Two days in Milan and Parma
 

Hi newbie here. I will be going to Milan for two days (4/11-4/13) and I'm thinking about taking a day trip to Parma to get some fine prosciutto (the highlight of this trip). I'll be arriving at MXP around 11am on Saturday. I have no idea where I'm going and I hope I can get some advice from this forum. My hotel is right next to Stazione Centrale.

1. Should I go to Parma Sat afternoon for half-day and then spend a full day in Milan on Sunday, or vice versa? I'm not sure if most places I want to go close on Sunday or not. I'd like to go to flea market, food market, via montenapoleone (Armani megastore in particular), la scala, duomo and Last Supper in Milan. I am going to buy the Metro day pass and I can walk really fast.
2. Being as cheap as I am, where can I get some designer clothing with deep discounts?
3. I need to buy some soccer jerseys for my nephew (he is a big fan of Inter Milan). Where can I find those?
4. Do most deli places in Parma open on Sat and Sun? Where should I start if I want to get some good deli (prosciutto of course)? Any recommendations? I heard that we can't bring prosciutto back to the States. Is it true?
5. Any good places for gelato near Stazione Centrale? Are there any supermarket near the train station?
6. Which Italian restaurant should I try if I can eat only one meal in Milan (and near the Metro station)?
7. Are there any souvenirs I can only get in Milan but nowhere else?

Unfortunately, looks like Last Supper is already sold out for that weekend, unless you take a tour that includes it.

The duomo and La Scala Museum are both open 7 days a week. While in that area, you can also go to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II.

You can find great prosciutto in Milan so I would not take the train to Parma just for that..and you will not have much time in any case, given all that you want to do in Milan! You are not allowed to bring prosciutto back to the US. Some people manage to do it, however.

My guess is that most,but not all, food shops are closed on Sundays.

For deep discounts and a big selection of designer clothing and accessories, your best bet are the outlets outside Milan. Like this one:


http://www.mcarthurglen.it/serravall...cationplan.php



There is an Etro outlet in central Milan on Via Spartaco.

Are there any deep discount stores for designer clothes near the Central Station (or anywhere accessible by Metro) in Milan?

What flea markets/street market should I visit on Sunday?

Are those shops on Monte Napoleone open on Sunday?

Are there any department stores that worth a visit to get some souvenirs(I have one morning on Monday)?

I was very impressed by the Milan shopping section in the new Fodor's Italy guide (2009) -- and no, they don't pay me to say that and I have criticisms of the other parts of the guide. But take a look at it. It would really useful to you given your shopping questions.

You should be able to pick up soccer jerseys from street vendors.

I agree you shouldn't go to Parma for the proscuitto, which you can easily get in Milano.

My guess is that a few shops in the Quadrilatro are open Sundays--sometimes the big, commercial names like Prada and Gucci remain open while most of the other shops are closed.

One of the famous outlets in the city that I forgot to mention is:

http://www.10corsocomo.com/#store_photogallery/

sorry--Quadrilatero

Does anyone know if it is cheaper to buy designer fragrance in Milan than in the States?

It depends on the fragrance! If you are speaking of Estee Lauder, the answer is "no!"

I would do some pricing at home and plan to buy at the airport duty free.

what about Armani and Prada fragrance? would it be cheaper to get it in Milan or is it pretty much the same price I can get it online/duty free shop?

I have no idea! I would check prices at home/online and then look again at the airport prior to departure. My guess is that the airport will have the best prices..depending of course on the dollar/euro exchange rate when you buy.

10 Corso Como is not an outlet; rather a very original beautiful shop, with an interesting selection of the best designers, books, and other things. There's a restaurant as well.

I believe there is a shop AND an outlet..the unsold items from the main store end up in the outlet.

I didn't know that. Must check it when I'm in Milan next week.
For prosciutto try Peck; http://www.peck.it/

where is Peck located? I can't figure it out from their website. Is it near the central station?

No. Peck is near the Duomo. It is the most famous food shop in Europe, by the way. Prices are high. You can buy prosciutto in many places.



The station area is not all that nice, by the way.

Here is a map of Milan; you can see where Peck is located:

http://tinyurl.com/dlgb5f

Update on Milan outlets:

Bruno Magli, Via Manzoni, 14



Bassetti, (linens) Vic C. Botta, 7a

Max Mara, Galleria San Carlo