Plus Milan City Guide for Your Pocket
Welcome to the latest funky info packed city guide for your pocket.
Just print it off for when you are cruising past the sights of Milan.
afterwards you can pass it on to someone else, make an origami shape,
keep it as a souvenir or recycle it in some other tree huggin' hippy
way.
LANGUAGE- ITALIAN
English is becoming more widely known but more among the younger generations and those trying to be trendy. It is useful to know a few numbers and short phrases to get you around. See our printable phrase guide to help you along.
CURRENCY- EURO €1EU =$1.19USD =£0.68GBP (02/06)
Cash machines or ATMs are called Bancomats. These accept all major credit cards and any with the PLUS or Maestro logos.
TIME- CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME (GMT+1HR)
Daylight savings (+1) starts the last Sunday in March and ends(-1) the last Sunday in October. 24hr commonly used.
PHONE- AREA CODE 0039
Local phone boxes can take credit cards or you can buy international phone cards and 'Telefonica scheda' cards from a Tabacchi outlet ( they have the big 'T' sign)
EMERGENCIES
| AMBULANCE | 118 |
| FIRE | 115 |
| POLICE | 112 |
OTHER NUMBERS
| FOR. POLICE STATION | 02 6 22 61 | Via Montebello 26 |
| MAIN POLICE STATION | 02 6 22 61 | Via Fatebenefratelli 11 |
| CENT. TOURIST OFFICE | 02 725 24 301 | Via Marconi 1 |
| MILAN CLINIC | 02 760 16 047 | Via Cerva 25 |
| OSPEDALE MAGGIORE POLICLINICO | 02 550 33 171 | Via Francesco Sforza 35 |
| TO VIEW THE LAST SUPPER | 02 894 21 146 | |
| MALPENSA EXPRESS | 02 20 222 | |
| STAM BUSES | 02 748 52 757 | |
| FLIGHT INFO | 02 748 52 200 | |
| INFOTEL SCALA | 02 72 00 37 44 | |
| TICKET ONE | 02 39 22 61 | |
| TICKET WEB | 02 760 09 131 | |
| TAXI | 02 40 40 / 02 69 69 / 02 85 85 |
Getting to and around Milan
Malpensa Airport
The larger of the two airports it carries European and international flights. The location is 50km north of the city and connected two shuttle services, Malpensa Express, a train ride to Stazione Nord every 30mins and tickets are cheaper bought before boarding, or the Malpensa Shuttle, a coach ride to Stazione Centrale every 20mins, 5am-10.30pm.
Linate Airport
A small domestic airport that deals mainly in Italian only flights as well as a few European airlines. Connection to town is by STAM bus every 30mins, 5.40am-9.35pm or ATM bus No. 73 every 15mins, 5.30am-8pm.
The majority of local intercity and European trains arrive at and depart from Stazione Centrale with connections to all the main Italian cities.
All the intercity and local buses stop at the main terminal in Piazza Sigmund Freud
Tickets are only€1 for a single and must be validated. You can buy these from the Tabacchi's, newspaper stands, and underground stations. There are single, multitrip, one and two day tickets that cover all modes of transport.
Cheap and environmentally friendly, however Milan is a big place so unless you limit your sightseeing to just the centre of town it may pay to invest in a day pass to get around.
What to eat in Milan
Try the polenta , Made from maize corn this is cooked in many ways and is an alternative to pasta. It can be fried or grilled and usually served with the main dish. Risotto flavoured with saffron is another favourite, as well as a variety of meat dishes such as tripe, fried bone marrow, liver and lungs ( busecca ), or if that sounds too extreme there is the old standby of Cotoletta alla Milanese veal cutlet in breadcrumbs.
How do they make this stuff taste soooo good? It is mandatory to have at least one gelato a day while staying in Italy. The locals have voted with their feet and make their way to Gelateria Ecologica Artigiana on Corso Porta Ticinese, while Rossi in Viale Romagna is considered the ultimate in Milan.
Most Italians spend a lot longer on eating dinner than they do with their lightning quick breakfast, hence the long menu. A primo piatti is the first course, usually smaller than a main but bigger than an appetiser. The secondo is the main dish and usually comes without vegetables which have to be ordered as a separate 'contorni'. Unless you are really hungry and go for all courses you can mix and match a starter with a primo or secondo, or just have the main and then head straight for dessert.
This is a very common question. There will probably be a cover charge, this is for the table cloth 'covering' the table and cutlery or a 'service' charge for the service provided by the staff, check on the menu or with your waiter if this included or not. If it isn't then the amount will be between 12 and 15% of the total bill. In this case it isn't necessary to tip as the locals are notoriously bad tippers and just pay the service charge. Or, just leave the change if it's a couple of euros and the service has been good.
Paying can be a confusing experience. If you are wanting just a coffee or Panini from a café you have two choices. One- look at what's on offer in the display case, find a table and sit down to wait for the waiter and tell him, at the end just ask him for the 'conto' or the bill. Two- check out the display case, make your way to the 'cassa', pay for your choices and then take the receipt over to the serving counter. It's all about the Italian tax system, but in some ways it makes sense that the food servers are not spending time working out change etc.
What to see in Milan
Stand well back for this one as it is the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world and the third biggest in Europe. The overall design became the inspiration for the local sweet treat panettone . The construction took a staggering 500 years to complete, from 1386-1812 but when you see the 135 spires and 3200 sculptures you may understand why. The pigeon population in the square is almost equal to that of Piazza San Marco and beware the tricky birdseed sellers. The Cathedral is also said to be the home of an original nail from the cross of Christ, positioned high above the altar and brought down for public display in September. There's no bell tower to climb here but you can ascend the 165 steps to the roof to look out over the capital of style. Entrance to roof- lift €6, stairs €4.
Built in 1867 but nearly destroyed totally in WWII this distinctive glass domed shopping arcade sits between the piazzas of the Duomo and La Scala. It's nickname is il Salotto di Milano , or Milan's drawing room. Inside you can shop 'til you drop with all the brand names or top up on coffee at one of the fancy cafés or restaurants. The mosaics inlaid on the floor represent the unified cities of Italy and if you rub your shoe over Turin's bulls testicles its said to bring good luck.
This art gallery is widely believed to be Milan's best, with over 600 works of art. Originally begun by Napoleon the collection includes pieces by Titian, Raphael and Da Vinci. You can also view the first ever still life, Caravaggio's fruit basket or 'Canestra di Frutta', painted between 1597-98.
Milan means style as La Scala means opera. This magnificent theatre was built in 1778 to replace one destroyed by fire. The new construction is large enough to seat 2000 people and was then nearly destroyed in WWII bombing raids. Thankfully it was restored and reopened in 1946. Spend some time in the Museo Teatrale alla Scala (Largo Ghiringhelli 1) to explore the rich history of the opera house with memorabilia from past divas such as Maria Callas, and probably a good alternative if you are an opera fan and missed getting tickets to a performance. Open 9am to 6pm, €5.
The most famous mural in the world is painted on the wall of the Cenacolo Vinciano, or refectory, of the Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie Leonardo Da Vinci's second most famous work after the Mona Lisa is a portrayal of the moment when Jesus announces to his disciples that one of them will betray him. Leonardo made an unfortunate decision to paint it using a tempera mix of oil and egg whites instead of the more durable fresco method as the colours were then more likely to disintegrate over time. The mural has had a tumultuous history over the centuries with various restorations , renovations and was almost lost completely by 19th C restorers using alcohol and cotton wool. Subsequent floods, wars and DIY Dominicans all took their toll leaving the mural almost unrecognisable but the latest project, starting in 1977, was completed in 1999. You must book your ticket in advance over the phone, at least 3-4 days. You are then given a time to turn up and collect your ticket from the refectory desk, about 15mins before your allotted visit. It is advisable not to turn up late as your ticket will be resold. Audioguides and a short tour are available but must be booked also.€1.50 booking fee, admission €6.50
Leonardo was not just a painter, but an architect, mathematician, philosopher and engineer. This museum houses displays of Leonardo's other examples of genius. His numerous sketches and designs have been turned into intriguing working models and there is even a display of 'an ideal city'. Open 9.30am-4.50pm Tuesday-Friday, 9.30am-6.20pm Saturday/Sunday.
If you've had your fill of culture and history in the day then it's time to let loose! This the city for nightlife. Most bars open early for the post work aperitif and keep going until the early morn. There is a variety of dance clubs and nightclubs to keep things rolling and you can pick your area to rub shoulders with the well dressed or artistic types. Dress code is obviously going to be of high importance so keep it tidy. The main hangouts are trendy Corso Como , arty Brera and canalside area Navigli Beers can cost between €5-€10 but most bars also have nibbles and snacks available. Entry fees vary as well as the specials on drinks and cocktails. The variety is truly Italian with popular music styles, live music and the latest dance tunes.
WILDLIFE AREAS
La Banque, Casablanca Café, Lelephante and Artdeco Café
Check out these great festivals to really get in the spirit.
The second biggest religion in Italy is football. To see what all the fuss is about there are 2 home teams that play here on alternate Sundays - AC Milan and Inter Milan at the San Siro Stadium , Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Tickets can be bought at the stadium or from Milan Point , Corso San Gottardo 2.
GOLDEN QUAD - Via della Spiga, Via Sant'Andrea, Via Monte Napoleone,Via Alessandro Manzoni
Four streets forming a quadrangle of high fashion, haute-couture and the crème of Italian clothing design. All the big names have their boutiques here such as Armani, Prada, Versace, D&G, Chanel, Moschino and also some of the more upmarket accessory stores like Tiffany & Co, Gucci and Jimmy Choo A remarkable collection considering the industrial roots of Milan. The fashionistas made the move up here from Florence in the 1960's and haven't looked back since. The international 'wearable' fashion shows last 10-12 days and are held at the Fiera di Milano with the ladies collections in February/March, September/October and the men's collections on show in January, June/July. For something that won't break the bank try the streets behind the Cathedral.
ITALIAN GRAND PRIX - Parco Monza, Via Vedano 5
If the perfume of high octane fuel and the sound of 1000 hp going past at 190mph gets your engine running then join the herds of Ferrari fans and petrolheads at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in early September for the Italian Grand Prix. There are local buses that connect to the park and tickets can be bought on the day at the gate from around €50, online, or you can try your luck with the touts on the road leading up to the entrance.
Some internet cafes now have broadband but most don't. You can expect to pay up to €6 per hour for usage. Here are some useful websites during your stay:
These places can get you connected:
These won't make you into an SAS commander but they may help avoid some difficulties as you travel around.