FlyingBlue Petroleum

Here is a city that easily fools its public. We think it’s very serious and industrial, but it is cultural and original. We think it’s traditional and reserved, but it is musical and creative. Rare are the cities whose names fit with so many descriptions: the Milan of fashion, Milan of cars, Milan of design, Milan of innovation, and the list goes on. Here in the shelter of facades that are never short of allure, people talk about finance, design, and enterprise in the fullest sense of the word. Milan revels in silk, intelligence and refinement. It’s a place of energy, talent and divine intuition. If Milan likes to do business, it still demands that it is done its way, in a human style where men and women are encouraged to express their originality.

 

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   September at the Firenze Fiera Congress Center, in Florence.

 

Discover the top of the Duomo. This cathedral in Milan is a beacon. It plunges the city into the past and lights it up with its many steeples created by the architectural extravagance of a dozen different designers. But the "Duomo", as the Milanese call it, also offers an amazing view over the capital of Lombardy so you can better understand the city layout.

Visit the Alfa Romeo museum, located in the Milanese suburb of Arese. Created in 1976, it tells the story of the brand and details the prestigious past of the car maker. Close to 150 cars, including racing prototypes, are also displayed to the public. 
Alfa Romeo museum open by appointment (Tel: +39 02.44.42.93.03) Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 pm to 4.30 pm. Entry is free.
Viale Alfa Romeo Snc, Arese (MI),

Tel: +39 02.44.42.93.03, www.museoalfaromeo.com
You can also get there via public transport: M1 metro, QT8 station, then 560 bus, stop Alfa Romeo Est.

Succumb to the Aperitivo, a very Milanese tradition which, from 6 pm, takes over the city’s bars. The idea is simple: for €6 to €10, each drink consumed gives you access to a buffet. It’s the Italian version of Spanish tapas. Try it at Brellin in Navigli, the canal district famous for its old wash house. Here for €7, you can try the charcuterie and cheeses of the north. Closed Sundays.
Brellin, 14, Alzaia Naviglio Grande. Tel: +39 02.58.10.13.51.

Experience the Scala, even if you have to bribe your hotel concierge to get the precious tickets that give you access to the most reputable of operas. The spectacle is magic. The performance hall is unique, enhanced with that indefinable Italian style and blessed with exceptional sound quality. The show is not only on stage, the audience also deserve your attention. Passionate artists and other defenders of music have a field day. Beware, the season is short and reservations are essential.

Stroll through the Victor Emmanuel II shopping arcade, close to the Duomo, this imposing arcade leads directly to the Piazza della Scala. It has become the place for the most prestigious brands and houses the only 6 star hotel in the city. This arcade is also a meeting place for intellectuals who enjoy meeting at the café of the same name, located in the centre of the walkway.

Spend a day at the Sforzesco Castle whose walls recount all the Italian genius of painting, sculpture, frescos and more. Then visit the Monumental Cemetery, it is as surprising as the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris and offers an impressive view of Italy’s architectural history. Guided visits are offered every day. Don’t miss these, the English-speaking guide has unique anecdotes on the residents of the place.

Escape from Milan offers many choices. A short journey away, in Pavia, is the Castle of the Visconti which is a summary of Italy’s history. Its façade is a masterpiece that we owe to Bartolino da Novara, and is decorated with arched windows that complete a square turret in perfect condition. For sporty types, the Monza circuit (in greater Milan) offers driving training sessions. Don’t forget the charming town of Bergamo, an hour away by road.  Finally, don’t hesitate to discover the lakes to the north of Lombardy, near to the Swiss border: make Lake Maggiore (on which float the superb Borromean Islands) and Lake Como a priority. Lake Verona and Lake Garda are not much further. You’ll enjoy amazing countryside, charming hotels and irresistible restaurants serving al dente spaghetti or homemade tiramisu.