The Mosque is the home of the Muslim Centre for Milan and Lombardy which produces The Messenger of Islam magazine in Italian. The centre provides daily prayers and the translation of the Friday Khutba into Italian. Many more community activities are involved including running a weekend Islamic school, providing books and manuals, marriage assistance for families and visiting the sick
More than the provincial capital, Milan is the country’s economic, financial and industrial centre, in many ways closer to northern Europe than the south. It takes only 25 minutes to drive to Switzerland, while Rome is a 6 hour journey. This city of innovative trendsetters is also Italy’s hi tech heart which a third of foreign companies have chosen as their capital. The Milan International Fair, Fiera Milano, is one of the biggest and busiest fair complexes in Europe hosting international events that span tourism, machine tools, electronics and more.
Historically the city is believed to have been founded by Celtic tribes who in the 7th century settled on the banks of the river Po. From the mid 13th century Milan was ruled by a succession of important families – the Torrianis, the Viscontis and finally the Sforzas. Under the latter two it enjoyed considerable wealth and power. It came under Spanish rule in 1535, but was passed to Austria in accordance with the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, signed at the end of the War of the Spanish Succession.
Legacies of the reign of Maria Theresa of Austria are still evident, particularly the yellow facades of the Scala Opera House and the royal palace. Napoleon made Milan the capital of his Cisalpine Republic in 1797, and five years later of his Italian republic, crowning himself king of Italy and Milan there in 1805. Austrians again occupied the town in 1814, but were defeated during the Battle of magenta in 1859 when troops of victor Emmanuel II and Napoleon III brought its liberation and incorporation into the Kingdom of Italy.
Milan today is a sprawling metropolis, but for most visitors the main area of interest is the commercial and historical heart which radiates from Piazza del Duomo to Castello Sforza in the northwest, Stazione Centrale to the northeast and Naviglio Grande in the south. The Piazza Duca d’Aosta is right outside Stazione Centrale. To your right as you leave the train station is the celebrated Pirelli tower, a slender skyscraper which serves as a useful reference point. The area is home to several office blocks but many of the city’s better hotels can be found there too.
From Piazza duca d’Aosta walk along Via Pisini through the tree lined Piazza della Republica to Via Turati which veers to the left and becomes Via Manzoni. Continue on to the upmarket shopping and residential district of Montenapoleone and into Piazza della Scala. From the glass-domed Galleria Vittorio Emmanuale II you can walk through to Piazza del Duomo and Corso Buenos Aires. It is easy to get lost in Milan, so arm yourself with a good map before setting out to explore.
Getting around by public transport is easy. The subway Metropolitana Milanesa has colour coded lines and covers most of the city. You can buy cards for ten journeys at station ticket machines and at most newsagents and these are also good for travel on buses and trams. Taxis are metered and you should round up the fare to include a small tip –even though fares are already expensive. Avoid the morning rush hour of 0800 to 0930 and evenings from 1730 to 2000.
The graceful Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II at the northern edge of Piazza del Duomo was virtually rebuilt after it was destroyed by heavy bombing in World War II. One of the first buildings in Europe to use iron and glass as structural elements, the gallery was designed by Guiseppe Mengoni. Four mosaics around around the central octagon represent four continents – Europe, Asia, Africa and America. The gallery gained the title of “il salotto di Milano” (Milan’s living room) thanks to its famous cafes such as Savini.
If you are in town during the opera season which opens at the beginning of December, a visit to La Scala is a must. Otherwise you may have to settle for a view of the lavish, multi-tiered hall from the Scala museum, which also displays memorabilia such as Verdi’s top hat, ornate costumes and a rich collection of documents.
The sprawling 15th century Castello Sforzesco is one of Milan’s best known monuments. The interior court is so vast that the architectural details simply seem to disappear, while the more enclosed, smaller courtyards are dominated by Renaissance arcades. The castle houses the Civio Museum which includes the Musical Instruments Museum and the Applied Arts Museum. After taking your fill of culture, consider a stroll or lunch al fresco in the adjacent Parco Sempione, a 47-hectare haven of greenery which features an arena inaugurated by Napoleon.
In the heart of the smart Brera district lies the 17th century Palazzo di Brera which houses one of Italy’s most important collection of paintings and is particularly rich in 15th-18th century Lombard and Venetian art. For techno fans the Science and Technology museum on via San Vittore is worth a visit to see the room dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci’s work alone. And if history is your thing be sure to stop by the archaeology museum on Corso Magenta to examine the Roman, Greek, Etruscan and Gandhara sections.
Italians say that Milanese cuisine is designed for people in a hurry to get to work, so you will not find leisurely business lunches here. But you will find lots of fast food places. Evenings are the time for relaxing over Lombardy dishes such as Osso Bucco (veal knuckle with tomatoes and onion) along with Risotto alla Milanese (rice flavoured with saffron) and Caprese salad (tomatoes and mozzarella cheese). Other traditional dishes worth sampling include Minestrone soup, Cotoletto Milanese (breaded veal cutlet), polenta – and for dessert pannetone (festive cake) and the fabled local gelati (ice cream).
At the top end Savini, a Belle Epoque Milanese institution, serves classic regional dishes to opera singers and others amid red carpets and crystal chandeliers. Also popular with opera fans is Biffi Scala, an elegant mirrored restaurant which specializes in Milanese and Sicilian food. For fine mezze and Middle Eastern food check out Ali Baba Di Fayoumi on Via Cadore. And if you are fond of fish don’t miss Tintero Italian Fish Market near Sforzesco castle, but note that it is only open for dinner.
Deluxe accommodation can be found at the Carlton Hotel Baglioni which is well positioned for shoppers and sightseers. The service here is impeccable and rates include a sumptuous buffet breakfast with scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and freshly squeezed orange juice. Other good choices in the top category include the Palace Hotel and Principe di Savoia. And if you are on a budget try Due Giardini near the Central Station which has rooms overlooking a tranquil garden.
If you have a weekend to spare consider spending a relaxing time at Villa d’Este on Lake Como, near the silk town of the same name. A mere 20 minutes train ride from Milan, Como has retained the same langorous pace as the smaller lake towns of Bellagio, Tremezzo, Menaggio and Varenna. Seeing Lake Como from the water is not to be missed. It is easy to put together an itinerary using www.navigazionelaghe.it.
Life in Como centres on the Piazza Cavour which opens onto the lakeside with its gardens and landing stages, enabling passengers to disembark in the heart of the city. It is a lively square backed by hotels and cafes. After dinner the entire city gravitates to the water for a passegiata (stroll) among the wisteria, bougainvillea and 18th century villas lining the lake. Andiamo! (Let’s go!)

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