting there and away
Milan sees a lot of international and domestic traffic and there is a constant stream of planes, buses, trains and cars pouring into the city. Public transport is efficient, with an underground rail system, buses and trams covering the city. Road traffic is pretty much to the Italian template - organised chaos.

Weather
Though Italy has a predominantly Mediterranean climate, Milan's winters (December-February) are certainly brisk, with lows below freezing. Still, mountains shield the city from the worst of the Northern European winter. Summer (May-Sept) can be hot and muggy. In August, most of the city heads to the beaches to escape the 30 ° C-plus (86 ° F-plus) heat; the rest are in Milan's many gardens and parks.

Events
Milan likes to celebrate the spiritual and material worlds with equal gusto. The Festa di Sant'Ambrogio, on 7 December, is Milan's biggest feast day, and is marked with religious celebrations and a large Christmas fair at Castello Sforzesco. La Scala marks the solemn occasion by opening its opera season on this day. In February, Carnevale Ambrosiano (the world's longest carnival) culminates with a procession to the Duomo. The first 10 days of June are devoted to the Festa del Naviglio, a smorgasbord of parades, music and other performances. For La Bella Estate, more than 400 concerts, exhibitions and family events are organised by the city government to entertain those who haven't escaped to the beach or lakes during June, July and August. If you feel the need for speed, Milan has the raceway for you: the Monza Autodrome, 20km (12mi) northeast of the city, hosts the Italian Grand Prix in September. Glimpse the future of wardrobes worldwide four times a year, when designers parade next season's collections at the seasonal Milan Fashion Weeks. The men's shows head the A/W (autumn/winter) schedule in January, with the women's following in February. Men's S/S (spring/summer) take place in June and the women's in September. The other major trade event, held in April, is Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the world's most prestigious furniture fair.