Milan.
 

What would the perfect two day visit include? First visit to Milan. Thank you.

1.9 days at Bellagio, less than an hour away.<BR>

umm.....thank you.....

The duomo is pretty cool. It is fun to just walk through the Vic. Emanuele shopping center. (They have a good ice cream place on the outside overlooking the duomo sq--nice to take a breather and people watch) Also it is cool to take a tour of La Scala opera house. (If it isn't undergoing renovation)

I would walk around the Duomo area too. It's got shopping and monuments. If you want to see the Last Supper (Il Cenacolo), make reservations before coming, but with only two days, I would just enjoy the city. The center takes a full day. If you have the time, it might sound strange is to go to the cemetary. It is very beautiful and is filled with famous dead people. <BR>Corso Como is now a cute (expensive) street, which you can reach after going through Brera.<BR>Terza Carbonia is my favorite restaurant, and ask for a seat in the garden. Great food, nice relaxed (maybe a little noisy) enviornment. <BR>Have fun,<BR>Melissa<BR>

Much depends on your interests. I would devote the first day to the center of Milano. Start out from the Duomo, visit it inside-out (the best part is the back!) and, if it is not too cold, on top. Than spend the rest of the day touring the nearby area: via Arcivescovado, Piazza fontana, Piazza Meda, Piazzetta Belgioioso, Oiazza San Fedele, Via Degli Omenoni, Piazza Scala (the Scala theater is still undergoing distruction: now there is only the facade left, behid it there is a huge hole, the furniture has been destroyed too, nobody knows HOW the theater will be rebuilt, but it will not be the Scala anymore, this is a main scandal in Milano right now!), Galleria. In the afternoon you might visit the Brera gallery or Pinacoteca Ambrosiana. On the second day there is a wide range of things to do. Chose your favorite between spending the whole day visiting the fascinating and free museums at the Castello sforzesco, visiting Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Cenacolo (Last Supper, booking in advance is advisable) and valking along Corso Magenta, with its shops and historic buildings, visiting San'tAbbrogio, the ancient cathedral of Milano, San Lorenzo alle colonne and valking along the Navigli, Visiting the Brera area, Museo Poldi Pezzoli or Museo Bagatti Valsecchi, Giardini della Guastalla, the Ca' Granda University, Shopping at the Rinascente and much more.

thank you Alice, Melissa and Sherry very much for your response.

My visits to Milan are not complete without stopping (and shopping) at Peck, the most beautiful and complete food and wine store in the world.

<BR>Shopping: 'Furla' on Vitt. Emanuele. Just before the 3 story Max Mara (about 1 minute walk from the Duomo<BR>'Coccinelle' on Via Manzoni.<BR><BR>Both have italian leather purses. Fabulous style, good prices. 10 minute walk from Duomo<BR><BR>I second Alices suggestion to go to roof of Duomo - rain or shine. Its amazing to be up among all the statues, its HUGE up there - people even picnic up there. There is an elevator to the roof at the outside rear of the Duomo<BR>Enjoy!

Alice lives in Milano so she's the resident Milano expert. I posted this a few months back for a person who was going to Milan<BR> for the first time. A lot of people disagree about Milano. Personally, I love it:<BR> museums, energy, shopping, people watching!<BR><BR> Brera Gallery (a must):<BR> http://www.brera.beniculturali.it/gallery/index.php I like to go on Sundays when<BR> there are less crowds. Check times in advance. Superb collection.<BR><BR> Biblioteca Ambrosiana: Also a must see. Wonderful Old Master paintings and<BR> other fine art pieces. World famous.<BR><BR> Museo Poldi-Pozzoli: private art collection from wealthy patron who willed his<BR> collection as a museum.<BR><BR> Castello Sforzesco: great historical building/fortress and art collection. Tours in<BR> English.<BR><BR> Santa Maria delle Grazie: for Leondardo's famous &quot;Last Supper&quot; be sure to<BR> book tickets in advance. Advance reservations required. Unfortunately, even<BR> after the recent restoration, the fresco has badly deteriorated; check out the<BR> church next door.<BR><BR> Duomo and adjoining Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle II right next door -- you can't<BR> miss this. Prada has a boutique in the center of the Galleria. You can have<BR> coffee on the top floor of Rinascente department store adjacent to the Duomo<BR> for a great view!<BR><BR> Take a walk around the fashionable via Montenapoleone and adjoining streets<BR> for Italy's top names: Armani, Versace, D&amp;G, Gucci, Etro etc.<BR><BR> Have lunch at Peck around the corner from the Biblioteca Ambrosiana.<BR><BR> Stroll around the Navigli district (where the old canals are) for animated evenings<BR> and great local restaurants.<BR><BR> Check out: www.comune.milano.it (in Italian). www.museionline.com (click on<BR> English flag on the left of home page)

Other fashonable bot not so pricey (although they are pricey enough!) shops ar located in Corso Como, Corso Magenta (one of my favorite streets of Milano) and Corso Garibaldi.

Count me as another fan of Milan. Maybe it's not the league with Rome, Florence and Venice, but there's a lot to enjoy there.<BR>Adding to the pleasures already mentioned is sitting at a sidewalk cafe in the Piazza Duomo area on a Sunday afternoon and watching the scene of families enjoying the day.<BR>And, the fashion district is indeed worth your time...just looking is fun. It makes Rodeo Drive, Worth Avenue and like look very pale by comparison.<BR>(PS: Eye Spy, I'm delighted that we can agree on things!)

thank you Dale, Lisa, Eye Spy, Alice and Howard. i am looking forward to Milan.