Holy Week in Milan
 

I know Holy Week is huge in Rome - actually, all throughout Europe - but what is the deal in Milan? Is there something huge going on that I don't know about (excuse my naivete if there is!:)) I am trying to help a friend book one night in a hotel there on the Friday-Saturday of Palm Sunday weekend, and virtually no hotels are available. Those that are have extremely high prices. We are not finding a similar problem in Rome or Florence, where I think it would be an issue also.

Any advice? I've tried venere.com, Expedia, Travelocity, and a few Europe hotel and Italy hotel booking sites. Also, they have to stay in Milan that night - my friend's mother is flying in early in the day on Friday, and my friend flies in around 8pm that night, so traveling anywhere else to stay for the night would be illogical. They plan to spend just the morning in Milan on Saturday and then take the train to Cinque Terre.

Oops. I didn't mean to insert that obnoxious laughing smiley - sorry!