Duomo di Milano
Duomo is the stunning Cathedral in the heart of Milan, and a must see for visitors to the city! Duomo is dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente and it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan. This cathedral is home to years of history, but for me personally it's the intricate architecture that's most impressive.
Inside Duomo
Whilst the architecture is stunning, and the shopping amazing, by far my favourite thing in Milan was Aperitivo. This type of dining originates in Milan, and is very difficult to find elsewhere, even in other cities within Italy. Basically, Aperitivo requires you to buy one drink (a glass of Italian red will only set you back about €7 with Aperitivo), and you can indulge in a multitude of delicious Italian canapés. It's an all you can eat buffet of meats, cheeses, olives, and grilled vegetables. In some bars, Aperitivo even includes pasta dishes and pizzas! Naturally, for us this was a cheap dinner. For those of you who live in London, Aperitivo is becoming quite popular over here at the moment, and restaurants such as Banca (http://www.bancarestaurant.com/) are offering this Milanese tradition. Think I need to bring it to Kuala Lumpur, but one thing at a time :)
While central Milan has great Aperitivo spots, it is Porto Ticinese which is a great spot for bars and clubs - much cheaper than San Babila! Although I do love the glamour of the Armani Bar and Just Cavalli (http://www.justcavallihollywood.it/), Porto Ticinese is more suitable for an Au Pair's budget. You can get the number 3 tram from Via Torino (opposite Duomo) to get here - if memory serves. These are my Milano essentials, but I will be posting more tips for Italy later on.
