City Guide - Milan

Milan (Milano), capital of Lombardy, is Italy's second largest and richest city. Wealthy and cosmopolitan, the Milanesi enjoy a reputation as successful businesspeople, equally at home overseas and in Italy.

Milan has never willingly thrown out the old. Three times in its history the city had to rebuild after conquest by foreign invaders. Founded in the seventh century BC by Celts, the city, then known as Mediolanum ('mid-plain'), was first sacked by the Goths in the 600s (AD), then by Barbarossa in 1157 and finally by the Allies in World War II when over a quarter of the city had to be restored due to the war's destruction. It is a miracle that so many historic treasures still exist, including Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper. Housed in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the city sought to protect the great work during the war by fortifying its immediate surroundings. A fortuitous effort, as the church and the painting were able to survive a direct hit.

The Milanesi's appreciation of tradition includes a singular respect for religion, to the extent that they even pay a special tax towards the Cathedral's (Duomo) maintenance. It is therefore fitting that the city's enduring symbol is the gilded statue of the Virgin, on top of the Cathedral.