3 Excellent Reasons to Visit Milan

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Italy's business and fashion capital is often overlooked in favor of flashier Italian cities like Florence, Venice and Rome - however, it shouldn't be! Thanks to the clever combination of a solid United States buck and a weaker-than-usual euro, now is a good time especially for Americans to visit Italy - and Milan is a stunning, dynamic city with its own covert secrets. TPG Contributor Lori Zaino discovers what's brand-new and promising in Milan and offers her best hotel and travel pointers. (All pictures by the writer other than where noted.). If you're on vacation and do not like to travel by public transport, we recommend booking a private taxi here: 
 

Thanks to its stylish communities, garish vintage shops, innovative road art and scrumptious food, Milan is a really charismatic city that is worthy of being on your travel radar. Here's why everyone's humming about it, and why you should prepare to go to this year. 

 
The Stylish Navigli Area

Milan has canals like Venice or Amsterdam (though not nearly as extensive); nevertheless, lots of vacationers go to and never even set foot in the Navigli (canal) area, which is coming to be an increasing number of hip each day. This area of community is quickly obtainable from the city center by cable car, city (Milano Porto Genova on the eco-friendly line is the closest stop), bike or on foot. There are commonly markets set up along the canals and you can stray in and out of the many vintage and craftsmen shops, distinctive boutiques, coffee joints, gelato places and restaurants.

 

The Navigli neighborhood is wacky and initial, so make certain to have a look at the local street art and surprising courtyards inside the canal-lined buildings. Must-dos here include eating innovative Italian food at 28 Posti, wining it up at Enoteca Don Pietro, and getting hold of a coffee to recuperate the next morning at Mag Café.

 

Shoppaholics should consider taking a pass on the crowded chain designer shops on Via Montenapoleone (truly, there's a Gucci in every city). Rather, amble over the railway bridge down Via Tortona for an unwanted of stores and shops featuring unique, authentic things like Italian natural leather budgets and handmade fashion jewelry. If vintage shops or shoe stores are your thing, begin with a walk up Corso di Porta Ticinese and shop your way back as much as the town hall. The Navigli area constantly has something fascinating taking place, similar to this wall of dolls.

 
If it's nightlife you desire, the Navigli neighborhood won't dissatisfy. The bars come to life as the sunlight sets, specifically along the smaller canal, Naviglio Pavese.

 

Milanese Cuisine

While all of Italy supplies amazing culinary thrills, Milan has an attractive choice of traditional and modern cuisine that will please any taste buds. Start by tasting hearty meats and savory cheeses at Eataly Milano Smeraldo, a modern gourmet market situated in the popular Corso Como area. The soft burrata cheese and the treated speck are specialties, while the marketplace's dynamic, vivid ambience is molto Italiano. The most effective part: You can even get some exquisite products to take home with you.

 

If it's pizza you crave, Da Rita e Antonio uses an extra conventional Italian eating experience with home-cooked flavors, whereas DRY has extra imaginative choices like its pizza margarita topped with juicy Sicilian pulled pork. Da Giacomo will blow you away with costly yet tasty fish and shellfish offerings (attempt the mussels), while Segheria uses an elegant ambiance and seasonal sampling food selections.

 

When in doubt, unwind at nearly any kind of bar or dining establishment with a cappuccino or an Aperol Spritz, a pleasantly bitter aperitif cocktail. If you take place to be seeing your weight, try a rather much healthier arugula salad with Parmesan cheese, discovered at practically any kind of dining establishment in the city.

Milanese Bicycle Culture

Increasingly more milanesi are utilizing bicycles as a mode of transport, and not just any kind of old bikes - you'll see lots of vintage aluminum roadies. Thanks to a moderate climate and fairly level terrain, both residents and vacationers can appreciate cycling year-round.

 

The popularity of Milan's BikeMi bike-sharing system is growing promptly. In fact, in 2012 bikes actually outsold cars in Italy for the very first time since the World War II era, and have actually been expanding in popularity ever since, particularly in bigger cities like Milan. What does this mean for site visitors? Boosted choices for renting and visiting the city by bike and cleaner air thanks to less car web traffic. And also, the vintage road bikes add to Milan's currently ultra-cool vibe.