-
-
WORDS by Angus Forrester
-
-
-
PHOTOGRAPHY by Emily Cox
-
-
Milan–the beating pulse of Italy’s financial and commerce industries. A city with a weakness for fashion and luxury, both often going hand in hand, where the streetside cafès and ritzy arcades are treated much the same way as a runway. Where the art of letting your hair down has been perfected with leisurely lunches and the customary aperitivo after work.
The Arco della Pace is a fine place to kick off a morning of architectural and cultural appreciation on foot to build that appetite you’ll need later in the day. The looming archway acts as a physical gateway behind which the city unfolds, through it you can enter Parco Sempione down towards Castello Sforzesco taking in the sights along the way.
-
Make a quick pit stop for typically-Italian ‘pastry and coffee’ breakfast at the historic patisserie, Marchesi 1824 on Via Santa Maria alla Porta–just a few roads beyond the Piazza Castello Fountain at the food of the park.
The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana (or ‘Ambrosian Library’) is the next port of call, where drawings from Da Vinci can be found alongside treasured 14th-Century manuscripts in a hushed and prestigious setting. Finally winding towards the historic Piazza del Duomo, whose cobbled main square is home to the magnificent Duomo di Milano and is framed by cafes as well as the exquisite nineteenth century shopping mall, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
Drink in the magnificence of this iconic masterpiece, before taking a tour of the elegant arcade and afterwards spilling out into the neighbouring streets, where you can find treasures such as the Fueguia 1833 concept store–an enticingly moody perfumery that sells limited-run fragrances.
Lunch is serious business and you couldn’t do better than making a reservation at Ristorante Da Giacomo–an elegant, old-word trattoria furnished with ornate, pistachio coloured wood panelling and warm chandeliers. The menu represents upscale Italian cuisine with an attractive array of fresh fish on display as you enter its revolving doors. They also have a bistrot around the corner, which is superb for an atmospheric evening meal amongst an affluent crowd.
Though, on our evening agenda is a show at the prestigious La Scala opera house. The world famous venue is an occasion worth checking the programming ahead of time and coordinating your trip accordingly.
Not getting ahead of ourselves, you will need to sufficiently recuperate from the day’s activity before venturing back out for the evening. Once you have recharged, there is no better way to perk up and transition into the rhythm of the evening than with an aperitivo. Nearly every bar in Milan partakes in the tradition and you couldn’t go far wrong in any of them–but for a memorable experience we’re retracing our steps to the original Campari ‘Camparino’ Bar in the Galleria. Grab a negroni or refreshment of choice and order a few accompanying plates of aperitivi. When in Milan, do as the Milanese do.
-
Now ready for an evening of high-culture and glamour, La Scala is just a short stroll away. Inside, the elegant lobby and hallways swell with well-dressed patrons sipping prosecco in anticipation of the evening’s performance. The concert hall is a sight to behold, draped in red velvet with golden balconies encompassing the room six stories high. Whether you’re an opera fan or not, the experience is a memorable one that
-
When the curtains have closed and the theatre spills out into city–it’s nigh time for a late dinner. Make a direct line once more to the Galleria Restaurant, which fast fills up with the post-opera crowd discussing the performance over wine and pizza. Finally, it’s time to find your way back to the hotel for a well-earned sleep, or perhaps one last nightcap…
