1st of all i got nothing to do with Milan Fashion week, i just happen to be there during this year's Fashion Week...haha! it was in September, we headed there because the flight ticket was so cheap that we just can't say no to a short 5 days trip. Come on it was like 11Euro for 1 way(exclude tax) crazy right? Funny thing was that we didn't even know it was Fashion Week until we were in Milan.
If i'm not mistaken the flight ticket from Leipzig - Milan(Bergamo) including the return ticket is about 50Euro / pax. From Dresden (that's where we lived) to Leipzig we took the train (about 1.5 hours to the Leipzig Airport) as we travel in a group of 4 person we bought the Sachsen which cost us less then 20 Euro / pax for 2 ways. Talking about less then 80Euro / pax and we got ourselves a good deal to Milan.
From the Bergamo Airport we then took a bus (1 hour) to Milano Centrale train station Cost us about 5Euro/ person. Don't worry about getting information about where and how to buy the tickets, you'll see it as soon as u get off the plane...trust me! We then took the Metro to our apartment
our 2 bedrooms apartment in Milan for 5 days
with a small kitchen(but we cook alot so we only spend like 10Euro / person for the whole trip on breakfasts and dinners only lunch we had to eat out), and a big bathroom. It was superb and very clean, There was also Wifi. Cost: 20Euro / night for 1 person
how to buy the Metro ticket?
one can either buy in a tobacco stores or at the machines
Prices:
1 day ticket - 4.50Euro
2 days ticket - 8.25Euro
tickets for 10 Urban Journeys - 13.80Euro (*meaning u can only use for 10 times not for 10 days)
1st stop, Santa Maria Delle Grazie.
This church and Dominican convent is where Leonardo da Vinci's mural of the Last Supper located
We checked out alot of sites before we came regarding how and where to buy the tickets to see da Vinci's Last Supper and it was too complicated as they don't really have an official site only from 3rd party. So we decided to screw that and try our luck when we get there.
The office that sells the tickets is this building on the left of the church. We were lucky as there are still ticket sold for that day itself. woo hoo!
price 6.50Euro :). The mural covers an end wall of the dining hall at the monastery (which is not in the church )
Seeing the Last Supper was one of the highlights of this trip. It was really really impressive...it's just mind blowing. A MUST VISIT in Milan
ok back the the church, the interior
beautiful and not surprised that this church Santa Maria Delle Grazie (or Holy Mary of Grace) is a UNESCO World Heritage sites
i love the warm color on the ceiling
the convent was completed by 1469 while the church took more time
the cupola
courtyard
small chapels
coffee break! I'm not ever a coffee drinker but i got to say i only drink Italian coffee
or coffee made by Italian... i don't know why...they taste better. From not more then 5 cups of coffee a YEAR to 3 cups a day in Milan
after a nice coffee break we hen took the tram to Duomo or the be specific @ Tram station Dante Cordusio
love the architecture here :)
there it is, the Duomo of Milan (Milan Cathedral)
......
this cathedral actually took 500 years to complete. YUP! 500 years
us @ II DUOMO
a sneak peak of the interior of the cathedral
due to the amount of pictures i took of this cathedral, i had to make a separate post specially for the cathedral. Stay tune!!
just next to the cathedral is the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
the spectacular 19th century shopping arcade, also known in Milan as " IL Salotto"(the living room)
^^
beautiful floor design. There is also a bull "toro". Legend tells that if a person put its right heel on the bull's genitals and turn on himself 3 times, this will bring good luck. As this practice gain popularity, it actually cause damage to the mosaic, a hold developed on the place of the bull's genitals
us @ The Gallery :)
stunning stunning!!! this place is the oldest shopping mall in Italy
price list from one of many fancy restaurant in the Gallery.
The only restaurant we can afford here is McDonald's! lol
Apparently there won't be any McDonald's soon because in 2012 (this year) McDonald's was prevented from renewing its tenancy in the mall, after 20 years of occupancy. So We got the mall's 2nd Prada store instead.
i love Milan because everything is pretty
luxury looking apartment with beautiful foyer
even the cellar window shutter look elegant
awww little Babes!
another interesting place to visit in Milan is the Castello Sforzesco
me @ Castello Sforzesco
used to be the seat and residence of the Duchy of Milan
the castle is huge
and it's one of biggest citadels in Europe. It was also demolished and rebuilt several times
it's Free to roam around the castle there are only small fee for the castle museum
price ----> http://www.milanocastello.it/ing/info.html
lovely courtyard
the castle museum, Museum of Ancient Art
info's on the castle museum ----> http://www.milanocastello.it/ing/permanenti.html
perfect! and nicely trip hair :P
ceiling painting
the tapestry room
i'm pretty sure he got a nose job
one of the most beautiful room of the museum is The "Sala dell'Asse", designed by Leornardo Da Vinci
mulberry tree
the monochrome decorations on one of the wall, it part of the original design by Leonardo da Vinci
another highlight in this museum is this marble sculpture by Michelangelo, Rindanini Pieta
it's Michelangelo's last and unfinished work that he worked on from 1550s until the last days of his life in 1564. The sculpture represent Virgin Mary mourning over the body of Christ
armour, swords and firearms from the middle ages to the 18th century
some furniture exhibition
tip: don't go during lunch time...some areas are closed
right infront of the citadel is a huge park and at the end of the park is the Arch of Peace
the park
Arch of Peace, Porta Sempione. Look almost the same like any of the Arch of Peace in Europe. Too bad can't get a better shot of it, because of the tent in front of it
some random shots of the city
Milan street in the evening
Santa Maria Delle Grazie
Duomo looks even more magnificent at night with all the lights up, you can even see the stain glass design. More pictures in my next post
Duomo Metro Staion is just next to Duomo
The Palazzo Brera, an 18th century Neoclassical
It houses the Pinacoteca di Brera, a museum contains one of the foremost collections of Italian paintings, the Academy of Fine Arts founded in 1776, and the Braidense National Library, founded in 1770
entrance fee to the Pinacoteca di Brera: 9Euro/ adult and reduced price: 7.50Euro. It's slightly on the pricey side
for more infos -----> http://www.tourism.milan.it/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz94NQ8_Qj9KLN4c0tDv0BnCxMD_yAjUwNPA_9gD09XR2MDAxP9cJAus3g_f6NQNxNPQ0MLM1dDAyMzDxMnnzBPA3cXY4i8AQ7gaKDv55Gfm6pfkOHlUe6oqAgA29PRKg!!/dl2/d1/L0lHSkovd0RNQUJrQUVnQSEhL1lCWncvZW4!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=en/situr/home
the area is quite big
time for a coffee break
or gelato with waffles :)...oh yum. Absolutely delicious
the Basilica of Sant' Ambrogio (St. Ambrose)
This church is the most ancient churches in Milan, it was built by St. Ambrose in 379-386, in an area where numerous martyrs of the roman persecutions had been buried. the 1st name of the church was in fact Basilica Martyrum
interesting column design, with animal motif
in August 1943, the American bombings heavily damaged the church
the interior
the Marble Ambo(for the reading of Gospel)
there is a crypt where lies Ambrose and his follower
it is over 1600 years old!
on the left upper corner, is the Mosaic of Christ Pantokrator from the 13th Century
treasure of St Ambrose...we didn't go in that one...you'll need to pay but to visit the church itself it Free
original painting on the wall
small chapel, under the alter is the remains of S,Satiro, brother of S. Ambrose
Me @ Basilica of Sant.Ambrogio
nice ride ^^
i have no idea what this is but it does look like a mini castle
When u say Milan, it's always relate to fashion and of course shopping. Besides the famous shopping area (Quadrilatero d'Ora or known as golden rectangle) bound by 4 main street- Via Montenapolene, via Monzoni, Via del Corso and via Senato that we all know, This open air market (Mercato viale Fauche) isn't your average market. You get all sorts of stuff here, shoes, clothes, scarfs, bags, winter jackets ,suits, flowers, vegetables, fish, meat.....etc, etc, etc. I think the market is only during friday and the weekends. A must visit!!! it's really fun to see the energy and people busy bargaining, trying out shoes. This Market does reminds me of Apollo(an open air market) market back home in Penang, which sells all kinds of things. I guess us Malaysian and the Italian do share a common culture :)
all this walking does make me hungry
not to forget a nice cuppa Latte Macchiato
oh ya! did i mention it's quite cheap to get a nice cup of Coffee in Milan. This latte here cost me 70Cent!
Tip: Always go to Milan with an empty bag :)
Cheers!
~ Ciao Ciao ~
y
