Milan, with a population of around 1.3 million, is the capital city of the Lombardy region in northern Italy. The city is strategically positioned, in the centre of the Po Valley, at the gateway to the Italian peninsula. Milan was founded by the Gauls around 600 BC but, at various points in its history, has been ruled by Celts, Romans, Goths, Lombards, Spaniards, Austrians, Napoleon Boneparte and Beneto Mussolini. The city was destroyed, in large part, by Allied bombing raids during World War I, but has since emerged as a prinicipal centre for commerce and finance and, more recently, for design and fashion. Milan has a rich cultural heritage and more than its fair share of attractions, making it an ideal destination for vacation getaways. Flight and hotel packages to Milan are available, so why not book your flight to Milan today?
Milan is actually served by three airports; Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa and Milan Bergamo, of which Milan Malpensa is the largest and the only one that caters for long-haul, international flights. Milan Malpensa Airport (IATA: MXP) is situated approximately 50 kilometres northwest of Milan, but is easily accessible by bus, taxi or train. A flight from New York to Milan typically takes in the region of 8½ hours, while a flight from Los Angeles to Milan typically takes around 12½ hours. U.S. citizens entering Italy for the purposes of tourism, or business, can stay for up to 90 days without a visa, although passports should be valid for at least six months after the departure date of your vacation to Milan. Italy is a member of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), so its currency is the Euro (€), and the whole of Italy is six hours ahead of Washington, DC or, in other words, six hours head of Eastern Standard Time (EST). Check out the latest flight and hotel deals now.
Milan enjoys a continental climate characterized by hot, sultry summers and damp, chilly winters. If you want to take advantage of last minute vacation packages, you might like to know that July and August are the hottest months of the year, with high temperatures of 84ºF, or 29ºC, and low temperatures of 64ºF, or 20ºC. By contrast, January and December are the coldest months of the year, with high temperatures of 45ºF, or 7ºC, and low temperatures of 36ºF, or 2ºC. In common with the rest of the Po Valley, Milan is sometimes shrouded by fog during the winter, although much less often than was once the case. Precipitation, which totals 1,082mm, or 42.6in, a year on average, is evenly distributed throughout the seasons, but often of low intensity. Reserve your flight and hotel for Milan today to avoid disappointment.
On a vacation to Milan, shopping must be at the top of any list of things to do. The city remains a dominant force in the fashion trade, with the so-called Quadrilatero d’Oro, in English, Rectangle of Gold, providing outlets for the finest haute couture designers in the world. Milan is a young, cosmopolitan city, with no shortage of bars and clubs open late into the night while, for those of a cultural persuasion, Teatro alla Scala is one of the most famous opera stages in the world, offering performances – of ballet, music and theatre, as well as opera – all year round. Of course, Milan is also home to two giants of European football, AC Milan and FC Internazionale, so fans may like to include the 80,000-capacity Stadio San Siro, located 5 kilometres west of Milan city centre. Browse the range of vacation package deals available without delay.
Points of interests for Milan vacations include the Duomo di Milano, an extravagant Gothic cathedral, originally begun by Giangaleazzo Visconti in 1386, whose spires reach a height of over 108 metres, or 356 feet, above Piazzo del Duomo in the old part of the city. The interior of the Duomo is punctuated by over 50 stained glass windows, some of which are original and some of which have been restored, illustrating political and religious life. Elsewhere in the city, one of the most famous sights in Milan, The Last Supper, by Leonardo da Vinci, occupies a whole wall of a former refectory in the Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie.Satisfy your curiosity by choosing a flight and hotel package to Milan straight away.
Befitting the capital city of a landlocked region, Milanese cuisine is based on meat, rather than fish. Even on all inclusive vacations, take the opportunity to try regional specialities, such as burnished, buttery veal cutlets, known locally as cotoletta alla Milanese, or simply costoletta for short, or hearty pork and cabbage stew, known as cassoeula. Other distinctive tastes of Milan include risotto alla Milanese, colored golden with saffron, and minestrone, made in the Milanese style with peas, zucchini and a medley of other fresh spring vegetables. If your mouth is watering, why not book one of our travel packages to Milan right now?
Are you planning your flight to Italy? If the allure of Milan for your getaway doesn't quite captivate you, consider delving into the charm of other vibrant cities from this country, and other near countries. Browse through our enticing flight and hotel bundles for your upcoming holiday escapade!