Milano.

The first city we visited on our second field trip was to Milan, Italy in the north eastern part of the country. Our first day there we explored the main attractions in the city including The Duomo (beautiful gothic cathedral!), Piazza del Duomo, and the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II. The ornate details of the Duomo in Milan were absolutely breathtaking, the church clearly screams gothic architecture both inside and outside. We walked through the Galleria Victorio Emmanuele II which is technically a glass enclosed street. The covered arcade was a great asset to the space, providing shelter from the weather and creating an aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The new class enclosure compliments the existing classic ornate façade of the buildings that line the street. The Galleria creates an urban space that is frequently used for shopping (the big stores like Prada and Louis Vuitton are located here), grabbing a quick bite or even listening to live music!

The Duomo.

Our last stop on the first day was the new Universita Covooni by Grafton Architects. This new university was a great example of contemporary architecture. The interesting thing about this building was the use of suspended volumes, how the architect introduced light into the space, and really creating an open space within the site. On our last day in Milan we went to see “Il Sole 240re” by Renzo Piano and the Alfa Romeo and Subsidized Housing al Portello by Cino Zucchi.

Universita Covooni, Grafton Architects

Subsidized Housing al Portello

“Il Sole 240re” by Renzo Piano

TIPS WHEN IN MILAN:

1. When in the Piazza del Duomo, foreign men will approach you very forcefully trying to get you to take seeds to feed the birds. They will actually get to the point where they will try to grab your hand for you to take the seeds.

2. When in a restaurant, foreign men will come in and interrupt your dinner by shoving flowers in your face. It is okay to make rude comments, they do not understand and will continue to smile. Best though to just ignore them.

3. WHAT TO DO FOR DINNER IN MILAN!? Go to an aperitivo! They are simply amazing!! It is hard to find a reasonably priced dinner in Milan, everything is so expensive! One drink will allow you to feast on two plates of food in the bar’s buffet. Yea, the drinks are a little expensive, but the authentic Italian antipasto filled with cheeses, pastas, meats, breads and olives will fill you up! It’s a definite recommendation!!