Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Welcome to the Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Destination Guides

bthere! Destination guides

Previous issues for Milan

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy,
please confirm event/venue details in advance.

Italy : Milan - January 2009

Country Code: Dial 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 ( , 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. ) 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, ) 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, ) 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.

Compiled by