Milan is a city in Italy – capital of the Lombardy region and the second most populous commune in Italy.  It is a city that is rich in it’s various aspects – fashion, commerce, arts, education, media, tourism. It’s business district is host to the Italian Stock Exchange – making it the most important place for Italian business sector.

The city is majorly known across the globe as a fashion and design capital, recognized for it’s world-famous events such as the Milan Fashion Week and Milan Furniture Fair.

The ‘themed’ weeks of Milan

Milan Fashion Week

Milan is truly a global capital for it’s advancements in the field of fashion. The Milan Fashion Week is a semi-annual event held in March and October of each year. The event was first held in the year 1958 and is part of the global “big 4 fashion events”, alongside “Paris, London and New York fashion week”.

The Milan Fashion Week sees brands like Armani, Cavalli, Gucci, Prada, Versace – among others of the world’s leading fashion brands making appearance in the fashion week.

The 7 day event turns the city of Milan into a touristic hob as the event is not held in one place of the Milan city but expands across – turning the whole city into a fashion stage, with showcasing of designs from the world’s leading fashion brands.  Locations such as Palazzo Reale& Palazzo serbelloni attract the most tourists.

Milan Furniture Fair

The Milan Furniture Fair is an annual event held in Milan, Italy. The event showcases the modernistic development in the field of furniture across the globe. It is known as the largest trade fair of it’s kind in the world.

In the furniture circle, this event is seen as the perfect platform for furniture, lightning and other house furnishings makers to display their designs to people who come for this fair from all across the world. The show goes by many names, such as “Salone”, “Milano Salone” and “Milan Design Week”.

The event was launched in 1961, originally planned as a platform for Italian furniture designers to showcase their new products but has since been turned into a global stage wherein furniture makers from across the world showcase their products under one roof, in one city.

The show has grown in size through the years and is now roughly a platform to 13,000 companies from across the globe in the furniture industry to showcase their products in the single event.

The event also features guest’s talks & exhibitions – making it a true furniture lover’s delight. The event is held every year from April 4^th to 9^th, those in Milan during this time – you cannot miss this epic furniture carnival.

The 2017 fair will focus it’s attention to Euroluce biennial (lightning) and workplace 3.0 – which will host furniture and office system companies. It is expected that there will be exhibition from over 92 countries with 300,000 expected visitors to the event from over 165 countries. It is then no doubt that Milan will turn into furniturefair for the 5 days starting from 4^th of April.

Why to visit Milan?

The landmarks

Piazza Del Duomo : the city square of Milan, it is dominated by the Milan Cathedral. The center point of the city has heaps of sights that one can visit and capture a true glimpse into the rich cultural history of the Milan.

The Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral) : one of the most sought after sights to visit by tourists in the city of Milan, this cathedral is dedicated to St Mary of Nativity. The Gothic Cathedral took 600 years in the making to be completed.

Palazzo Arengariois 2-semestric buildings, dedicated to 20^th century art are a few other prominent sights of visiting while in Milan.

The La Scala opera house in the City of Milan in Italy was inaugurated on the 3^rd of August, 1778. World’s top-most singing & opera artists have bestowed upon their midas touch in this very building of La Scala. The theatre is regarded as the leading opera and ballet theatre in the world. It is another beautiful landmark to visit while in Milan.

Lake Como :Train from Milano Centrale to Lake Como costs 13 euros and the trip is roughly one hour long and is totally worth it. One of the most beautiful lakes of Northern Italy, the destination is considered as an ideal for those who are in Milan and looking for just the perfect holiday getaway.

Where to stay, when in Milan?

The Mandarin Oriental is located in the heart of the Milan City – giving you just the ideal place to relax when tired of exploring the wonders that this gem of a city from Italy has on offer.

With royal services like spa & wellness, 104 luxurious rooms and fine dining – the Mandarin Oriental is just the right place to stay when in Milan and looking to get the best from the history of Milan and the royal treatment of Mandarin Oriental.

The 18^th century building of Mandarin Oriental is just a few steps away from the La Scala Opera House – which as we earlier mentioned, is the finest opera house of the world.

Shopping in the heart of Milan

The best area to shop in Milan is located just a few steps ahead of the Mandarin Oriental i.e. the area of Via Della Spiga and Via Montenapoleone – roughly 2 minutes from the hotel. World renowned brands like Prada and Gucci have their showrooms in these very streets. This area thus becomes a hotspot for lovers of shopping, quality food and stay, to be here means you get the most out of the central location of the city.

How to get to Milan from India?

New Delhi : There’s a non-stop directly connecting flight from India-Milan via AirIndia. The total travelling time is 8H45M.

Mumbai &Bangalore : Mumbai passengers can opt to travel via Etihad Airlines that has one stoppage Mumbai>Abu Dhabi (3 hour stoppage)>Milan. Total travelling time is roughly 14Hours.

Those staying in Bangalore can fly via Qatar Airways with 1 stoppage at Doha (2Hours) and then to Milan – total travelling time of 12H45M.