Milan and Como
Wednesday March 29, 2017
I arrived in Milan late on Saturday night when it was pouring with rain. I had arranged for an airport pickup from my B&B, and sure enough I was met at the airport gate by the owner, who had a sign with my name on it (I found this so novel, I've never had that anywhere before!) As we left Milano Linate Airport, I commented that it was quite busy for the time of night and he said that the Pope had been visiting that day, and that's why there were so many armed guards posted around the airport. I mentioned that I had just come from London and that the armed forces were heavily present everywhere as well due to the incidents last week.
The next day, I set out exploring the city. I walked into town and wandered the streets of Quadrilatero d'Oro - the golden quadrilateral - known for its super expensive shops and famous brands. I continued to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, famous for its massive dome over the shopping arcade where Louis Vuitton, Prada and Versace can be found. Just outside was the Cathedral Duomo di Milano, a massive church that sits at the heart of the city. Probably Milan's most iconic landmark, the cathedral is visited by thousands per day, and the queue to get in is shockingly long - and is separate from the queue to get tickets, which is also as long! It's completely worth it though, the interior is adorned with beautiful stained glass windows and fantastic sculptures and paintings. The real treat however is the terrace. My cheaper ticket allows me stair access to the top - one can pay extra to use the lift. The view from the roof of the cathedral is stunning and it's quite surreal standing on top of this magnificent building and seeing all the arches and spires up close.
Walking down the main pedestrian mall from the cathedral leads me to the Sforzesco Castle, where surprisingly, I find a cat commune and a crazy cat lady feeding them. Apart from that, the castle holds one of Michelangelo's unfinished works, as well as some of Leonardo da Vinci's. I didn't want to wait in queues anymore, so I continued through the park to Arco della Pace, a monumental arch at Porta Sempione. A quick walk through Chinatown and then I was back in town for dinner.
The next day, I took a train north to Como, a beautiful town by the eponymous lake, Lago di Como. The waterfront walk is gorgeous and in the bright sunny weather, it was a real treat and so, so different to the chilly spring weather of London. I spent a few hours wandering around and prestiging two of the many Mystic Pokemon Gyms in Como before heading out for some local seafood and some tiramisu. Yum!
The east side of town leads up to Brunate, a town on the hill overlooking the lake. Access is via the funicular train, or better yet, a winding path that takes about an hour but is so worth it. You're treated to a peaceful stroll through bush and greenery, and the most magnificent views pointing northwest towards Chiasso, Switzerland. I had lunch at the funicular station at the top overlooking the lake and thought to myself how amazing this is. I walked to Faro Voltiano, a lighthouse even further up the hill, but the view again was breathtaking. I was so enthralled by the snow capped mountains in the distance and the warm sun, it made me so happy to be here.
I walked all the way back down via San Donato, and had a quick break in my room before heading out for gelato and dinner - in that order, because I'm an adult. A glass of the house white wine, a plate of spaghetti with mixed seafood and the colours of the sunset by the lake - life is truly good for me right now.
And now, I'm on the train back to Milan and then on another to Venice, city of canals!
Posted by Jeremy at 11:38am on Wednesday March 29, 2017 :: 0 comments :: 