As Milan is known as and has reputation of being the City of Fashion, where a person can go for ample opportunistic activities as related to the field of shopping and other recreational activities. There are many spot and places in Milan as for going for the fashion enthusiasm. As for starting shopping in Milan, one can start it at from the The huge Corso Buenos Aires though is not a top shopping street in China, yet it is the longest and most popular shopping area in the city and involves a wide variety of shops, from
designer boutiques, trendy outlets and funky furniture stores, to second-hand bargain sales, old antique dealers and newsagents.

However, with exception to Corso Buenos the prominent shopping area in the region is    Famous Quadrangle, that is a set of blocks situated between Duomo Square (Piazza Duomo), Cavour Square (Piazza Cavour) and San Babila Square (Piazza San Babila). Here in Montenapoleone Street (with prime brand shops), Della Spiga Street, Vittorio Emanuele Street, Sant’ Andrea Street, Porta Venezia avenue and Manzoni Street. There at the street are located the most prestigious boutiques and showrooms in the world. Some of the famous shops for purpose of shopping in Milan are as following:

•    Armani Megastore: Close to La Scala, this is a Giorgio Armani’s flagship store that covers around space of around 8,000 square feet and have for high-fashion creations like the Emporio Armani and Armani Jeans lines, with addition to new Armani Casa selection of home furnishings as well as flower, book, and art shops. There at the basement of the shop are located high-tech Sony electronics boutique/play center in the basement; and an Emporio Café and branch of New York’s Nobu sushi bar.

•    Abercrombie & Fitch: Inaugurated in October 2009, it is one of the most popular flagship stores in Milan. It is the world’s first to host Abercrombie kids and A&F together in one shop. With occupying space of around 30,000 square feet it is a huge department store with around three floors. It is close to Milan’s top shopping district and is on walking distance from the Via Monte Napoleone and other streets in the fashion quadrilateral.

•    Gucci Flagship: This again is a Gucci’s flagship store in the city that was opened back in 2002 and stores high fashion cloths and accessories. There too are many other Gucci stores in Milan, including the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. One such store is even at Milan’s Malpensa airport.

•    Prada, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele: It is one of the Prada’s several boutiques in the city. This one at Prada is close to the Duomo and the central square. More it sales out many high-fashion items like shoes, perfume, handbags, accessories etc in classical as well as modern chandelier-filled, multi-floored shop.

•   Krizia, Via Sant’ Andrea: It is quite popular ever since it has been inaugurated in 1960. Krizia is a trendy boutique with funky clothes and swanky designs. Founded in Sant’ Andrea street, it is at the center of the top shopping district of the city.

•    10 Corso Como: Founded in the early 1990s, is a “multi-functional” shopping complex that is located at same place matching to its name. It is understood to be a lifestyle emporium spread around in area of 13,000 square feet. It contains many fashion shops, design, photography and art gallery, luxury goods, a bookshop, accessories, a cafe and a restaurant.

•    La Rinascente: I t is a huge departmental store in Milan, situated at right in the center of the city close to Cathedral and Galleria, adjacent to chic Montenapoleone shopping zone. There you can find houseware, design and appliances, male, female and children’s fashion, youthful sports’ clothes, jewellery, accessories, cosmetics, watches, perfumes, glasses, socks, underwear, lingerie, gifts, table decor, a hair stylist, a restaurant, sushi bar, food market, sandwhich, drink and chocolate bar and other items of your likeness and preference.

•    Basement, Via Senato: This small hidden shopping outlet cannot be viewed from the straight above the street. In order to reach there you ought to go at the Via Senato no. 15 parking lot, go down a staircase, go to your right, and then you’ll see a purple sign, which shows that you’ve arrived. The shop includes designer cloths from Moschino, Prada and Yves Saint Laurent, to D&G and La Perla provided with heavy and huge discounts.

•    Serravalle Scrivia, Via della Moda: It is one of the biggest shopping outlets in Europe having about 180 stores. Though one’s hours drive away from the city, it is in the Piedmont region, and indeed a great place for a person who definitely is a great shopping fan. It is more and less is like a mini-town, with Italian-style piazzas and pretty alleyways, surrounded by rolling hills and a lovely local countryside, and absent of cars. Here you can articles even from famous designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Etro, Diesel, Roberto Cavalli, Ferragamo, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, Prada, Geox, Swatch, Bulgari, Swarovski, and many more.

The Brera district (Lanza, or Montenapoleone metro stops) is also a great spot for shopping in Milan and is famous for its trendy and young, yet stylish, boutiques. The Brera district is also popular for many other shopping experiences like it has ancient rare art stores and galleries, sipping a hot drink at a refined-air cafe, attending a funky disco, or looking for exotic furniture. Jewelry stores in the district are Papic oro e argento or Alcozer & J. Bijoux, fashion shops include Accessori or Laura Ashley, and furniture stores include Zohar or Lucitalia. The other extraordinary market in Milan is the Mercatone del Naviglio Grande.

It is no wonder to think of Milan, filled of spectacular landmarks and monuments as city is one of the ancient cities of the world therefore has history of a civilized city with history of around 1,000 years. Below are discussed some immensely popular landmarks of Milan.

•  Vittorio Emanuele II: This is a mall with a massive reputation attached to it, is situated in Milan. It is understood as mother of all shopping malls with 19th century architecture while decorated with magnificent mosaic floor and wonderful glass roof and cupola. One can have boutiques like Louis Vuitton and Prada there. It becomes a place of unmeasured attraction with beautiful lights and decoration during Christmas.

Vittorio Emanuele II

•    Duomo (Cathedral): It is a cathedral church of Milan in Lombardy, northern Italy. It is a seat of the Archbishop of Milan. It took nearly five centuries to be completed and is the fourth largest church in the world. The ground plan is of a nave with five aisles, crossed by a transept and then followed by choir and apsis. The height of the nave is about 45 meters, the highest Gothic vaults of a complete church. Its roof is allowed for tourists to be roamed around on a nominal fee.

MilanI Cathedral Duomo

•  La Scala Opera: The opera was inaugurated on August 3rd 1778 and been known as the New Royal Ducal Theatre at La Scala. The first performance at the opera house was displayed by Antonio Salieri’s Europa riconosciuta.  Presently, it is known as one of the leading opera and ballet theatres in the world. The opera has also an associate school being known as La Scala that provides learning in music, dance, stage craft and stage management. Its season opens on 7th December, Saint Ambrose’s Day.

•    Piazza del Duomo: It is a main Piazza in the city of Milan in Italy and the name of this square has been named after the domineering Milan Cathedral.  The Square was constructed by Azzone Visconti in c.1330 for mercantile purposes.

•    Sforza Castle: The castle earlier used to be seat and residence of the ruling family of Milan and presently houses several city museums and art collection over there. The actually construction to castle began in the 14th century by Francesco Sforza and was further modified by later generations due to various accessions and change in ruler of Italy. The best known part of the castle is Sala Delle Asse with surviving ceiling painting by Leonardo da Vinci.

Castello Sforzesco

•   Via Dante: It is a very elegant and import street in Central Milan, Italy that connects Piazzale Cordusio and Largo Cairoli. It is quite close to city’s Castello Sforzesco and is later on named on the Florentine poet Dante Alighieri. It is flooded with several famous theatres, shops, restaurants, cafes, palaces and bars. More it has very popular buildings primarily from the 18th and 19th centuries. It has several transport links and a tramway line.

•  Piazza della Repubblica: It is a state of the art and a very busy square situated at north-west of Milan. At the place there are situated most important office blocks and company building of the country that displays architecture of 1950s and 1960s Italian buildings and roofs. It also has proximity to Piazza Duca d’ Aosta and the city Central station. Repubblica metro station is located at its center and other closer stations to it are P.ta Venezia, Turati and Centrale F.S.

Piazza Della Repubblica

•  Corso di Porta Venezia: This is known to be one of the best and beautiful streets of the city of Milan and is located close to magnificent Montenapoleone area and is bordered by state-of-art beautiful villas, museums and palazzo showing up from the entire era and it also contains areas of the Giardini Pubblici, an old and leafy garden and park.

•  Corso Magenta: This is a very aesthetic and aristocratic street in the north-western part of Milan. There one on the tour of the city can enjoy cafes and shops. One to its soul searching can view there Baroque palaces especially the noted Palazzo Litta that is one of the best example of 18th century Milanese architecture.

Corsia Corso Magenta

•  Piazza Duca d’Aosta: Contrary to other squares in Milan, it an ultramodern and busy square in the north-east of Milan and is famous for having the city’s majestic central station, and the Pirelli skyscraper. Being situated at Milan’s economic and business district it also remains busy throughout the year. .

Milan is the most important and second largest city of Italy due to its closure to constant financial activities in and around the city. It is the city, which is known for lifestyle and worldly pleasures as it is abounded with places for shopping, opera and nightlife. It is the city and place for Italian fashion including fashion aficionados, supermodels and international paparazzi that descended upon the city twice upon city during spring and autumn fairs.

If Rome symbolizes the old Italy, then Milan is representation of the modern Milan that consisted of modern outlook as represented by the style and tradition as regulated and restored by the city. In order to stay at Milan, one can choose from a good number of options from a range of hostel and apartments which are comparatively cheaper than expensive luxury hotels.

1. Brera Apartments Milan: Situated close to shopping street of Via Moscova and the Metro stop of Via Turati is a perfect spot to stay in Milan for short stay. It is a self catering accommodation of 50 sqm with double bed, sofa for two children, American living with kitchen, private bathroom and up to date quality service of a four star hotel of Milan.
2. Piero Rotta Youth Hostel: At Molino Dorino, it is situated at a very quiet location in Italy can be judge it by night walkers passing by it. It too is self catering accommodation with quality services of a five star hotel.
3. Isola Apartments, Milan: Situated at the lively location of district of “Isola” near the Garibaldi Train Station it is set of luxury and elegant apartments along with cooking corner, private bathroom and balcony.
4. Ostello Olinda Hostel:  Situated close to suburbs near the Affori Train Station is a Hostel converted from the old psychiatric ward. However, other buildings on the ground floor are still used for psychiatric treatment.
5. Sweet Hostel: Hostel that looks like an old apartment complex has very nice decor with marble floors and walls is a compact hostel, with three 6 bed mixed dorms and a room for the owners.

Be it jousting competitions, food celebrations or even an event to honour snakes; the country is chock-a-block with traditions, festivals and fairs.

Certainly at Sienna there are the Palio horse races while there is the yearly orange battle in the northern Italian town of Ivrea – situated to the north of Turin.

Orange Battle
This luscious annual event has been celebrated since ages. It is believed that ever since a certain lady of the manner threw beans at Ivrea’s poor, who feeling somewhat dismayed at the gesture, hurled the things in the street.  The beans started to be used during annual carnivals and were jokingly hurled at those imagined to be adversaries ever since.

At some point in the 19th century, the girls of Ivrea began throwing flowers, lupines and confetti from terraces at the carnival processions whereas some hurled oranges.

How the event head started
Initially to attract attention of the prospective suitors; the girls of Ivrea flung all manner of things (albeit quite light objects) at the boys. A hard hurled orange by the young ladies surely would have grabbed the desired attention of the chosen men as flowers might not have exactly done.  Even though the amorous aim behind an orange that one is hit full-on is not appreciated right away.

Gradually the young men on the carnival floats equipped themselves with oranges too to return fire as believed.  This altered the carnival into running orangey battle of the sexes between the boys the ground and the girls on the balconies. Yet the event is all light- hearted and fun filled

The orange battles became well thought-out, with the guardians of the carnival floats instead of the men of the oppressor, as well as the additional orange flingers participating as the rebellious locals’ post the Second World War.

The last battle took place on the 22nd February 2009. Anyone can be a part of this fun, and Ivrea’s annual battle has illustrated itself into a noteworthy event equally in and outside of Italy.

Orange Festival 2010 between 13 to 16 February

This time the fruity festival head-starts on the 13 February, whereas the actual Orange battles will instigate on the 14th, 15th and the 16th February 2010.

It’s Quite a Squeeze Squad in action at Ivrea!

Orange Throwing Troop

It’s Quite a Squeeze Squad in action at Ivrea!

Originated in 1964 was an added platoon- the Arduini Scorpions, name after a well known street in Ivrea, Via Arduini.  Squadrons of this group of orange men and women wear light gray tights and take on the Scacchi in Piazza Ottinetti.  They also sport the design of a scorpion on the rear of their battle helmets.

The other regimes are- the Ace of Clubs and the Deathly Orange Throwers battle in Piazza di Città.  The Tuchini stand for an area of Ivrea of the same name, but where these pipsqueaks fight out their battle is mystery yet.  Subsequent haulers are the Devils and the Mercenaries, who battle in Piazza del Rondolino, along with the group known as the Panthers.

Post event picture of Tuchini Team Orange

I should not forget mentioning the Credendari, whose name comes from their symbol which includes an image of Palazzo della Credenza, along with a battle hammer, and a scepter as was presumably carried by the town’s mayor, seeing as ‘podesta’ means ‘mayor’ in English, as well as the more common Italian word  ’sindaco’.  The Credendari juice the piazza Freguglia area, although who their adversaries actually are is not too clear.  Even though it’s a great waste of vitamin C it still sounds like lot of freshly squeezed fun!

Every abovementioned battle teams possess its web site and there appears to be quite a social scene at the back of these crazy orange throwers with the members sticking together not only during the orange wars.  Definitely, these juiced up teams organise an entire host of parties other events.  Although not on the whole clean, yet good fun!

Keep in mind that the mad tournament is jus around between the 13 to 16 February 2010.

I would suggest, companies having a few crates of beyond their sell by date oranges might like to get some fun free publicity by sending a few hundred to Ivrea.

Devils and Squeeze photos from the I Diavoli Aranciari site.  The Devils Doing Battle in Ivrea photo by Franco Marino.  The Ivrea Carnival site had plenty of information in English:  Carnevalediivrea.it

Nonetheless the English version appears to have vanished, alas.  Google Translate might help.

Image Source: blogfromitaly.com

With its financial importance in the nation, Milan is the second largest city in Italy. It is a paradise for opera, nightlife, and shopping though it is not remarkable for its good sites. Its spring and autumn fashion fairs attract a crowd of fashion aficionados, supermodels and international paparazzis. It is the symbol of the new Italy being the most modern of all Italian cities and still keeps its historic moments in the light. Traditionally, the Italians refer to Milan as the demure girl whose treasures though plentiful have been discovered with time.

The Duomo, Milan’s cathedral is one of those impressive sites that make a lasting impression on the eye. Getting to the roof top terrace one is treated to the landscape of the Milan city and the Duomo cathedral’s very own numerous spires. The cathedral museum documents some of the best events in the history of the city. The Castello Sforzeco built in the Middle Ages, having gone through a fire and restored has a steady flow of visitors every other year and boasts a resplendent structure which houses some of the city’s best museums. It showcases ancient arts, applied arts, historical musical instruments, Egyptian art, fine art and prehistory.

Other magnificent architectural efforts include the Civico Museo Archeologico showcasing Roman antiques from Milan and the surrounding, the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum a 19^th century aristocratic palace from the Italian Renaissance, Museo Teatrale alla Scala dedicated to the world’s best opera house.

Walking around the city, one may also indulge in many of Milan’s daily pastimes including watching football, the AC Milan or FC Internaziole at the Meazza Stadium which also goes by the name San Siro. Tickets for the football matches are available on the match day or in advance, however there are scalpers who can sell you these at much higher prices. The San Siro hosts an average 60 matches per year from August through to May. Exhibitions ranging from wine to electronic components, industrial equipment and chocolate are held in the city every other year. The exhibition areas include central Milan at Amendola Firera and Fiera 2 Stations and in Rho at the Northwest Milan Rho Fiera Station.

For the avid shopper Milan has some of the best shopping destinations in the world including the Armani Mega store which covers over 800 square feet and is stocked with some of the best products of Giorgio Armani’s brand.