Category Archives: Milano

View of the Milan Centrale train station from my room at the Glam Hotel Milano directly across the street.  I was able to avoid the rain by using the warren of Metro tunnels under the Piazza Duca D’Aosta. For my … Continue reading →

In August of 1944, fifteen members of the Italian resistance movement were shot here in the Piazzale Loreto—in retaliation for their attacks against the Fascist regime and for Allied bombing raids—and their corpses left on display.  At that time, Benito … Continue reading →

On the north side of piazza is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II which was built in the 1860s.  The arcade is all luxury & haute couture shops (which seem more natural here in Milan than in the odd, contemporary malls … Continue reading →

The Piazza del Duomo stands in front of Milan’s cathedral and has a monument to Victor Emmanuele II, first king of the united Italy.I imagined this marble lion roaring in rage over the indignity of being swarmed by pigeons.

The majestic interior of the Duomo di Milano.The repeating patterns of the marble floor was another reminder of Escher.Light through the stained glass window, cast onto the pillar.  Sublime.But I was also reminded of the macabre preoccupations of the Catholic … Continue reading →

Milan’s cathedral looks different from many other cathedrals in Italy.  Being so far north, there was a heavy Gothic influence on Milan.  (I’ve read that “gothic” was a Renaissance era slur for any art influenced by the “barbarian” north.) The eye … Continue reading →

The view looking north toward the Alps from my hotel room window.

Milan’s famous & award winning Bosco Verticale (“vertical forest”) residential towers, framed by a ground-level tree which must feel terribly left out.

Remember when I mentioned I hadn’t done my research for this trip?  Well, this is the Arco della Pace (“Arch of Peace”) at Porta Sempione, which is the city gate that marks the road from Milan through the Alps to … Continue reading →

Yes, so, here’s the thing:  I didn’t do my due diligence for this trip.  I’ve been emotionally & mentally distracted by work and I just didn’t do my usual travel research.  (This has notably happened once before.)  Anyway, I went … Continue reading →

Arrived at Milano Centrale.  Europe knows how to do train stations.