I arrive
at the small airport of Orio
al Serio where I easily take the bus that awaits right outside of the main
airport area to take me to the main train and bus station in Milan – stazione centrale
. The bus ride is comfortable and affordable for anyone who rides. It takes us
approximately 40 minutes to meet our destination. Unlike many other train
stations I have seen, this one is utterly beautiful. The architecture of the
building is gorgeous. I capture the moment by taking lots of pictures then off
I go to meet up with my loyal, beloved local guide. I have to remind myself
that while I am in Italy, I will constantly be surrounded by beautiful art and
impeccable architectural designs. I am
on the land where the old meets the contemporary harmoniously. All around me,
the centuries of creativity blend. Once again I am reminded that this is the
territory that art has reached its highest peak and beautiful architectural
designs are born. It’s a gorgeous day with clear skies, and I am ready to
explore this world-renowned city of Milan.
For me, it is a new territory ready to quench my thirst for exploration.
 |
| Prada Store, Milan Fashion District |
The first
afternoon is spent by strolling the streets of Milan. Via Monte Napoleone
is the first stop. Everyone needs to see this street and take a stroll on this
high end road where beautiful boutiques display couture clothes and shoes. I
know I can’t afford all this merchandise, but I can look, and I stop and marvel
at every window and take lots of photos. They are so nicely decorated with so
much finesse. My excitement builds up as I see elegant women passing by dressed
to the “T”! I love what I see. This
street is the most important street of the Milan Fashion
District – Quadrilatero della Moda. The most exclusive designers in the
world display their creations here and I am able to see it all! I’m like a
little girl in a candy store wanting everything and having a difficult time
choosing. I am content looking at everything and every single detail. Many beautiful shops are tagged in courtyards
of old, yet, well maintained buildings. We leave Via Monte Napoleone and
continue walking to other nearby quaint and beautiful streets. We walk by La Scala. The full
official name in Italian is Teatro alla Scala. One day, I want to come back to
La Scala and attend an opera performance. It’s been a world renowned opera house
for the past few centuries.
We
continue to walk until we reach Il Duomo! What a view! I
am stunned by the mere size of the cathedral as we walk inside and capture some
of the daylight. I am in awe by such a grandiose and beautiful structure! By
the time we come out it is early evening and the Piazza di Duomo is full of
lights. Lots of people are flooding the square; locals along with many
tourists. There is plenty of activity well into the very late hours of the
night. We are standing outside the cathedral right across from La
Rinascente. La Rinascente (derives from Rinascita - means
"rebirth" in Italian) is an upscale set of department stores. Here,
you can easily get lost in beautiful stores selling clothing, household and
beauty products. La Rinascente was founded in Milan in 1865 by Luigi and
Ferdinando Bocconi. It is unlike any other department store I have seen so far.
I can’t stop taking photos of the building. The unique, imposing architecture
simply amazes me. There is so much beauty around me. I am happy!
We
continue to walk until we reach Il Duomo! What a view! I
am stunned by the mere size of the cathedral as we walk inside and capture some
of the daylight. I am in awe by such a grandiose and beautiful structure! By
the time we come out it is early evening and the Piazza di Duomo is full of
lights. Lots of people are flooding the square; locals along with many
tourists. There is plenty of activity well into the very late hours of the
night. We are standing outside the cathedral right across from La
Rinascente. La Rinascente (derives from Rinascita - means
"rebirth" in Italian) is an upscale set of department stores. Here,
you can easily get lost in beautiful stores selling clothing, household and
beauty products. La Rinascente was founded in Milan in 1865 by Luigi and
Ferdinando Bocconi. It is unlike any other department store I have seen so far.
I can’t stop taking photos of the building. The unique, imposing architecture
simply amazes me. There is so much beauty around me. I am happy!
Dinner
is at the trattoria ~ pizzeria, ‘Mozzarella
e Basilico’ where pizza is made by a Naples native. I don’t believe that
the pizza is made like the ones in Naples, so one of the owners brings the pizza
maker to our table to convince me. He is a charming young man from Naples -the
capital of pizza, and this is where he learned to make his pizza! I quickly
tell him that my hometown where I was born and lived till the age of 12 was
also called Neapoli – Naples in Greek. At the moment, it’s in the occupied area
of Cyprus, and it bears a
Turkish name but not for me. To me it still is a new town – as the name
Neapolis implies in Greek. I am convinced that he is from Naples, and I order
my pizza with a big smile on my face. Needless to say, it is the best pizza I
have ever had in my life. The crust around is thick, crunchy on top but soft
inside. My partner and I stay away from
the tomato sauce. I opt to have pizza with porcini ham and grana cheese while
Gianluca has one with radicchio di Treviso and grana cheese. My
eyes are lit up as I see all these pizzas with all these different toppings! I
am drooling! I can’t help it! My pizza is so delicious that I simply can’t put
it down, so I finish the whole thing. All Italians are able to finish an
individual pizza which is approximately 10 inches in width in one seating.
Incredible!
The
second day we take the metro from our hotel, and we end up at Piazza Castello.
We walk to Castello
Sforzesco – Sforzesco Castle. The castle was built in the 15th century by
Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan. Today,
one can visit several of the city's museums as well as art collections right in
the castle.
We have lunch at one of the many local beautiful bakery cafes which also operate as full blown restaurants - Van Bol & Feste bakery café. Whatever I eat in Milan is delicious and beautifully presented and so is our lunch. The waiter is chatty but not overbearing. We enjoy our walks so much that after lunch we stroll a bit more in the surrounding streets.
We have lunch at one of the many local beautiful bakery cafes which also operate as full blown restaurants - Van Bol & Feste bakery café. Whatever I eat in Milan is delicious and beautifully presented and so is our lunch. The waiter is chatty but not overbearing. We enjoy our walks so much that after lunch we stroll a bit more in the surrounding streets.
Dinner
is at Trattoria
Pizzeria Tradizionale ai Navigli. The navigli was a system of five
canals that were used to transport commercial goods. Today, the five canals are
used for irrigation. Along the canals many of restaurants are open offering
live music along with delicious local food.
 |
| Maio Restaurant, Milan |
On
Wednesday, I am at the Maio restaurant
for an elegant dinner. The menu is superb. I have to admit that the superb and
elegant cuisine does not match the simple ambiance. The view of Il Duomo adds a
beautiful and elegant tone to the restaurant surroundings. Dinner menu for me
is Fritelle di baccala, cod fritters, chickpea puree and caramelized red onion
for the appetizer. The first courses are Risotto mantecato allo zafferano,
Milanese style yellowed risotto with marrow and crispy parmesan, AND Risotto
con filetti disgombro, risotto with mackerel fillets, burrata cheese, capers
and black olives. My main dish is Trancio di rombo arrostito, roasted turbot, rutting,
asparagus and seafood. Dessert is Charlotte di frutta fresca e crema di
pistachio, a fresh fruit charlotte and pistachio cream. To me this is a
lucullan meal and gets 10 out of 10 for taste and presentation! Lucullan meals
are known to be lavish, and gourmet. Indeed! My superb dining experience at
Maio restaurant is just that!
The
fourth day is filled with walking all over Milan and getting lost in all the
quaint local roads. This is not hard for me to do since I get easily lost by
nature. My sense of direction is nothing to be desired! But it does come handy
on days like these when I am in a beautiful city like Milan, and I want to
learn every single street and bridge and experience the ambiance of walking
under the old fashion street lights. Dinner is at Obika.
Having dinner with the view of Le Duomo is an extraordinary experience. Le Duomo which is the cathedral
church of Milan, dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente (Saint Mary Nascent), and
also serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Milan. The Gothic cathedral took
nearly six centuries to complete. It is the fifth largest cathedral in the
world and the largest in Italy.
The
following day we can’t help it but go back to picturesque Navigli. I walk
straight to a restaurant I spotted a couple of nights before - Joe Cipolla ai Navigli The
restaurant is packed with chatty customers. Some tables are taken up large
families while others by lovely couples. Everyone is talking and, like any
other Italian restaurant, the feeling I get when entering is very energizing.
There are lots of black and white photos all over the walls and huge pieces of
cured meat hang from the ceiling by the entrance adjacent to the serving
counter. The red and white tablecloths add to the whole happy feeling.
We
start our dinner with an appetizer that is new to me. It is mousse of
gorgonzola cheese whipped with moscato wine and pistachios. On the side, we
have some speck, typical from the north of Italy. Speck in German means bacon but
this meat is smoky and seasoned for 6 months. The appetizer is a meal in
itself, but I am brave enough to proceed with a main dish as well.
Since
the restaurant’s specialty is steak, we order a grilled filet mignon along with
fried chips and grilled green long bell-peppers. Local wine and beer accompany
our delicious dinner. I know that every taste has a feeling. While leaving this
family owned eating establishment, I feel empowered and ready for another
travel escape to another part of Italy I have not visited before.
My last
dinner in Milan is at Le
Stagioni at the mall across from the airport at Orio al Serio. The food
is remarkably well prepared and priced very reasonably. As soon as one leaves
the metropolitan Milan, the prices drop!
I
visit many of the stores in the mall. I can’t believe what I find. Great
stylish clothes at lower prices than what I can get in northern California, so
I splurge. Everything I try on is stylish and fits me well! So, I dress up, and
I leave Milan in grand style. Spending a few days in Milan is like getting a
crash course on high end fashion and with luxurious dining experience.
I “take
off” knowing that I will be back.
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