|
Overview
Visitors to Milan often forget they
are in Italy as the city evokes a
more European feel than Italian.
This is perhaps the less fortunate
side of an important medieval town
that had to be reconstructed
frequently hence a polished
appearance of a modern metropolitan.
However, its absence of a medieval
touch is easily neglected and
overcome with Milan's irrefutable
distinction as Italy's powerhouse of
finance, commerce, media, culture
and especially fashion industry.
Ironically, cutting-edge and classy
as it is, Milan's most depicted
emblems are the gleaming gothic
Duomo and Leonardo's famous Last
Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie
Convent. With the overwhelming
work-hard and play-hard ethos that
characterizes this pulsating city,
Milan is no doubt a fancy Italian
wonderland and a must-visit
hotspot.
History
Milan was originally founded by the
Celts. In 222 BC, it was attacked
and occupied by the Romans who
turned it into a thriving urban
center. In 450 AD it was sacked by
the Huns led by Attila and then
suffered further pillage by the
Goths in 539 AD. Milan gained a
considerable degree of independence
during the middle ages. The city's
most powerful ruler were the
Visconti family especially Gian
Galeazzo Visconti who was the first
duke of town in the late 1300s. In
1450, the Sforza family took the
power and even came to represent a
puppet government under the French,
Swiss and Austrian. The town was
assisted by the allied after WWII,
and industries and commerce were
re-established and the city became
wealthy again.
Geography & Climate
Milan is the capital of Lombardy in
northern Italy and the second
biggest city in the country. It
stands 122 m above sea level on the
edge of the upper and lower plains
on the two tributaries of the River
Po. Most people travel to Milan
between June and August, the weather
then is muggy and humid with highs
of up to 30ºC. One of the best
times to visit Milan is in the
Spring when the weather is warm and
there are not so many tourists
around. Travel in winter would be
dominated by cold, damp and foggy
conditions.
|
