Milan, The Solo Way
If like many, Rome was your introduction to Italy, it can be shocking to find that hours north of the Italian capital, the city of Milan sheds the ruins-and-Renaissance image to reveal a lively, modern cultural center, rife with buzzing business, fashion, and a refreshing dose of reality. While there’s no shortage of museums filled with priceless artwork or Baroque-style architectural wonders, Milan’s modern metro weaves through a city that exists not only in Italy’s historic past, but is firmly rooted in its glittering present.
If you truly want to experience Milan like a local, there are a couple stops that may not make it to the guidebooks, but will definitely make your trip worthwhile.
Despite Italy’s reputation as the birthplace of some of the world’s favorite comfort foods, in a modern metropolis like Milan it can be a little tricky to find top-tier authentic Italian food. If you’re drowning in choices and don’t know where to start, head over to the Navigli neighborhood for dinner at Il Moro 2. The experience will set the bar high for the rest of your trip, with pasta to die for and one of the most delicious frutti di mare pizza you’ll have this far inland; the perfect combination of garlic, tomato, cheese, fresh shrimp, mussels and calamari.
If you’re lucky enough to be in the neighborhood the last Sunday of the month, Navigli’s bustling antique market is a must. Spend hours wandering among the 400 temporary stalls lining the city’s oldest canal, filled with everything from jewelry and clothing to books and vinyl. If you get tired, take a seat for a glass of wine or a cappuccino at one of the many bars and cafe’s along the water’s edge.
Milan is a city for the fashion-obsessed, and there’s truly something for everyone, so if you’re in search of all your favorite high-end designers but want to avoid the Duomo crowds at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, head to Via Montenapoleone. The cobblestone street is littered with marble-faced buildings with massive windows showcasing the latest luxury Italian fashion, and just above every doorway sparkles a glowing, silver moniker for stores like Valentino, Versace, and Ferragamo. It’s the perfect place to shop while taking in some Milanese street fashion or getting some content for your instagram.
With so much to do, it’s hard to imagine ever getting tired of such a beautiful city, but if you stay long enough to start feeling truly Milanese you may want to take a break for a day. While plenty of travel guides rave about Lake Como, nearby ski-town St. Moritz, Switzerland is just a 2.5-hour drive from the center of Milan. Even if you’re not a ski buff, the ride itself is one of the most memorable parts of the trip, with incredible picturesque views of both the Italian and French countryside, the ride takes you through remote lakeside mountain towns, and just on the other side of the Swiss checkpoint, the steep winding road provides some the most breathtaking image of Swiss mountain ranges and villages that look straight out of the pages of a storybook.
No European trip would be complete without a trip to the local football ground, and in a city with two professional teams and one of the most historic stadiums on the continent, it would almost be a crime to not attend a match. Both Inter Milan and AC Milan juggle games at the San Siro stadium pretty frequently, so if you really want to experience the city like a local, hop on the M5 line on a match-day and follow the crowds wearing matching jerseys. Even for those that aren’t sports fans, a few beers in an open air stadium beneath the Italian stars shouting along with diehard fans is the perfect way to complete the experience of truly being milano.
