In a country where the typical dinner time is around 9pm, it's of no surprise that a snack occasion was invented for the hours between 5 and 7. While the tradition of aperitivo is often noted broadly as Italian, its roots sit more specifically here in grand Milan. Partake in an aperitivo as authentically as possible, which will mean a light spritzy drink like Aperol, Campari or Prosecco enjoyed with olives, grilled vegetables and meats like salami and prosciutto. Find yourself in an alfresco setting backed by Italian lounge music and your aperitivo is complete.
MILAN
TRAVEL IN MILAN
Aperitifs and fashion shows. Wine bars and old world elegance. Milan is a city that shines brightly in its own unique, demure manner. Walk the streets armed with a 'cornetto' pastry or artisanal gelato in a flavour like baked ricotta cheese with citrus or Sicilian brioche, allowing the city to reveal itself layer by layer. Admire Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, The Last Supper, at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and admire the bohemian street art spirit of the district known as Isola. The Royal Palace of Milan, Pinacoteca di Brera, and elegant Sforza Castle will all need to be on the Milan to-do list, as will the presentation of ethnography housed at MUDEC museum of culture. When all this is done you may be left tired and weary, but that is nothing that a bout of spa time at GQ Terme can't fix. Here you can enjoy a wellness buffet and Ayurvedic massage before jumping into their bio-sauna that sits built within a historic yellow tram - pure bliss and history all at once. Timing your visit with Festival Latino Americano or the The Milan Jazz Festival will allow you to uncover a livelier side of the city. But nothing will get you closer to its spirit than an early-evening aperitivo of Prosecco and prosciutto - pure Milanese culinary goodness and an integral part of your Milan travels. And let's not forget opera at Teatro alla Scala served after a few classy Aperol Spritz.
FAST FACTS
Language: Italian
Currency: Euro
Electricity: 220V
Visas: Click here to see if you need a visa to enter Italy.
Dialing Code: +39
Time Zone: (GMT +01:00 / CEST)ABOUT CONTIKI
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THINGS TO DO IN MILAN
Partake in the tradition of the aperitivo
Enjoy a night out at Teatro alla Scala
Let yourself get swept up in the sophistication of this city with a trip to Teatro alla Scala, Milan's opera house. It first opened in 1778 and, despite the building's unassuming facade, still stands as an elegant masterpiece of design, filled with deep red seats, gold trimmings and a majestic central chandelier. Opera, ballet, music recitals, and charity events make up just some of the theatre's event calendar, with many open to public with free admittance.
See one of the most famous paintings in the world - The Last Supper
Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, The Last Supper, is undeniably one of the most recognised paintings in the world. First painted onto a wall of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan in the late 1400's, it has since become an icon piece of work reinvented by artists like Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali. At almost 5-metres high and over 8 metres wide, the commanding art work has been restored numerous times making it still viewable in the original convent cum gallery and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Go for a night out in the Navigli District
Throw on your fanciest outfit and take to the streets of Milan for a night on the town, best done in the hip district of Navigli. Pokey art galleries and authentic restaurants line the Naviglio Grande Canal, offering hours of entertainment just by walking the streets. When you're done admiring murals on alleyway walls and browsing indie shops, you can pick a bar - preferably with canal views - and waste a night away. Pick your visit wisely and you can also catch an antiques market on the canal's southern side.
Unwind at the spa in the shadow of the Spanish walls
With a banquet of soothing treatments to pamper your well-travelled body, GQ Terme Milano is not one to leave off the list. Therapies include plantar reflexology, Ayurvedic massage, and toning facials. They even have artificial waterfalls created to massage the body, salt therapy and relaxation rooms. If all that isn't enough to sign you up for some spa time, perhaps the thought of stepping into their 70° C bio-sauna built within a historic yellow tram will do the trick. Team your indulgence with a wellness buffet at lunch time or an indulgent aperitif with sparkling wine from 7-9pm. This place will make you want to visit Milan again and again.
Track down street art in Isola
To catch Milan's hidden bohemian side, a trip to Isola is in order. Once a hub of factory workers cut off from the rest of the city, it has recently evolved into a splattering of cultural hot-spots, covered brightly with commissioned street art. Milan shopping is more vintage and boutique here, with treasures found on Thaon di Revel. Finish your trip admiring Santa Maria della Fontana church built by Leonardo Da Vinci and Donato Bramante and enjoying seafood amongst the locals at the uber cold Il Pesciolone.
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TOP 5 FESTIVALS IN MILAN
In a city rumoured to be urbane and refined, it's nice to see the city of Milan let its hair down. From swinging in tune with jazz music to celebrating all things Latino, the festivals of Milano are more vibrant than you could possibly imagine.
Del Naviglio - Music & Culture
Milan's Naviglio canal lights up over the first 10-days of June in celebration of the arrival of summer. Art stalls, live music, and theatrical performances lead up to the final day's climax of a parade, all showcasing the city's unique culture.
The Milano Film Festival - Film
Held annually in Milan for over 2 decades, The Milano Film Festival is an international curation of short and feature films. Held in the city's Tortona District at differing venues each year, it is a great excuse to see a new part of Milan and mingle with locals.
Festival Latino Americano - Culture, Music & Food
Though it's hard to imagine ever tiring of Italian culture, the Festival Latino Americano offers a change of pace from pasta and opera for over a month every year over July and August. A lively fiesta of workshops, music, food affairs and more, it puts Milano to a distinctly Latino tempo.
The Milan Jazz Festival - Music
The city of Milan is renowned for its amazing curation of jazz bars, and in November of every year this culture fills the city for The Milan Jazz Festival. Known as JazzMi, it involves live music, photo exhibitions, documentaries and masterclasses held in various locations of the city including libraries, theatres, and archaeological sites.
The Italian Grand Prix - Sports
Rev your engines for The Italian Grand Prix, held in Italy since 1921. One of the most important races on the motorsport calendar, it draws out a passionate legion of fans keen to immerse themselves in car culture in the birthplace of Ferrari.
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TOP 5 MUSEUMS & GALLERIES IN MILAN
A sophisticated collision of fashion art and royalty is what you'll discover within the museums peppered over the streets of Milan. From Picasso to Prada, Monet to the MUDEC, you're sure to feel cultured after sauntering around these spots. Milan sightseeing is incomplete without a few museums.
Pinacoteca di Brera
Often hailed the most important collection of paintings in all of Italy - a country with plenty of important collections of paintings – Pinacoteca di Brera frequently sits atop recommendations when it comes to Milan sightseeing activities. Established in 1776, it is a lesson in both art and history.
Royal Palace of Milan
The neo-classical building of the Royal Palace of Milan was once the city's most important government office. These days it serves as a culture centre and art museum, with past exhibitions featuring important figures like Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet.
Fondazione Prada
Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli are fashion royalty, the power couple at the head of Italian luxury label, Prada. Fondazione Prada is their playground, an ode to contemporary art and culture opened in 1995. The ultimate look into Milan's fashion scene, this museum is a must-do in the city.
MUDEC
From live Brazilian dance performances to African art instillations, the MUDEC aims to give an all encompassing view of the various cultures of our planet. A presentation of ethnography that's been in Milan less than 5-years, it offers a trip around the world without leaving central Milan.
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FOOD IN MILAN
You'll find no shortage of great typically Italian meals in Milan. But prepare to go deeper than pasta and pizza. Find the word 'Milanese' and you've landed on a local delicacy. Think crumbed veal and full-flavoured saffron risottos. This city might be famed for petite fashion models, but one of the best things to do in Milan is indulge in food.
Costoletta alla Milanese
Supposedly consumed in the 1st century BC, Costoletta alla Milanese has substantial history. A cut of veal usually served on the bone, it is crumbed, and butter fried often served with potato or salad. Try it at Trattoria Madonnina complete with authentic red and white chequered tablecloths.
Best eaten at - Trattoria Madonnina, Via Gentilino, 6
Traditional Milanese Pizza
You need not head to Naples for an authentic pizza experience, the world's beloved cheesy covered dough dish can be found right here in Milan. The city is often touted as inventing the mini pizza pockets (perhaps for the models?), but the best pizza in town is found at Gino Sorbillo.
Best eaten at - Gino Sorbillo, Lievito Madre al Duomo, Largo Corsia dei Servi, 11
Cornetto
Though in many parts of the world the word 'cornetto' refers to a wooden wind instrument or brand of ice-cream, here in Italy it's a pastry akin to the croissant. Sweeter and softer than the famed pastry of France, try it here in Milan at Pasticcerie Marchesi.
Best eaten at– Pasticcerie Marchesi, Via Santa Maria alla Porta, 11a
Gelato
What would a stint in an Italian city be without a few scoops of gelato, the rich Italian take on ice-cream adored the world over? Head to Milan's Gelateria della Musica to try varieties like baked ricotta cheese with citrus or Sicilian brioche. They are known as the best crafters of mouth-watering artisanal gelato in the city.
Risotto alla Milanese with Ossobuco
The city of Milan turns up the dial of luxuriousness when it comes to everything, and the simple rice dish of risotto is no exception. Spiced up with costly serves of saffron, it is often served with ossobuco: shanks of veal soaked in a wine and vegetable broth.
Best eaten at - Trattoria Masuelli San Marco, Viale Umbria, 80
Best eaten at - Trattoria Masuelli San Marco, Viale Umbria, 80
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