Can’t believe how many times I have been to Milan, visited the Duomo, gone shopping down Via Monte Napoleone (Milan’s most famous shopping street), and at the same time missed the real gems that Milan has to offer.
This Fashion Week I was lucky enough to finally get some of the real insider tips:
1) Two of Milan’s best kept secret hotels:
Suite Milano
Never judge a book by it’s cover – behind this truly incognito entrance and only a 3 minute walk from Duomo itself you will find the most beautiful rooms owned by Leonardo. I only stayed one nite but Leonardo makes everyone feel like family and will give you loads more tips to Milan as well.
The best news is if you book directly with Leonardo it’s less expensive and say you are a friend of Yvonne’s for an additional 10% discount!
leonardo.xavier@suitemilano.it, Tel. +39 393 8163678
There are not many rooms so if he is full try out:
Santa Marta Suites
Also close to Duomo I discovered this whilst sauntering round the old part of Milan. Reception was super friendly and best of all it has a car park situated out the back – not that common in Milan! Super cute rooms in real traditional Italian style.
reservation@santamartasuites.com Tel +39 02 45373369
2) Eat with the best view in Milan
Giacomo Arengario
Situated right on Piazza Duomo upstairs in the Arengario Museum. Good wholesome Italian cuisine with awesome interior, fab food and the best prosecco I have had yet and thats saying something!
Via Maroconi 1, Tel +39 02 72093814
3) Shopping
Of course there is loads of shopping around the Duomo – Galleria Vittoria Emanuelle II and Via Montenapoleone will give you all the designer brands you ever dreamed of but if you want something a little different and truly Italian try the following two areas:
– Via Corso Como:
For clothes and then leading into interior design -start from the train station Porta Garibaldi (5 minutes by metro -green line from Duomo) and walk all the way down to Duomo – allow at least 1.5 hours for this – includes time in the shops.
Don’t miss:
Naughty Dog
Pinko
– 5Vie Historical Centre
If you are at all into Art and Design then the Cinque Vie is the place for you – the historic centre of Milano and where you will see top local shops. During Fashion Week they have a special event where the shops remain open until midnight.
4) Must See Museums
Like any old European capital there are of course loads of museums in Milan – normally it is tough to see them all so the following two are the current most trendy “must see museums” in Milan.
– Fondazione Prada
Only just opened in May 2015, displaying loads of super interesting art collections – MilanROBERT GOBER / LOUISE BOURGEOIS with his Haunted House project is one of the permanent exhibitions – I love the fact that you have to climb 4 sets of stairs to get to it and the lift is solely reserved for those with disabilities – note too that you have to book separately to see this particular exhibition.
Open every day 10am – 9pm, Directions: Take the yellow metro line to Lodi T.I.B.B and its a short walk from there – view in google maps
– Museo Vigna di Leonardo
Also opened this year and is where the amazing Leonardo Da Vinci lived and painted The Last Super (situated in the Santa Maria Delle Grazie church across the road)
See the beautiful House, Gardens and Vinyard- I was lucky enough to go there in March earlier this year for the Mila Schön fashion show and was in absolute awe by the exhibitions I saw.
Photo Vignadileonardo.com
Due to the high flow of visitors you have to book in advance – viva ticket.it. Directions: From Duomo take the red line west to Cadorna and then change to the green line south one stop to S. Ambrogio – or walk approx 15 – 20 mins – Google Map
5) Transport
– the easiest to navigate and best way to travel longer distances through Milan is via Metro.
A day pass will only cost you Euro 4.50 whilst single tickets cost Euro 1.50. There are not many lines so easy to understand and they will get you from one side of Milan to the other in 10 minutes provided you don’t have to change colour.
Wishing you all a wonderful time in one of my favourite cities – Milan.
Remember the 10% discount if you mention you are a friend of Yvonne’s at Suite Milano
Never miss a post by subscribing to Funkyforty.com in the pink box below.
