Mid-summer is stifling hot and humid in the city and most locals head for the lakes at this time of year. The best time to holiday in Milan is in early summer, or early autumn, when the weather is warm and sunny. Winters are very chilly, wet and foggy.

Fashion fundis, shopaholics, opera lovers and anyone who enjoys the finer things in life (and can afford to pay for them) will revel in a holiday in Milan. Art lovers are also drawn to travel to Milan to see the treasures stored in its leading galleries, but the piece de resistance, da Vinci’s The Last Supper fresco, is in the refectory of the Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Sophistication reaches new levels in Milan. The financial and commercial centre of Italy attracts fashion fundis, opera lovers, the young, the beautiful and the bold. Shopping, eating and clubbing is serious business here and it is no surprise that the city boasts the world’s most beautiful shopping mall, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Equally vying for admiration are the Milanese icons of La Scala Theatre (Teatro della Scala) and the Gothic Duomo, one of the world’s largest churches.

Milan’s frenetic pace surges ahead in its drive towards progress, forsaking the lengthy siestas enjoyed in other parts of the country. The city’s urban tentacles stretch for miles, although the significant historical attractions are contained between the two landmark sites - the Duomo and the Sforzesco Castle. These reside within the inner loop of the city’s concentric design, which is split into four squares: Piazza Duomo, Piazza Cairoli, Piazza Cordusio and Piazza san Babila. The modern civic centre lies to the northwest, around Mussolini’s colossal train station built in 1931. The area around here is dominated by a skyline of skyscrapers from which the sleek Pirelli Tower emerges. The Fiera district that stretches around Porta Genova station is the nub for trade and fashion fairs.

To go shopping without spending all your money there are four important streets in Milan: Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Corso Buenos Aires, Via Torino and Corso di Porta Ticinese.
Corso Vittorio Emanuele with Piazza San Babila, starts with the department store Rinascente, the monument to Milanese shopping that owes its name to Gabriele d’Annunzio. In Corso Vittorio Emanuele there are sophisticated label shops, such as Max Mara, Moreschi, Bruno Magli and Pollini, but there are also more popular labels such as H&M, Zara and Furla.

Corso Buenos Aires, that is one of the longest streets in Europe, connects Porta Venezia with Piazzale Loreto and it is even more commercial: there are Timberland, Mandarina Duck, Benetton, Kookai and Nara Camice.
Via Torino connects the Duomo and Corso di Porta Ticinese, is more for younger people and the casual style is sportier, with Foot Looker, Camper and Energy stores.
The closer you come to the Navigli area, which is the temple of street-style, the more the store scenario varies.

Corso di Porta Ticinese, which becomes Via Torino that takes you right up to Piazza XXIV Maggio, is the right place for those “alternative” purchases: Custo-Barcellona, Diesel, Miss Sixteen, Gas and Fornarina stand alongside second-hand clothes shops, stores with bizarre objects for the home, handmade clothes and accessory stores.

Add delicate pannecotta with fruits of the forrest (pannecotta is a cooked custard cream that blows crème brulee out the window), a glass of lemoncello (specialty lemon liquer), and a bit of wine!

Definitely check out the seafood items, as they are known for that. Also, the tiramisu is made on-premises and was delicious. Also check out the seafood grill and lobster pasta. The place also makes oven-baked pizzas, which are an awesome budget option. Highly recommend this place.

The place has already been stage for numerous TV spots and fashion and Style events. The design and the creative spritit has made this place a get together for young emerging artists who meet here every tuesday.
  The compulsory aperitivo is followed by a rich buffet with nicely prepared cocktails.
The food is great with a wide rage.

 Every friday the Shu becomes the scenery of one of the trendiest nights of Milan, when the Café and restaurant opend the doors to the club which is situtated under the Shu and where one can then dance on house music until morning!

Shambala’s atmosphere is just perfect: dim lights and candles illuminate the low tables, set with exquisite asian tableware. Once you sit on one of the very comfy silk cushions on the floor, order a cocktail (they have great bartenders), and take a look at the menu.

Old vietnamese recipes are presented in updated versions with a flair: you’ll find everything from spicy apetizer rolls to filet mignon, from vegeterian stir fries to incredible seafood dinners.

 Order a drink or two and help yourself to free food (sushi, tempura, squid salad, etc). There is a more quiet dining area upstairs from the music thumping lounge area.

You can definitely see Armani’s clean and simple dark wooded interior design. Even with the sexy dim lights and crowds of waiting patrons, you don’t feel like you’re on top of each other. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of Giorgio Armani himself, who makes his way to the restaurant every so often to hang out.

  The museum has a nice collection of italian renaissance and baroque paintings. On display are works by Bellini, Canaletto, Caravaggio, della Francesca, Mantegna, Raphael and Veronese. Some examples of the museum’s best works are “The Kiss” by Francisco Hayez, Mantegna’s “Dead Christ”, and ” The Marriage of the Virgin” by Raphael.