NancyMatt

I'm traveling in June - July to Italy - landing in Venice then going to Florence and then Almalfi coast before flying out of Rome. I've never been to Milan before and thought it would be worth going. Our travel agent doesn't think it is worth going - she thinks Milan is too "industrial". I want to see the Last Supper and have relatives that live in Milan.
Also wondering if there is a mapquest for Italy. I can't find one on the web and I wanted to see the travel time from venice to milan and then to florence.

Thanks

StCirq

You can get "mapquest-type" information for Europe on www.mappy.com.

Any travel agent who doesn't think something in Europe is "worth it" has probably never set foot in that spot. Milan is a huge and vibrant city in Italy - what could not be "worth it" about visiting it, apart from the fact that "The Last Supper" is there? I just don't get the TA perspective...

tuscanlifeedit

NancyMatt

I think your TA is leading you astray. If you want to see the Last Supper and family, why shouldn't you go to Milan? In the center it will lovely, with a beautiful cathedral, the Galleria and really great upscale shopping/window shopping. Why not go for a day or two?

For driving times/directions/distances in Europe, I use mappy.com and viamichelin.com

LoveItaly

Hi Nancy, I would question your TA as to when she has been to Milan. I would imagine she has never been there. Others here have posted their thoughts and I agree. Milan is certainly worth visiting and if you have relatives in Milan of course you should go there. How long will you be in Italy? And will you be travelling by car or train? Best wishes to you and have a wonderful time in Italy.

Huitres

Milan is definitely worth it! There are so many facets to the city that it is unfair to categorize it with a general statement as being "industrial." It is a very cultured, beautiful, and elegant place that is certainly worth seeing. Especially since 1) you will be up in the north at Venice and 2) you have relatives that live there.

You can refer to www.trenitalia.com for travel times via train (convenient). Enter Venezia and Milano, and then Milano and Firenze in the boxes on the L side of the screen for schedules and times.

Check out my trip report "Magnifico Milano" http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34731679 for some ideas on what to see and do while in Milan. Buon viaggio!

Tulips

Milan would be worth visiting for the Last Supper, and has so many other qualities. We went to the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, where we were practically the only people there; seeing Da Vinci in a beautifully restored mansion without anyone else in the room, except for the guard. We didn't go to the Pinacoteca Brera (the larger museum), but passing it on a Saturday in September we didn't see many people there either. Certainly not the queues that you see in Florence and Rome. The Duomo is beautiful, there's the Scala, and the shopping is the best in Italy; even if you don't shop, walking around the Via Montenapoleone and Via Spiga is an experience. Not to mention, you have relatives there that can tell you where to eat and stay.

Jubes2681

I went to Milan for only one day (couldn't afford any more time unfortunately) and I was with 3 friends - we all loved it and thought it was worth the expensive train ride from Florence. We saw the Last Supper and walked on the roof of the city's amazing cathedral. Besides that, we just walked around and had a few drinks at an Irish pub (odd, I admit) while we waited for our viewing time for the Last Supper.

If you do end up in Milan for a day or two, you should book a viewing time for the Last Supper before you leave for Italy so you don't have to kill time waiting. There's not much around the Last Supper so we had to waste about 2hours in the local area. While I enjoyed grabbing a quite bite and drink at the pub, I would've preferred spending my time in a museum or seeing more of the city. If you have a viewing time set up ahead of time, then you can enjoy other museums and shopping areas in the city before going to see the Last Supper.

aerbare

We've never been to Milan, but when we were down in Belize we met a young couple (our age 20-30) and they told us not to bother. They said that Florence, Venice, Rome were much better. We still haven't planned a trip to Milan

alison

i saw on NBC coverage of the olympics that scaffolding covers the facade of the duomo. does anyone know if it's still possible to go inside and/or on the roof during this renovation?

rkkwan

alison - Yes, you can visit the inside as well as go up to the roof (both stairs and two elevators).

I found Milan to be a very vibrant city. It doesn't have as many "must-see" stuff as Florence or Rome, but it's still worth a short visit.

DeirdreStraughan

I got so tired of people slandering Milan (where I lived for 13 years) that I put up a web page of tips, links, and things to do:

http://beginningwithi.com/italy/travel/milano.htm

best regards,
Deirdré Straughan

beginningwithi.com

walkinaround

>>>>
Any travel agent who doesn't think something in Europe is "worth it" has probably never set foot in that spot.
>>>>

this statement sounds just as silly (and arrogant) as saying that any european travel agent who thinks that something in north america is not worth it has never been there.

i know this will make europhiles shudder but not everything in europe is worth visiting. as for milan, it depends on what you are looking for. it is true that a stop in the city for the first time visitor to Italy with limited time and no particular reason to visit is probably not worth it. i worked in milan for a while and it is a fantastic city (one of my favourites). however, it does not have the beauty of many other italian cities and it takes some time to appreciate its charms (people, food, culture,vibrancy etc). I do agree that if you communicated to your travel agent what you have communicated here to us, then it is foolish to say that it is not worth a visit. as everywhere, you will learn infinitely more from spending time with your family and having them show you around than you will from just visiting the top sites in Florence or Venice (for example).

bradykp

I am going to be in Milan for a few days on my trip to italy in march. I wouldn't be there if not for a friend's basketball game. I'm not going to say it's not worth it, since i haven't been there yet, but my opinion has been on my last two visits that it's less of a priority for me, since there's so much to see in the other cities. This will probably be my only trip to Milan, but if my perception changes, I'll be sure to post about it!

RufusTFirefly

I don't think Milan "isn't worth it," but it isn't up there with Venice and Rome for the number and quality of sights and unique atmospehre. I wouldn't take time away from Venice or Rome to fit Milan in, but if you've already been to these cities or have plenty of time, then Milan is a fine destination.

Guy18

Of course any huge city is going to have things worth seeing, but, let's face it, he/she is right to call it an industrial city. For someone with limited time to experience italy, I would tell them to skip Milan.

HOWEVER, since you have a personal interest in the last supper and your relatives, then by all means you should go to Milan. A travel agent shouldn't be trying to convince you not to go somewhere you want to go.