Milano

Milan is the main city of northern Italy and is locally referred to as ‘Milano'. It is situated in the Plains of Lombardy and is one of the most populated and developed regions of Italy. Due to the popularity of Milan, it is often mistaken as the capital of Italy, which actually is Rome. The population of the main city is about 1,308,500 inhabitants, but when other urban areas are also included the population comes somewhere around 4,280,820 inhabitants. The number of people living in Milan's metropolitan area is more than seven million whereas the whole city region has a population of more than 9.4 million inhabitants. The city region area in Milan is equivalent to the Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs) of the United States of America.

Milan is a beautiful city, with attractions arranging from historical monuments to modern resorts that offer the latest in recreational facilities. The main monuments in Milan are the Duomo and the Castello Sforzesco. Other famous attractions in Milan include the La Scala Opera house the massive Gothic Cathedral, and Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper. The city is also home to many leading fashion designers and is considered as the music capital of Italy.

Most of the works of famous designers are available in shops, boutiques, and showrooms located in Milan's famous "quadrangle of fashion" district near the city's center. Milan is also home to Italy's main design schools, world famous music conservatories, blue chip companies, financial institutions, and leading stock exchange. The city also hosts many of the conventions and trade fairs of Southern Europe at the Fiera Trade Fair Center.

The city has many picturesque places located nearby as it is situated close to the Italian Alps mountain chain. Major tourist cities such as Venice and Florence are just a few hours by train. You can enjoy skiing on the snow-capped mountains that are located just an hour's drive away from the city. The seaside villages of Liguria and "Cinque Terre" offer panoramic views of the local countryside and are located just two hours from the city. The city is also connected via train routes to other famous European countries such as France, Switzerland, and Austria. You can also board a one-hour flight for visiting the famous Spanish and Greek isles.

Milan derives its name from the Celtic word ‘Medelhan', which means ‘ the middle of the plain'. This may be either due to the fact that the city is close to the confluence of two small rivers, the Olona and the Seveso, or perhaps due to it's being close to and roughly equidistant from two major rivers, the Ticino and the Adda. The city also has a Latin name ‘Mediolanum', which roughly means ‘wool in the middle'. This name is also based on a Celtic lore in which it was prophesized that the settlement would be in a place where a wild boar or pig will appear. Even today, the mythological wild boar is sometimes used as a symbol of the city.

Apart from being a tourist destination, the city is one of the major financial and business centers in Europe. The city is home to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in the Piazza Duomo, which is supposed to be the world's oldest shopping mall. It is counted among the fashion capitals of the world, which includes other cities such as New York City, Paris, London, and Tokyo. It is one of the wealthiest cities in the European Union and is famous for its traditional Christmas sweet cake ‘Panettone', the Alfa Romeo motorcar, and for its silk production. The local people in Milan are referred to as ‘Milanese'.