What to do in Lombardy

Milan’s spacious city square, the Piazza del Duomo, is named for the huge church that overlooks it. Today, the piazza is a central meeting place, home to many of the city’s significant buildings. As the most popular attraction in the city, the Piazza del Duomo is a great place to visit at the beginning of your trip to Milan. Soak up the atmosphere at a café on the square, take in the architecture or do some shopping in the four-story arcade that overlooks the piazza.

The Cathedral of Milan is a breathtaking example of late Gothic architecture and is one of the largest churches in the world. It took almost six centuries to build. Today it covers almost 40,000 square feet (12,000 square meters) of the city center. It is the most recognizable building in Milan.

This luxury shopping mall is a destination for lovers of fashion and fine food. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II sits on the main square, the Piazza del Duomo. The building is an important historic site, as it is said to be the oldest shopping mall in the world. At the same time, the arcade is a monument to contemporary style; many of the most famous contemporary designers have flagship stores at the Galleria. Spend an afternoon shopping, drop by for a drink after a local concert or simply come to admire the 19th-century architecture.

See why Milan is a city of international significance at Fiera Milano City, a fairground that hosts a diverse calendar of events. While Fiera Milano, its sister site on the outskirts of the city, is the larger venue, Fiera Milano City benefits from its convenient location near the historic center of Milan. With a stunning convention center next door and rooms offering space for thousands of guests, the fairground is used regularly throughout the year.

Villa del Balbianello is set in a commanding location on the edge of a wooded promontory that juts out from the coastline. Stroll around the handsome building befitting this striking setting and find well-landscaped gardens and an interesting museum.