Italy

Milan

Milan, one of the fashion capitals of the world, has much to offer visitors.  A city considered to be a leader in the industrial field and famous for fashion and showrooms.  Milan might not contain beautiful scenery but many beautiful shops and hotels exist here.  There are many opportunities to shop, learn, and find inspiration in this city. 

Hotel: Maison Moschino

The Maison Moschino is a glamorous hotel dedicated to fashion and imagination.  Once a railway station, the hotel has managed to keep an exterior that portrays what once existed here.  As visitors enter the hotel, they become immersed in a fantasy world of fairytales.  Dreamy white clouds float from the ceiling and mannequins dressed in sophisticated feminine silhouettes greet guests upon entering.  Sixteen different themes have been incorporated into the hotel’s guest rooms, themes that make each of the rooms unique and magical.  The Ivy Room, The Forest Room, The Sleeping in a Ball Gown Room, etc. have intimate details which makes the room a fantasy in itself and a creative atmosphere for guests to stay.  The hotel also offers an exquisite restaurant which is captivating due to the elaborate décor.  Dresses cascade down from the wall and turn into booths, purses are used to hold flowers serve as center pieces, and shoeboxes are used to serve breakfast!  Escape from the outside world of stress and enjoy the luxury of living in a much needed dream by staying here!  

 

   

Shopping in Milan

Zara Flagship

Zara’s flagship store is located in Milan and is a massive store which only slightly differs from every other Zara in Europe.  In addition to the size, the flagship store also has a distinguishing entrance.  A grand staircase on the main floor leads to an impressive selection of trendy clothing.  Downstairs, the store offers a baby and kid Zara collection.  The flagship store is not overly elaborate and looks much like the other Zara stores.  

La Rinascente

La Rinascente is a large department store located near the Duomo di Milano cathedral.  This department store is set up much like other department stores.  The upscale store offers designer clothing, household products, and beauty products.  The atmosphere is sophisticated and welcoming, and each floor hold different categories of merchandise.  One of the top floors, offers an intense gourmet food selection.  Here, restaurants are divided by cuisine and shoppers are free to sit down and have a snack or meal.  There is also a bakery which offers customers cutesy goodies.  Cookies shaped like high heels, purses, and other fashionable shapes can be found here. 

Concept Store: Corso Como

Corso Como is a concept store located in an inner courtyard which offers visitors just about anything regarding fashion.  Corso Como consists of a gallery, bookstore, design store, restaurant and café, a courtyard garden, and a hotel.  The design store’s offerings include staple pieces as well as avant-garde fashions.  The logo is incorporated into merchandising as well as décor, and just entering the store is an experience.

Cathedral

Duomo di Milano

            The Duomo di Milano is a cathedral located in the Piazza Del Duomo.  This gothic style church is one of the largest in the world and is a symbol of Milan.  The cathedral is dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente.  The architecture of the cathedral is beautiful and inside the church there are stain glass windows which illustrate Biblical stories and gigantic columns. 

The Last Supper

            The famous Last Supper painting by Leonardo Da Vince is located inside the Santa Maria Delle Grazie monastery.  The painting depicts Christ having his last supper with his disciples.  In this painting, Da Vince has portrayed the reaction of each disciple when Christ tells them that he will be betrayed.  The painting takes up an entire wall and is much larger than one might expect before visiting.  Although the deterioration of the painting has created the need for much restoration, the painting is breathtaking and emotional for many visitors. 

Florence

            Florence is a small city located in Italy known for its history and culture.  The city has beautiful architecture and monuments and unlike Milan, is surrounded by beautiful scenery.  The museums and sights, shopping opportunities, and the culture of this city is amazing and makes a visit very special.

The Statue of David

Visitors can find the Statue of David, a sculpture created by Michelangelo inside the Galleria dell’ Accademia.  The statue represents the Biblical hero, David before his battle with Goliath the giant.  The statue stands 17 feet tall and is made of marble.  The statue has received a lot of attention due to David’s pose.  Michelangelo sculpted this figure so that the majority of David’s weight rests on his back leg.  Michelangelo created a very realistic statue by being extremely detail oriented.  The statue is a symbol of strength and youthful beauty, and Florence is very proud of this sculpture.    

Fabric Store

“With no warp, we cannot weave, with no memory, we cannot believe”

Casa Dei Tessvti is an incredible fabric store.  The store was opened in 1929, and the company continues to be family owned.  Tours are available and the owner will personally talk with groups and explain the history of the store, Florence, and fabric.  The owner’s charming personality and humor make the visit very enjoyable and entertaining.  The owner will make a dress for each visitor in fabric that he feels fits that person.  Gorgeous fabrics are draped over each person to make a fabulous look.  The stunning colors, designs, and patterns of the fabrics make seeing this a worthwhile, and so much can be learned from the owner.

 

Shopping

Leather Market

            There is a fabulous leather market in Florence.  Many vendors line a street offering purses of all shapes and sizes, jewelry, scarves, wallets, souvenirs, masks, jackets, and much much more.  One can find just about anything here and should always try to barter with the vendors.  The display of merchandise is rather cluttered due to the small amount of room that holds an enormous amount of merchandise, but the thrill of the hunt makes this a great place to shop.

Outlets

On the outskirts of Florence, there is a mall of discount shops.  Designers such as Ferragamo, Burberry, Valentino, Dior, YSL, and many others have opened a shop for their discounted merchandise, some being the fashions from last season. The stores are well maintained and merchandised and have kept an upscale atmosphere.  In addition to the stores, there is a restaurant and café offering delicious snacks or meals.

Cooking Class

While in Florence, visitors should consider a cooking class.  “In Tavola” is a company that allows people to come in and learn to cook with a professional chef.  The cooking lesson will allow visitors to learn how to make Eggplant Caprese, Zucchini Florentine, Potato Tortelli, Fresh Egg Pasta, Tomato and Garlic Pasta Sauce, and delicious Tiramisu.  During the lesson, attendees work at stations and make one dish at a time.  The instructor does a demonstration of how each dish is prepared and then circles the room to help each station.  The chef is very energetic and makes the experience fun.  After everything has been prepared, the chef leads his students to the basement where dinner is served. 

Museums

Ferragamo

The Ferragamo museum is amazing; the collection of shoes is impressive and very inspiring.  Ferragamo changed the world of shoes.  Before his designs, most shoes were either black or white; Ferragamo used many colors and styles for his creations.  He discovered how to provide women direct support for the arch of the foot.  All of his shoes were handmade, he never used a machine.  The shoes on display are exquisite.  On display, include shoes from Judy Garland-“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” rainbow wedges.  Ferragamo made shoes for popular actresses Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe as well as princesses all over the world, and the mold of their foot can be viewed here. 

Gucci

            The new Gucci museum features many Gucci originals and visitors are able to see Gucci designs over the years.  As a boy, Gucci worked in London where he learned the fundamentals of working.  When he returned to Italy, he began his company by making luggage.  The museum begins with a collection of Gucci luggage and diverges into handbags, sportswear, clothing, house ware, etc.  The museum allows visitors to see how fabrics changed other the years.  The museums also highlight celebrity use of Gucci though the years.  A photo of Audrey Hepburn carrying around a Gucci bag is hanging in the stairway signifying the beginning of the famous Gucci shopping bag that was inspired by the actress. 

Pitti Palace

            There is an extraordinary costume collection inside the Pitti Palace.  The collection begins with early decades and travels through the years.  In the 1400’s brocades were most important and are displayed in the museum.  To be a lady during this time, a lady’s dress had to be able to go through her wedding ring; the clothing consisted of very thin muslin.  The waist was approximately 45 centimeters due to the corset that girls were made to wear at a young age.  Some girls began to be corseted at the age of two and in some instances bones were removed so that the girls would fit appropriately into their corset.  Seeing gowns from early decades is informative and the museum also offers a modern day design of each century. 

            Florence is a lovely city full of beautiful scenery, wonderful museums, and great markets and shops to explore.  This small community makes experiencing Italy exciting and enjoying.  There’s no doubt visitors will wish they had more time here!