The tradition of the aperitif was established by the Milanese, and is one of the oldest Italian traditions. The aperitif is the Italian version of the Anglo-Saxon happy hour. Almost all Milan’s cafes and bars offer an aperitif. The traditional time for the aperitif is between 19:00 and 21:00.
In 1833, the great composer Giuseppe Verdi came to Milan to attend the Conservatory, but he was not accepted. Among the reasons for this were his substandard piano playing and his lack of musical talent. Now the Milan Conservatory bears the name of this once-rejected composer.
The first stone of the Milan Cathedral was laid in 1386, and the Cathedral was completed only in 1880s. Thus, the construction of this Cathedral lasted nearly 500 years.
Milan is considered the fashion centre of the world. The city houses the headquarters and businesses of some of the world’s leading designers, including Gucci, Prada, Armani, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana.
Napoleon stayed with Josephine in Milan’s famous Palazzo Serbelloni for three months in August 1796.
The Central Square of Milan is full of pigeons, but in spite of this, the statue of King Vittorio Emanuele II, set in the centre of the square, is always perfectly clean. The trick is the mass of people who go on it and keep the birds away.
Milan is the only city in Europe whose football teams have won both the European and the Intercontinental Cup. Both teams play at Giuseppe Meazza – San Siro Stadium..
Did you know that Milan has its own ‘Chinatown’ in a district called Via Paolo Sarpi? Many of the workers here are immigrants from China, and previously worked in the silk industry.