If you are weary from sightseeing and shopping in Milan, and are looking for a tranquil setting, head to the lovely Monte Stella. Condition: You would need a little bit of energy to hike up the hill :).
If you are a fitness enthusiast, you could jog along the path here.
Monte Stella is a verdant location with various paths leading around and up the hill. This artificial hill was created from rubble resulting from WWII damage.
After that introduction to some of the piazzas in Milan, here are some of my other favorites: Piazza Cordusio Surrounded by beautiful bank buildings, this oval-shaped piazza in the heart of Milan is almost always teeming with activity. Sometimes, I pause here, watch the trams go by, peer at the Castello Sforzesco in the distance and then take a short walk along the lively pedestrian street, Via dei Mercanti, that leads to the Duomo.
I often set off on long walks in Milan. And on every such promenade, I look forward to a short break in a beautiful piazza. From the grand Piazza del Duomo to the pleasant Piazza del Carmine, each square has a story, a vibrance, and a charm of its own. Some are crowded with excited tourists and buzzing with activity, others are quiet and offer a tranquil getaway from the former.
The Monday after Easter Sunday, known as Pasquetta, is typically spent outdoors – in the countryside with friends, a picnic in a garden…
And so, although the weather was barely showing signs of spring, we decided to visit one of the public parks in Milan, the Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli. We had already seen the civic aquariumand the Museum of Natural History that are located in the same garden. This time, we were ready to enjoy the outdoors.
I gazed and admired and stared and marveled and wondered and gazed again…
We rode the metro to the ‘Duomo’ stop, took the exit towards the Piazza del Duomo, ascended the stairs, and…
I simply couldn’t take my eyes off the Duomo, located in the heart of Milan. I had viewed many pictures of this centerpiece of Milan earlier. Yet, when I saw the actual marble structure in all its grandeur (there is absolutely nothing that is simple about it), I was almost speechless.
Another very cold and grey weekend morning. The unanimous choice was to spend at least a couple of hours riding the ‘passante’ trains in Milan (with 2 ardent train lovers in the family, even if I hadn’t voted FOR, it would’ve been the majority choice! :))
We marched out in the ‘grey’ outdoors for a short walk to the Porta Garibaldi Railway Station. And VOILA!
What a colorful feast for the eyes!
After unpacking, shopping for essentials, recovering from a wee bit of jet lag, and settling down in our little apartment, we looked forward to a relaxed weekend in Milan.
Someone had mentioned that a street market took place on Tuesdays and Saturdays in our area. Well, I’d heard a great deal about the open-air markets in several European cities and I wondered what Saturday had in store for us.
At about 6 am, we heard voices and the sound of vehicles outside.