Milan

Milan has a reputation for having one of the highest standards of living in whole Italy. This is the biggest city in Northern Italy, home of its stock exchange and yet – not driven by tourism, capital of fashion and design, and not to forget the local religion called football – the city is home to Milan and Inter, two of the top Italian teams that drive the crowds to San Siro stadium on Sundays during the season.

Most of the sights of Milan are in the city center. Must-see attractions are: Milan Duomo - the third largest cathedral in the world; the Castello Sforzeco - a fortress built in 1368 that later became an elegant and stunning Renaissance residence of the family; the Teatro alla Scala Opera House - built in 1776 and hosting some superb theatrical productions; Santa Maria delle Grazie - the church where Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting 'The Last Supper' is on display; Santa Maria presso San Satiro – a church with a very interesting sound effect – the choir singing seems to come from the sanctuary where there is noone indeed.

For the art lovers, there are large numbers of galleries and museums, such as the Pinacoteca di Brera Gallery - housing one of Italy's most important art collections; the Villa Reale and Civica Galleria d'Arte Moderna - featuring masterpieces by famous artists such as Matisse and Picasso; Palazzo Bagatti-Valsecchi - considered to be one of the finest museums in the whole of Europe, with many outstanding displays and collections; Milan's Civic Archaeological Museum - home of the world's oldest wooden plough still in existence, dating back around 4,000 years.

The city also harbors some less-known attractions such as the Navigli’s canal-side cafés and old-fashioned gelaterie (ice-cream shops) and the funky design district of Isola.

Milan is a major European city therefore you can easily reach it by plane, train, bus or car. Once you are there, the city is relatively easy to get around. The centre is fairly compact and most of the sights are within walking distance of one another. There is an excellent bus network and local railway in Milan. The metro consists of four underground lines which run from 6 am to midnight. If you choose rent-a-car, have in mind that traffic in Milan is often heavy and driving in the city centre can be quite an experience due to Italian temperament. Instead of a car, you can also rent a bike for just €10 per day. Alternatively, if you prefer to be driven around, there are plenty of taxis. Official Milan taxis are generally white, although there are also some yellow and other color taxis. You should only use the official licensed taxis – with taxi sign on roof and numbered shield on the side. There may be some supplements such as luggage or late night charges so it might be better to ask for these before leaving.

As for staying - there are plenty of places to stay in Milan – over 400 hotels with rates ranging from €10 per person in hostel up to over €1500 per suite. As Milan is the business center of Italy, it is natural that here are the most expensive hotels in whole Italy and also – the largest number of business hotels.

If you have a limited budget – choose “backpackers hotels” where rates normally are as low as possible. Best offers you can find in the area of the Stazione Centrale, on the Piazzale Loreto and the Corso Buenos Aires. For a business trip you may prefer a more convenient hotel in the business center of Milan. As in every other major city in Europe, here you would find famous hotel chains such as Hilton, Marriott, Holiday Inn, Best Western, Ritz, Plaza, etc. providing all kind of services and facilities for your stay.

Milan may be famous for its shopping, trading, and amazing designers, but it is also a great place to enjoy a good meal. Milan restaurants are usually very expensive. For one complete dinner take count of at least 25€ per person. A 15% service charge is usually added to the bill at the end. Additional tip is customary.

If you want to keep it cheap and simple, there are many ethnic restaurants, pizzerias and trattorie in the city where you can enjoy local food on reasonable price. Typical antipasti include ‘nervetti’, a local specialty of boiled calves’ shank seasoned with onion. This could be followed up with the city’s signature dish, a filling ‘risotto alla milanese’ which is flavored with beef broth and saffron.

In terms of where to eat, the golden rule applies in Milan as it does everywhere else: stay away from the main tourist streets and attractions, especially the Piazza del Duomo, where the restaurants offer multilingual menus and over-priced food.

For cheap meals, the best place to head is Navigli – with wide variety of cafés and pizzerias offering simple, low-cost food. Other way to keep the costs down is the local version of the Happy Hour known as ‘aperitivo’. Usually from 18:30 to 21:30 in most of the bars with 5-8 € you can have a drink with an open buffet with a large variety of food. Many places offer not only pizzas and snacks, but also pasta, vegetables and sometimes meat.

Italy

Italy is a nice country, located in Sothern Europe and comprises a long, boot-shaped Italian Peninsula, the land between the peninsula and the Alps, and a number of islands including Sicily and Sardinia. The territory of Italy covers 301 308 km2 . With 60,157,214 inhabitants, it is the sixth most populous country in Europe, and the twenty-third most populous in the world. The capital of Italy is Rome since 1870. Italy is a founding member of what is now European Union, having signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957, and it is a founding member of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The country has a high public education level, high labor force, high charitability.
Italy has much tourist attractions, most of them are in Rome, Venice, Pisa and Florence.
If you decided to go in the capital of Italy – Rome, you will be impressed by Colosseo (Coliseum). Probably Rome’s most recognizable sight, its official name is the Amphiteatrium Flavium. The venue held up to 50,000 spectators at once for gladiator fights, battles with wild animals, and (though some historians dispute it) naval battles when the arena was flooded.
Another sight in Rome is Roman Forum. This area was the heart of Ancient Rome for thousands of years.
Probably, Venice is the most romantic city of the world. There you can see Basilica della Salute (Santa Maria della Salute) - This church was built after the 1630 black plague as a thank you offering to God. The “St. Mary of Good Health” is a baroque landmark at the end of the Dorsoduro neighborhood across the Grand Canal from St. Mark’s Square.
If you are in Venice, you should go to Ponte di Rialto, the most famous of the 3 bridges that cross the Grand Canal. The original was built of wood but started rotting, so it was replaced in 1588 with the current stone structure. The area around the bridge is where ships would unload their goods for the Venitian local markets. Today the bridge and surrounding area is loaded with tourist souvenir shops.
Florence has very beautiful architecture. There you can see Santa Croce Church- This 14th century church was started by St. Francis of Assisi and today holds the tombs of great Florentines. Included are Michelangelo, Machiavelli, the composer Rossini, as well as a memorial to Dante. The square in front of the church is popular with street vendors.

In Florence you have to visit also: Uffizi Museum (The oldest museum in Florence); Ponte Vecchio (lined with shops that sell gold and silver).

One of the most popular attractions in Italy is The Leaning Tower of Pisa. Although intended to stand vertically, the tower began leaning to the southeast soon after the onset of construction in 1173 due to a poorly laid foundation and loose substrate that has allowed the foundation to shift direction. The tower presently leans to the southwest.

The prices of hotels in Italy are different. It depends on you, whether you want to stay in a luxury hotel or in a cheap hotel. If you want to stay in a luxury hotel in Rome, that will cost you from 150 euro to 350 euro per night. Some of the best hotels in Rome are: “Hotel Santa Maria”, “Artemide hotel”, etc. If you want to spend less money on hotels, you have to choose something cheaper, where you will pay from 18 to 30 euro per night. Some good cheap hotels are: “Hotel Martino ai Monti”, “Hotel Virginia” etc.
Prices of hotels in Venice, Florence and Pisa are almost the same as the prices in Rome.
Italian holidays, festivals, and feast days reflect Italian culture, history, and religious practices. Some Italian holidays are similar to those celebrated throughout many other parts of the world, while others are unique to Italy. January 1, for example, is Capodanno (New Year's Day), while April 25 is the Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day), an annual national holiday commemorating the 1945 liberation ending World War II in Italy.
Other Italian holidays include November 1, Ognissanti (All Saints Day), a religious holiday during which Italians typically bring flowers to the graves of their deceased relatives.
I n addition to national holidays (when government offices and most businesses and retail shops are closed), many Italian towns and villages celebrate the feast day of their santo patrono (patron saint), which differs from place to place.
There are many ways to travel in Italy. First of all, if you decide to travel with your car, you have to remember that Italy recognize driving license that are valid in other countries. But only use a car in Italy if you are visiting the countryside (Tuscany for instance). However, in cities such as Rome, Florence, Milan, and, of course, Venice, you have no need for a car. You can travel also by buses, trains, four wheeled rickshaw and of course by gondola (in Venice).
Every year, millions of people come to visit the famous paintings, architectural buildings, and sample all of the wonderful pasta. Italy is one of the main tourist spots because it has so much history and adventure. There is no end to the learning when you visit Italy.