One of the world's great fashion and design capitals, Milan is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city and a major global
player in commerce, industry, music, sport, literature, art and media as well. The northern Italian city is especially famous for its fashion houses and shops. These are situated along bustling streets like the Via Monte Napoleone and within the historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, an exclusive shopping arcade under a spectacular glass dome, which dates back to the 1860s and is home to an extraordinary, seven-suite hotel, Seven Stars Galleria, as well as it sister property, the intimate TownHouse 8 of the exclusive TownHouse Collection.
The city has a rich cultural heritage, a vibrant nightlife, and a unique cuisine. Milan is home to numerous famous dishes, from Panettone (the traditional fruit-studded Christmas cake) to risotto alla Milanese. It is equally renowned for its musical heritage, particularly its operatic tradition, which lives on today in the world-renowned Teatro alla Scala. Milan’s stature in the style world comes to the forefront four times each year during Milan Fashion Week.
Among the city’s countless major attractions are The Duomo, the fourth largest church in the world – a magnificent Gothic cathedral whose construction spanned six centuries; Santa Maria delle Grazie, where visitors can view Leonardo da Vinci’s scene of The Last Supper, painted on its wall; and the 14th century Sforzesco Castle, which was once the residence of the Dukes of Milan and today is home to several important art collections. The Navigli, a series of artificial canals conceived by Leonardo da Vinci, is a popular area rich in bars, restaurants and music clubs.
Milan is slated to host Expo 2015, a prospect that has led to several important revitalization projects and the planned construction of numerous avant-garde structures.
Just 55 kilometers from Milan is Lake Como, one of Italy’s most beautiful lakes, Luxurious villas and historic palaces line the shores of this popular retreat, which has served as a getaway for the wealthy since Roman times.
