Castello Sforzesco This was a former ducal palace, that now contains some museums and important art exhibitions, dating back to 1450, although it underwent a huge renovation towards the end of the 19th century.

Teatro alla Scala Built in 1778, this world famous Opera House has a Neoclassical facade which developed as a prototype for lots of other opera houses in Italy. Many famous names in Opera such as Verdi, Puccini and Bellini made their debuts here.  visit the official Scala website

Duomo The world's largest Gothic Cathedral, founded in 1386, stands in the centre of Milan in Piazza Duomo, which is also home to the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. It has 245 steps, and on a clear day if you climb to the top you can see views across to the Alps. It has a 108 foot spire with the Virgin Mary at the point , the Madonnina, which is covered in 3,900 pieces of gold leaf.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele This stunning, huge, covered shopping arcade found in Piazza Duomo was built in 1885-78 using innovative designs using iron and glass (like the Eiffel Tower). It was also novel, in the fact that it combined shops on the ground floor and businesses on the level above. The Galleria design is the same as the Galleria Umberto in Naples. People gather in the Galleria to shop, to have a walk or passegiata or to sit at a cafe or restaurant and 'people watch'.

10 Corso Como, Corso Como and Via della Spiga and Via Montenapoleone Being in the fashion capital of Italy, if not the world, a trip to these hotspots is essential to experience the fashion culture, and to experience the glamorous nightlife and mingle with Milan's rich and beautiful (and the occasional footballer or model!)

Armani Store The Armani head office and flagship department store can be found just a short walk away from Via Montenapoleone. Here, you will find everything from Armani clothes, chocolates, flowers and shoes. There is also a bar and restaurant. The nobu bar has the best aperitivo in Milan and a very classy and fashion conscious clientele. From about 7 every evening a lavish and delicious aperitivo is laid on (it is complimentary, you just need to buy a drink and mingle), no expense spared, with traditional Italian food, as well as sushi, noodles, prawns, pork with sweet chilli dip....and many other dishes. There is also the Armani nightclub downstairs, although I've heard that it is strictly guestlist only, and even then about 200 euros entry cover charge! This place is definitely worth a visit, and a whole experience in itself, and if you are lucky, Mr.Armani might swing by for a drink himself as he often does!

Princi This is essentially a bakery, with two shops around the Corso Como area, another one in Centro Storico, and another few around the city. Their slogan is bread and breakfast. They do great lunches and aperitivos here. They have a wide variety of freshly cooked pizzas, freshly baked lasagnes and other traditional dishes, delicious freshly baked Italian cakes (such as the traditional panettone), and many types of breads, including a traditional green olive bread that although slightly salty extremely tasty. At the Princi branch near Corso Como you can see the bakers making the pizza dough and various cakes. It is open either 24 hours or until very late, has an outside seating area and is at it's busiest at aperitivo time and at around 4 or 5 in the morning when the partygoers come out of the many surrounding bars and clubs.