Milan, the second most popular city in Italy after Rome. The city has long been named fashion capital of the world and the world's design capital. Many flew here just for the latest design of clothes, bags... etc
Getting into the city from Bergamo Airport, also called Orio al Serio International Airport, is not difficult. There are several mode of transport to bring you into the city. First, as the fastest and the most expensive, is the taxi. The charges is around EUR80 - EUR100. The driver will bring you directly to the accommodation. Second, as the moderate pricing but not as convenient, will be the train. However, in order to reach the Bergamo train station, you required to take a ATB bus. Then take a train from Bergamo train station to Milano Centrale train station. Sound troublesome isn't it?
Third choice, and the choice which I decided on; by bus. There are 3 bus companies (Terravision, Autostradale, Orioshuttle) that operate a direct route from Bergamo Airport to Milano Centrale train station, in 45 - 50mins. Cost at only EUR 5 per pax, regardless of adult or children. The bus station is just outside the exit door of the airport, impossible to miss it. There are counters in the airport selling the bus tickets, but it is not necessary to purchase the ticket from the counters. Go directly to the bus and there will be somebody standing beside the bus selling ticket. The advantage is, you will be able to see which bus is the one leaving next. Don't bother too much on the bus schedule, these 3 companies leave the airport in different timing. So, in short, the waiting time will not be long, at most 15 mins. Alight at Milano Centrale train station where you will have access to Metro.
Metro, Tram, Bus share the same ticket. Ticket can be purchase from souvenir shop at most of the junction of the street or Metro station. Ticket must be validate on a yellow ticket reader on the Tram or Bus once on board. Upon validation, ticket is valid for 90 mins in order to board the next Tram or Bus. As for Metro, ticket can only use once. You will not be able to re-enter the Metro gantry after you exit.
Duomo di Milano Italy - One of the largest cathedrals in the world, this iconic masterpiece took over 600 years to complete.
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| Right: Vittorio Emanuele II Monument, facing Duomo di Milano |
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| Night view of Duomo de Milano |
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II - A shopping mall housed in a glass-covered 19th-century arcade with luxury clothing brands & upscale dining. In the center of the mall, there is a mosaic floor insignia a dancing bull – and there is a long-standing tradition of spinning on the bull’s balls with your heel in order to bring good luck.
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| Sphere shot of the shopping mall |
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| Photo of the mosaic floor insignia a dancing bull. |
Palazzo dei Giureconsulti - also known as Giureconsulti Palace or simply Palazzo Affari, is a 16th-century building, located in Piazza Mercanti, former city centre in the Middle Ages.
Dinner @ Ristorante replay, one of the restaurant along the street from Duomo di Milano. Tasting the local delicacy recommended online - Risotto alla Milano (Top right), Spaghetti with baby lobster. (Bottom right). Risotto alla Milano is probably one of the well known classic Milano dishes, the bright yellow color comes from the spice Saffron (藏红花), which adds an incredible richness and earthy flavor.
Chinatown Milano - Located North-West from Duomo di Milano. Easy access via Tram 2, 12 and 14, from Duomo de Milano. Tram 2 will be the most ideal as you alight at one end of the street, where as Tram 12 and 14 will end you up in the middle of Chinatown.
Taking Tram 2, alight at P.le Baiamonti tram station, walk into Via Paolo Sarpi (main street of Chinatown), the first restaurant to fill you will be Chateau Dufan. They serve delicious authentic Chinese food, and dessert. Not forgetting Gelato when you are in Italy. Remember to pick up the foodmap before you leave the restaurant.
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| Foodmap of Chinatown Milano |
Also not forgetting to hunt down Princess' favourite - Taiwan Bubble Tea.
QQ Tea Taiwan Bubble Tea found in almost the end of Via Paolo Sarpi. Anyway, there are several bubble tea shop can be found in the foodmap.
Enjoy a 10 mins relaxing stroll from Chinatown, by using Google map to bring us to Arco della Pace.
Arco della Pace (Arch of Peace) - is a city gate of Milan, This triumphal arch built in the early nineteenth century as part of the 'Foro Bonaparte' - a modern version of a Roman Forum. Seems every cities in the nineteenth century has their own city gate, therefore not forgetting the collection of "Jump" in front of the gate.
Sempione Park (Parco Sempione) - is a large city park in Milan, Italy. It housed several Historical Landmarks and Museum.
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| Enjoying the beautiful stream in the park, and also taking a rest after a long walk. |
Sforzesco Castle (Castello Sforzesco) - was a defence fortress back-then. After many transformations into military barracks, private residence, and now is a museums of art treasure. Indeed, it is one of the most representative and popular monuments in Milan.
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| Surrounded by iconic solid red bricks |
Fiera di Sinigaglia - is a Historical Flea Market and it only open on Saturday from 8am, where all the stalls will display their products along the riverbank. From clothes to hand-held machine, you name it - you get it... We do not have anything in mind, just have a feel on the local culture.
Milano Centrale Railway Station - is the main railway station of the city of Milan and is also the largest train station in Europe by volume, that housed 24 tracks and serving 120 million passengers per year. It has high speed connection to many cities in Italy and even out of Italy. So, what are we doing here early in the morning at 8am???
In between our stay in Milan, we manage to schedule a day trip to a City of Romance - Venice...
Taking a train from Milano Centrale to Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia in less than 3 hours, which is the most common method to reach Venice. Venice is a common day trip destination, hence tickets are recommended to
purchase online in advance.
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Link to Venice Blog >>>
Last day in Milan, days during vacation had never be enough... lol
Quadrilatero della Moda (literally "Fashion Square") - is a high-class shopping district in Milan, characterised by the presence of numerous boutiques and related retail outlets which represent most of the world’s major fashion houses. It is also rated as one of the most prestigious in the world.
Many flew to Milan to look for the limited edition or better price after the VAT refund as a tourist. However, it is a common sight to see 暴发户 doing their shopping, carrying several shopping bags from different brand. Either you are here to do a real shopping or only a window shopping, just enjoy the atmosphere of high-class shopping.
