Milan Holiday

The bustling Italian city of Milan is famous the world over for its fashion, but has a great deal more to offer visitors than simply world class shopping.

The main city of northern Italy, Milan is located in Lombardy, the country's most populated and developed region, and has a population of around four million.

Milan is thought to have been founded by Celts around 600 BC and became a major town under Roman rule, when it was known as Mediolanum. In the 4th century AD it was the capital of the Western Roman Empire and the second largest city in Europe. Milan gained semi-independence from the Holy Roman Empire in the 11th century, but was left decimated by a succession of plagues between 1402 and 1629.

During the Renaissance the city was ruled by dukes and was a key centre of art and culture. Milan has changed hands many times during the centuries and was conquered by France in the 15th century, followed by Spain and Austria, eventually becoming part of the kingdom of Italy in 1861. The city was heavily bombed during the Second World War, but was reconstructed after the war and became and has grown into a key European financial and industrial centre.

Thousands of visitors flock to Milan each year for its fashion. The stunning Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, located on the impressive Piazza Duomo, is thought to be the world's oldest shopping mall and Milan has a dizzying array of shopping streets. It is well worth browsing for a day, particularly for Italian silks, clothes, shoes and leather goods.

Though Milan is not a pretty city in itself, it does have some lovely buildings. The Castello Sforzesco was partly redesigned by Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci and is home to paintings by Bellini, Titian and Van Dyck, while the Biblioteca Ambrosiana has some drawings and notebooks by Leonardo da Vinci in its large collection of manuscripts and drawings.

The Gothic Duomo in Milan is the world's fourth-largest church and a confusion of spires, statuary, pillars and buttresses, providing an excellent panoramic view of the city. Milan also has a number of important churches, including the Santa Maria delle Grazie, with Leonardo da Vinci The Last Supper, and the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio, founded in the 4th century and now a mishmash of architectural styles.

Travellers looking for vibrant nightlife will be delighted with Milan's stylish and energetic club scene as well as its numerous glamorous bars and elegant restaurants. The city is home to the famous Theatre La Scala, one of the most important opera venues in the world, and its many other theatres have an impressive programme of performance events.

Several budget airlines now fly into Milan and the city is becoming a cheaper destination for travellers. However, as Italy's financial centre it attracts a large business crowd and many of the hotels reflect this both in design and pricing. Cheaper options are available and it is wise to spend some time looking around before booking somewhere.