From the enchanted rooftop world of the Duomo, you can see the graceful porticoes and ornate friezes of medieval Milan, Italy, fade into the sharp lines and angles of the modern city. It's a clear reminder that Milan isn't just a relic from the past. This magical yet understated city is bursting with a perfect mix of history, polished style and urban energy.
Although it's Italy's most prosperous city, Milan doesn't draw the tourists that may overrun Rome, Florence and Venice. But its streets are lined with famous sites, from the beloved opera house La Scala and the spired Gothic splendor of the Duomo to the beaux arts filigree of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Its museums and galleries hold many treasures, from Da Vinci's The Last Supper to Michelangelo's Rondanini Pieta.
And even when willowy models wearing the latest designer confections aren't rushing through the streets to get to casting sessions and runway shows, Milan is a powerhouse of smart, ubercool shops and trendy restaurants filled with dressed-to-kill locals, right in the heart of its ancient past.
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