Milan Italy

Fashion and finance collide in the industrial streets of Milan Italy. Despite some neighborhoods being bombed beyond repair during World War II, Milan is still the second largest city in Italy and famous as the home to fashion staples such as Armani, Versace and Gucci, not to mention top-of-the-line car manufacturers like Alfa Romeo and Bugatti.

Few cities have had such a wide variety of leaders, making the culture of Milan Italy a unique and surprising one. Surviving at different times beneath the rule of Romans, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Hapsburgs, and countries such as France and Spain before Italy"s unification, Milan carries within its walls the histories of many different European peoples. Built upon diversity, attractions in Milan Italy consist of a wide range of influences and for many, the city remains the Italian equivalent of America"s Hollywood or New York - the glamorous and glitzy center of the country where any dream can come true.

Milan Italy is all commercial activity. It contains hundreds of banks, and most every major publishing, advertising, and communications company in Italy. Famous for elaborate fashion shows put on by some of the most influential members of the industry, Milan also has one of the most prestigious universities in the country and stands in sharp contrast to the casual atmosphere of many of Italy's southern cities. The weather is also a sharp change from much of the rest of the country - cold rain and dense fog nimbly replace the tender, muggy climates found in the south for much of the year, and the weather seems to be a catalyst for the city, as if Milan is trying to overcompensate for the sometimes unpleasant conditions with economic success.

But the city is not all unpleasant weather, millionaires and supermodels. Though industry unquestionably drives the city, the culture of Milan Italy shines through in a number of historic sites. The Ambrosiana Library and Picture gallery is a redoubtable collection of art from masters such as Botticelli, Raphael, and Da Vinci. One of the staples of sightseeing in Milan, the Library also contains an array of medieval manuscripts, though the latter are only occasionally available for public viewing.

The Piazza del Duomo is one of the main attractions in Milan, showcasing a giant spired cathedral built in the shape of a cross and extending for over 475 feet. Countless architects, resulting in a haphazardly beautiful collection of marble statues and sweeping pinnacles, have used the facade as a canvas. From the roof, you can catch a glimpse of the hectic city with snow-capped mountains looming in the distance.

The Museo Poldi-Pezzoli displays a number of significant works from a collection of Northern and Central Italian artists, and many rooms are adorned with ancient tapestries and wood carvings, each a testament to the sometimes unstable history and culture of Milan Italy. The Civic Gallery of Modern Art shows the increasing influence of Impressionistic and Modern painters, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Renoir and Gauguin. The Gallery is in the same building that Napoleon chose as his home while in Milan and a wondrous stop while sightseeing in Milan Italy.