I wish you a...scary Halloween!

Actually in these days Milan isn't scary at all, today it was sunny and warm. I took some pictures in one of my favorites public gardens, the one behind the Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio in the Ticinese district (I know..another post about this district but the park today was really heavenly!). If you're in Milan in these days, don't miss it. I suggest you to stroll around in Corso di Porta Ticinese, enter the shops, visit the church (since is Halloween i suggest you to visit the underground ancient cemetery alone...is quite creepy), and go to eat something to California Backery (its tables overlook the church) or to Cantina della Vetra, more expensive but really typical.

Street art in Milan

If you are in Milan, and you've decided to spend an evening in the canals area, the so called "Navigli", I highly raccomand you to go there by tram (number 3) from the center of the city, get off to the stop Carrobbio or Colonne di San Lorenzo and then walk. It will take less than 20 minutes, but you'll walk trough one of the most young and unexpected areas of the city: Corso di Porta Ticinese aka Via dell'Ironia (Irony road). Open your eyes and enjoy the graffiti, the paintings and the surprises you'll see on every corner! This road has been transformed by street artists in a lively creative/artistic/cultural experience!
I suggest you to go there before the  sunset, so you can see the graffiti, find the shops still open (here you can find trendy and unique shops...I'll write a post dedicated to the shopping in this area) and be to the Navigli in time for the Aperitivo, which usually takes place between 6 and 9 p.m.
I love walking trough this road, I find it inspiring and I've never seen anything like that..at least in Milan! These paintings in frame I've photographed today are brand new.
Ooops, another post on the Ticinese area, pls forgive me ;-)

Here you can find the official website of the road

War scars in Milan

During the WWII, in august '43, Milan was seriously bombed and has had even a beginning of a fire storm, like the one which destroyed Dresden. Not all the signs have been removed from the surfaces of the city, and strolling around is possible to find and recognize them. I think it's important to know it and to remember those terrible days, for the those people and for us.
Some of these scars are very visible and some of them even in iconic places of the city, but if you don't know what they mean, you'll even never notice them.
In the pictures you'll find signs leaved by bombs splinters on the main portal of the Duomo (can you believe it?) and on poles near the Central Station, and a mark of an incendiary bomb in Piazza Affari (which unfortunately has been covered with plaster).
Look for them through the city!

Milan is beautiful..when it rains!

When it rains all complain, but Milan has a special charm that only comes out in this weather. It makes you feel safe and protected.

This is me

Today I won't tell you about Milan, but about me, because I'm so proud to tell you that last Saturday I attended to a congress with my own poster.
This is the website of the museum which hosted the congress. The congress was focused on the archaeological researches done in the last 25 years in the province of Pavia.
And...this is me with my poster!

Come on let's talk about: public transportation in Milan

The public transportation in Milan is efficient and easy to use, you can take the tram, the bus and the subway with the same ticket. As written on the Milan public transportation (ATM) official website, "Urban tickets are priced at a flat rate. Extra-urban and cumulative tickets are priced progressively depending on the distance travelled between the departure point and the final destination".

The most used by the tourists are:

- The Urban Ticket: costs 1.50€ and has a validity of 90 minutes after stamping, but be careful because it is valid for just a single journey on the underground or rail network.

- The One Day Ticket: costs 4.50€ and has a validity of 24h after stamping.

- The Two Day Ticket: costs 8.25 and has a validity of 48h after stamping.

More info on the website.

Remember that you can't buy tickets on board, but newsstands usually sell them and in every subway station you'll find the vending machines!

Enjoy the city!!

Happy birthday Giuseppe Verdi!

Milan celebrates today the 200th anniversary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi, I took a chance and went to greet the Master in the retirement home for musicians founded by him (For more information take a look to the website). Verdi and his second wife, the soprano Giuseppina Strepponi, are buried there. Verdi (along with Vivaldi) is considered the greatest Italian composer, he lived for a long time in Milan and the city still loves him so much.

Alfa Romeo MILANO!

Have you ever looked closely at the Alfa Romeo logo? What do you see? On one hand a red cross on a white background and the other a green dragon who eats a man. Curious? The red cross on white is the flag of the city, is very ancient and dates back to the 11th Century, in Milan you'll see it everywhere, on the main tower of the Sforza Castle, on the small green fountains...look for it. And the dragon? Is the coat of arms of the ducal families who ruled over the city between the 13th and the end of the 15th Century. Look carefully and you will find many dragons hidden in the city!! Here is a photo of the historical Alfa Romeo logo!