Milan is an immense city of millions, where luxury, wealth reign, and great opportunities are in the air. It is the main financial, economic and business artery of the whole of Italy. Milan is the football "face" of the country and the heart of the fashion industry. It is in this city that absolutely any worldly entertainment is available, and shopping is one of the main religious worships. But the true essence of Milan lies in the architectural brilliance of ancient buildings and masterpiece exhibits stored in more than 40 museums in the city.
Milan is located in the northern part of the country, being the administrative center of Lombardy, the largest region in Italy. 
Distance to Verona - 141 km, to Florence - 231 km, to Rimini - 242 km, to Venice - 245 km, to Rome - 478 km, to Naples - 695 km.
There are three airports in Milan at once, but Russian tourists most often stay V "Malpensa »
- the largest of them. Airport removed at 45 km from the city center, located to the northwest of it. 
Plan map "Aeroporto di Milano-Malpensa"
On the territory of Milan concentrated a huge number of attractions. 
It is better to start their inspection from the central square "Duomo".
"Piazza Duomo" - the heart of Milan with a huge Christian cathedral "Santa Maria Nascente"
Schematic map of the layout of the Cathedral "Duomo"
The Milan Metro consists of three branches. The metro map also indicates the location of railway stations, medical centers, bus stops and parking lots near metro stations. 
Milan is one of the most major cities Italy. There are excellent hotels here, and the opportunity to buy inexpensive fine Italian things. And it is worth paying special attention to the sights of Milan.
Milan is a convenient starting point for an independent trip to Italy. Flights from Russia to Milan are the most affordable.
I wrote these words and it became funny myself. History of Milan in 3 paragraphs, how is that possible! I imagined how one and a half thousand years ago, the historian, philosopher and politician Niccolò Machiavelli sat down at his desk in his office and brought out: “The History of Florence”. And then there was whole life and only after his death his work was published. There will probably be a time when the history of Florence and the history of Milan will be written in SMS messages. And while this terrible time has not come, I will try to list the main facts about the city of Milan in a not quite telegraphic style.
Milan is located in Lombardy. This is the most major region Italy. Located in the northwest of the country. Population 1.3 million people. Milan is the capital of fashion and shopping.
The history of Milan is - constant wars and transitions of territory into the hands of various kings, dukes, marquis counts, marquises; association with some lands and again divisions of the territory.
Since the beginning of the Middle Ages, this territory of Italy has been united under the crown of the Ostrogotts, then the Lombards, then passes into the hands of Charlemagne, then it was captured by Otto I (the founder of the Holy Roman Empire), then the Este house unites the lands of Milan with Genoa.
In the XII century Frederick Barbarossa completely destroys the city. Quite quickly, on the site of old Milan is being built new town. Once again, Milan is the capital of culture and influence.
The official birth of the city dates back to the same XII century. In 1395, the Duchy of Milan was established. Until the middle of the 15th century, the Visconti clan was in power. Then Milan passes into the hands of the Sforza. It was during this period - the dawn of culture in Milan. At that time, great architects, sculptors, artists lived and worked here. In 1482, Leonardo da Vinci was invited to the city.
Around the same time, the architect Antonio Filarete, who lived in Milan, developed his theory of the "ideal city". Later, by other architects and craftsmen, the idea was realized during the construction of the Moscow Kremlin.
The beginning of the 16th century brings Italy and Milan a series of long wars. Dynastic ties draw Milan into the confrontation between France and the Habsburgs. The strife lasts until 1535, when Milan becomes part of the Spanish crown.
At the end of the 17th century, Austria, Sardinia and, again, France entered the struggle for the Duchy of Milan. Then the war for the Polish inheritance.
18th century War of the Austrian Succession. Then a series of Revolutionary wars.
In 1799, the Russian army led by Suvorov entered Milan.
1802 Italy and Milan become the Italian Republic. Napoleon Bonaparte at the head of the republic.
In 1804, when Napoleon became king of France, a monarchy was established in Italy. After the defeat and fall of Napoleon, it was decided not to restore the Duchy of Milan.
1859 Lombardy became part of the united Kingdom of Italy. Then there will be wars for the unification of Italy, participation in the First, and then in the Second World Wars.
As you can see, the history of Milan is stormy and vibrant. It remains to be surprised how the people living in this territory retained optimism and cheerfulness, when the inhabitants managed to create works of art in architecture, literature, and music.
It's a pity that " Short story Milana ”has developed for me mainly from wars. But, perhaps, it was precisely participation in these numerous disputes and divisions that laid in the Milanese the ability to maneuver, evade and make concessions for mutual benefit, to reach agreement where other nations would have long ago taken up arms.
From all of the above, I would draw the following conclusions: be friendly, open, smiling with the Milanese. When shopping, do not hesitate to ask for a discount or inquire about discounts. Do it easily and with a smile. Long difficult story taught these people a lot. Milanese value openness and fun.
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This table shows the average air temperatures in Milan for the year. As you can see from the picture, the climate of Milan can please Russian tourists. If you look at the column with the average temperature, then in the middle of summer it is not hot +23 degrees, but in New Year-2 degrees. In the summer you will not die from the heat, in the winter you will not become stiff from the cold. But, do not blindly trust the average figures. This column is not an indicator. The climate of Milan is capricious, varied and can bring weather surprises. The indicators of the table are simply taken into account. We also treat the indicators of the other tables - we take them into account, but before the trip we check the real values.
Milan has the second highest humidity level in Europe (about 75%), experiencing fog and smog 343 days a year. Milan also has the fourth position in the nomination "The hottest capital in Europe", and for " The largest number days with temperatures below 0 °C” meteorologists give Milan 6th place.
In general, you will be in Milan - take clothes for different weather. You can do otherwise: take a minimum of clothes and everything you need to buy in Milan, because. Milan is the shopping capital. (More on this later in the article).
Sights of Milan
I would like to say that in Italy sights are not sought out. In Italy, sights find you by themselves, at every turn. In general, the whole of Italy is one big attraction. You just need to enter the territory of the old city. As a rule, this is the center of the city. And Milan is no exception.
Milan Cathedral
This is one of the grandest buildings I've ever seen. I was also struck by its beauty and power of the Cathedral in Siena. But there will be another article about him.
The cathedral was built over six centuries. Therefore, different styles can be traced in it, but Gothic prevails. This can be easily understood by the vertical compositions, the complex frame system of supports and ribbed vaults. And how many sculptures are there! There are more than 3000 of them in total. They look especially incredible from the roof.
In Milan, tourists have an amazing opportunity - to climb the roof of the cathedral and see the city from a bird's eye view. The roof of the cathedral is an observation deck. Paid entrance. Here you can see the spiers of the cathedral and sculptural figures.
Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Last Supper
The church is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is noteworthy that she became a pioneer among the Italian attractions included in the UNESCO list. And it is famous for the fact that in the refectory there is a fresco by Leonardo da Vinci "The Last Supper". The frescoed wall miraculously survived the bombing in World War II. Can you imagine? Around, everything is destroyed, the city lies in ruins, and in the middle of the ruins rises the Last Supper. I really think it's a miracle.
To see the fresco, you need to buy an entrance ticket to. It is better to do this in advance via the Internet, because the time and number of visits is strictly limited. They enter the refectory every 15 minutes in groups of 20-25 people. For an additional fee, you can take an audio guide near the ticket office. There is in Russian.
The entrance ticket to the church can also be bought on the spot.
Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco)
Milan has a long fascinating history. One of the most famous periods in the history of Milan is the reign of the Sforza dynasty. Every rich and influential family should have its own castle. And sometimes not alone. So Sforza had one.
Milan Cathedral: 45.464200 , 9.191570
Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Last Supper: 45.466000 , 9.171130
45.470400 , 9.179400
45.464570 , 9.164336
La Scala Theatre: 45.467500 , 9.189120
Monumental cemetery: 45.487215 , 9.178047
Gallery of Victor Emmanuel II: 45.465600 , 9.190020
Museo Poldi Pezzoli: 45.468634 , 9.191415
Pinacoteca Ambrosiana: 45.463491 , 9.185761
Pinacoteca Brera: 45.471955 , 9.187810
Contemporary Art Gallery: 45.472600 , 9.199790
Basilica of St. Ambrose: 45.462500 , 9.175750
Velasca Tower: 45.459900 , 9.190650
Hotels and accommodations in Milan
Many people go to Milan to see the famous sights, listen to the opera at La Scala and, of course, for the sake of shopping. Therefore, for tourists - hotel infrastructure. Everyone will find accommodation that suits their wishes and preferences.
On roomguru I found 920 hotels for August. I must say right away that the service of Italian hotels differs from Egyptian and Turkish services. You will not find "All inclusive" schemes and large multi-storey catering complexes. The most you can count on is a comprehensive breakfast. And he's pretty poor. Just in Milan, we had the opportunity to try the most meager breakfast in all our trips around the world.
We stayed at Hotel Siena Milan, it is a 10-minute walk from the main railway station. Good rooms, Recommended.
We offer more good options for hotels and hostels in the center of Milan
Italians value their family ties, so most of the hotels are small hotels with 20-30 rooms, which are owned by representatives of the same family.
Therefore, I believe that a good option for living in Italy is to rent a room from local residents or an entire apartment. We did just that in Rome. We had an apartment near the Colosseum for 35 euros for three. In Venice, we took the same opportunity and took an apartment - a two-room apartment in the city center with a living room, a bedroom and a spacious kitchen. For about the same amount.
We booked this room in Santander
I think you understand the convenience of such accommodation. Complete autonomy with your own kitchen. The service will help you find such housing Airbnb. We have become permanent tenants there. In August we fly to Spain and Portugal, through airbnb we booked an apartment somewhere, somewhere a room in Barcelona, Santander, Santiago de Compastelo, Sintra - the city and on the coast. We recommend using this service!
Milan public transport
Milan is not a small city. And so the city authorities of the city responsibly approached this issue. The public transport system is well thought out and can sometimes save you not only money but also time.
The map is clickable and opens in high resolution in a new window.
Manages public transport Milan company Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (ATM). It covers three metro lines and about 120 tram, bus and trolleybus routes.
Milan metro map
Most of the subway is underground. The metro network consists of four lines and continues to develop. Metro stations in Milan are indicated by signs in which a white letter M is inscribed in a red square. The Milan Metro operates daily from 06:15 to 00:14.
The fare on the metro is 1.5 euros per trip. Valid for 90 minutes. You can buy will be for 10 trips. The price is about 10 euros. There is a daily pass. The price is 4.5 euros.
The metro ticket is also valid on trams, buses, trolleybuses and on the intra-city rail network, including the Trenord and ‘Passante Ferroviario’ (city rail network) lines.
Trams, buses and trolleybuses in Milan
The tram network in Milan is the second largest in Italy after Turin. Most bus and trolleybus lines do not operate at night.
Opening hours: from 5:30-6:00 am to 0:30-1:45 am depending on the route. Milan also has a night bus system on Fridays and Saturdays.
How to get to …
Getting there from Milan to Genoa possible by train. Trains depart, on average, every 40 minutes. Travel time is approximately 1.30 minutes. No transfers. The cost is 10-20 euros per ticket. The price depends on the type of train and carriage class.
Getting there from Milan to Venice possible by train. Trains leave, on average, every hour. It can be reached by direct train, travel time 2.30 minutes. Possible with a transfer to Bologna(see the historical center of the city). Travel time 3-3.20 minutes. The cost is 18-45 euros.
By the way, on the way to there will be such cities as and Padua. They are worth stopping by. But not all trains stop there, check the schedule and stations where the train stops.
Note! The Italians call the city Padova, if you ask the locals about Padua at the ticket office, they won't understand you.
In terms of time: we planned to visit both Verona and Padua on the same day. On the spot, in Padua, they realized how excited they were. We did not have enough time to visit Padua. Plan a whole day for this city at least.
get there to Florence: by train. Trains leave every hour. Travel time 1.40 minutes by direct train. With a change in Bologna 2.55 minutes. The cost is 25-50 euros per ticket.
get there to Rome: by train. Trains leave on average every 40 minutes. Travel time is about 3 hours. The cost is 38-60 euros per ticket.
Website railways Italy: www.trenitalia.com/trenitalia.html
Shopping in Milan
Shopping in Milan is a necessary part of the life of stylish people and ... shopaholics. Fashion boutiques in Milan will come across to you at every turn. But expensive boutiques are only part of the iceberg. The lion's share of the range and great price flexibility is presented in Milan outlets.
Outlets are just huge shopping malls that sell branded clothing at heavily discounted prices.
One of the biggest outlets - Serravalle Scrivia. Situated between Milan and Genoa. 108 km from Milan. There you can buy branded items with a 70% discount.
Department store address: Viadellamoda 1, Serravalle Scrivice.
Serravalle-Designer-Outlet
Serravalle-Designer-Outlet scheme
Second outlet - Franciacorta Outlet Village. Located between Milan and Lake Garda. Discounts from 30 to 70%.
Department store address: Piazza Cascina Moiil ½, Rodengo Saiano (Brescia)
Outlet Franciacorta-Outlet-Village
The main advantage of shopping in Milan is the lower cost of things made in Italy. The difference in the price of clothes and shoes can reach 45%.
If you still prefer shopping in Milan stores, then I give you appearances and passwords.
The most expensive and fashionable area is considered to be the area with the streets via Spiga, via Montenapoleone and via Manzoni.
The area for lovers of inexpensive shopping is located on C.so BuenosAires.
Absolutely diverse stores from the most economical to quite expensive are concentrated on the streets via Dante and C.soVittorio Emmanuele. The categories of the presented goods are very extensive. These are shoes, clothes, cosmetics, perfumes, and jewelry.
Best shopping time in Milan
The most beautiful time for a shopping lover in Milan is the sales season. Sales are held twice a year.
In winter: from January 7 to the beginning of spring. Mountains of winter clothes and footwear are sold. Although sales go on until the beginning of spring, by mid-February there is almost nothing left on the shelves.
Summer: from mid-July to the end of August. Summer clothes are on sale.
In general, if you want to indulge yourself in haute couture fashion items that do not cost a lot of money, then go to Milan for seasonal sales.
P.S. For a trip to Italy and to Milan in particular, you may need
Sincerely,
Milan The largest city Italy. Milan is interesting not only for rich shopping, but also for many world-class attractions. The city of Milan is small in size, so in a day you can see all the main interesting places, and then devote time to shopping and whether trips outside the city. From Milan it is easy to get to Bergamo, Swiss Lugano. Or even head to Genoa. But, if you do not want to travel around a lot, there is something to see in Milan itself.
Map of Milan with attractions in Russian
The two main attractions of Milan are the most beautiful and one of the largest in Europe Milan Cathedral Duomo, and the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazia 
It will not be difficult to see the Duomo Cathedral, you just need to be in the center of Milan.
The Last Supper Tickets
But in order to watch Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece The Last Supper, you need to take care of tickets in advance at least 1.5 - 2 months. The work The Last Supper has recently been restored and for its safety the number of spectators is limited to 25 people. The session lasts 15 minutes. A seat for the session costs 8 euros, tickets must be purchased at http://www.vivaticket.it/index.php. Buy only on this official website, as the ticket costs only 8 euros. On reseller sites, the price increases several times.
The Last Supper in Italian is Cenacolo Vinciano.
20 minutes before your session, you need to enter the building and receive tickets by electronic printout. 15-20 minutes before the session, you can purchase an audio guide in Russian for 3 euros. Sometimes guided sessions are held, then the ticket price increases by 3.5 euros.
The gentleman's set of Milan attractions also includes the Sforza Castle
An impressive fortress, a bit like the Moscow Kremlin. There are several museums inside, the main attraction is statue of Michelangelo Pieta Rondanini(Pieta in Italian is pity sadness, and this is the name of any work that depicts a scene of mourning for Christ, Michelangelo has another famous Pieta - it is located in the Vatican).
Pieta Rondaninni is not finished, however, it evokes a very strong emotional response.
If you have more than one day, it is interesting to visit the Milanese canals. Few people know that Milan previously had the largest network of canals, through which, in particular, marble was transported to the Duomo. Then the canals were buried, leaving only two large ones in the Naviglio area.
In warm weather, pleasure boats go along them, which set sail for half a day or a day.
In Milan, it is also interesting to visit the Da Vinci Museum, the La Scala Theater Museum and the La Scala Theater itself, the Milan Cemetery, the Ambrosian Pinacoteca.
Where to stay in Milan
Of course, the most beautiful place in Milan is its center - the Duomo Square, Vittorio Emmanuel Gallery. Therefore, it is preferable to settle in the center. Many hotels call the area near the central station the center. This area is suitable if you want to travel to the suburbs of Milan. But for exploring the center, it is somewhat inconvenient, although a well-developed metro network will allow you to easily get to the main attractions.
Milan metro map
Weather in Milan now
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Milan is the second largest and most important city in Italy, located in the northern alpine regions of the country, in the western part of the Padana lowland. According to the map of Milan in Russian, it is the center of a five-million agglomeration and the capital of the Lombardy region - the most developed and densely populated part of Italy.
The city is considered one of financial centers Europe, as well as the fashion capital of the world.
Milan on the map of Italy: geography, nature and climate.
Milan on the map of Italy covers an area of 182 km². From north to south and from west to east, it has an approximately equal length of about 16 km. Milan is surrounded on all sides by satellite cities, the largest of which - Sesto San Giovanni and Cinisello Balsamo - lie on its northeastern borders.
A map of Milan with streets showing its radial structure. However, the abundance of historical buildings in the city center makes its adjustments to the city planning. In general, Milan is characterized by a flat landscape - the average height of the central regions is about 120 meters above sea level. Although there are no large forest areas on the territory of the city, in several park areas concentrated on the periphery of Milan, especially in the western part, you can find the vegetation traditional for the region: oaks, lindens and chestnuts.
Despite the fact that the Lombard Valley is replete with numerous tributaries of the Po River, there are few large water arteries in the city itself. In the east of Milan, a small Lambro river flows, not exceeding 15-20 meters at its widest point. The Olona River also crosses the city from north to south, however, in the northern and central parts of Milan, its waters run through an underground channel, and in the southern part, through several direct artificial channels. There are no large lakes in the city. The largest body of water can be considered the Kabassi quarry on the eastern outskirts, but its area does not exceed 0.3 km 2.
Distance to major cities of the continent:
- Rome - 480 km to the southeast;
- Paris - 640 km to the northwest;
- Madrid - 1200 km to the southwest;
- Zurich - 220 km to the north.
Climate of Milan
Milan is located in the transition zone between subtropical and temperate climates. The average level of precipitation is 1000 mm per year and is characterized by several peaks - in spring and autumn. Summer temperatures fluctuate between 20-23°C. Winters are quite cold for the region - 1-2°C on average.
