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Italy : Milan - January 2009 Country Code: Dial ++39 for Italy
January in Milan means only one
thing: the sales are on. Fashionhungry
bargain hunters fl ood into
the Lombardian capital from all
over northern Italy, but this most
shopaholic of cities does have
plenty of other things to enjoy,
not least its celebrated café
culture. Matt Barker downs
another coffee and makes do
with a bit of window shopping
Getting around
The nearest airport is Malpensa, 48km from the city centre.
Bus: A shuttle-bus
runs from the airport
to Centrale station.
The 50-minute
journey costs €4,50,
with buses leaving
every 20 minutes
between 4.30am
and 12.15am. Train: The Malpensa
Express runs from
the airport to central
Milan, taking around
40 minutes and
costing €11. Taxi: A taxi into
central Milan takes
about an hour and
costs €75. Tourist information: The main office is at
19a Piazza Duomo
(tel. 02 7740 4343,
milanoinfo.eu).
PORTA SEMPIONE
Spreading out from the bottom of the
Via Dante, Sempione is a mix of the
cultural and the hedonistic.
Culture vultures – The mean and
moody Castello Sforzesco (Piazza
Castello) provides an intriguing history
lesson stretching back to the 15th
century, while the nearby Musei del
Castello Sforzesco boasts a permanent
collection of Egyptian artefacts,
Renaissance sculpture and old masters.
Must eat – The casual but chic
Artidoro Osteria (15 Via Manfredo
Camperio, tel. 02 805 7386) is famed
locally for its salami, but also has a
seasonally adjusted menu that offers
plenty of treats. Try its porcini millefoglie
(mushrooms in flaky pastry). Despite
the anglophile moniker, Sophia’s
Restaurant (91 Corso Sempione, tel.
02 3181 8855) updates classic Italian
cooking. Set in a swish loft, it’s much
loved by the city’s arty crowd. Start with
typical Italian salami served with wild
spinach and wine vinaigrette, then move
on to green ravioli filled with sea bream
and courgette flowers is squid sauce.
Must drink – The Jazz Cafe (8 Corso
Sempione) is a light, stylish cocktail bar
spread over two floors, with live music
every Thursday night. Roialto (55 Via
Piero della Francesca) is based in an old
warehouse and manages to feel intimate
thanks, in part, to its original 30s fittings.
PIAZZA DUOMO
Dominated by the huge Duomo, this
remains most people’s starting point
for exploring the city.
Sleep soundly – Hotels don’t come
cheap near the Duomo. However, if
you’re looking to treat yourself, there’s
the Hotel Manzoni , a chic little
number that’s popular with visiting
fashion and media types. Hotel Star
is
nice and central, but more
homely in feel and a little
kinder on the pocket.
Culture vultures – The Palazzo Reale
(12 Piazza Duomo) was once the seat of
the city’s rulers and now houses an
excellent art gallery. There’s a Magritte
retrospective on throughout January.
You could spend all day in the Duomo
(Piazza Duomo). If the weather allows,
take a trip up to the roof, with its 3,200
statues and breathtaking views.
Shop til you drop – One of the city’s great foodie landmarks, Peck (7-9 Via
Spadari) is a must-visit, even if you’re
on a New Year diet. The famed Galleria
Vittorio Emanuele II (Piazza Duomo)
is home to a variety of shops, from
a Prada flagship store to upmarket
souvenir sellers.
PORTA VITTORIA
At the south-eastern tip of the centro,
this is another shopping district worth
a visit, with a smattering of cafés and
restaurants that add to the charm.
Sleep soundly – Sitting close to the
centro, Hotel Pavone is a comfortable
bolthole with large rooms and dark
wood furnishings. Hotel Vittoria
is more elegant, with wood-panelled
walls and a hushed ambience.
Shop til you drop – Not just at sales
time, Il Salvagente (16 Via Fratelli
Bronzetti) is a year-round designer
discount store with the usual big-label
suspects up for grabs.
CORSO BUENOS AIRES
One of Milan’s main shopping streets,
it’s a little more relaxed than the centro
Must eat – The Osteria Porca Vacca
(corner of Piazzale Lavater and Via
Filippo de Filippi, tel. 02 2052 0503) is
a smart eatery with a well-travelled
young chef creating innovative dishes
that breathe new life into the traditional
Milanese cooking template.
Shop til you drop – For a range of
women’s fashions under one roof, try
Promod (41 Corso Buenos
Aires). For a more oldschool
experience,
Mutinelli (5 Corso
Buenos Aires) is
a wonderful hat
shop from 1888.
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