Milano

July 22, 2010 - Milan

What a different city than we have seen thus far. Each city has had it's own flavor, but Milan is really different. Ancient meets modern. It reminds me a bit of NYC, just not so busy. I have enjoyed all of the cities we have visited and could live in each of them for a limited time, but Milan is the first city that I could make a permanent residence in. Of course the fact that it is one of the shopping meccas of the world and IS the fashion capitol of the world certainly makes it more appealing to ME!!! The Galleria near the Duomo is fantastic. Next time I come I'll need thousands of dollars just for shopping.

Our hotel is essentially an efficiency hotel. No extras. Just the basics. The least of the hotels so far, but it is clean and has a friendly and helpful staff. I wouldn't choose to stay here again though.

We decided due to time constraints, that we would try to see de Carlini tomorrow before our reservation for The Last Supper. Chris called them directly and got directions - sounds like the adventure I was hoping for.

Today, we went to the Piazza del Duomo and looked at the ENORMOUS cathedral with it's umpteen spires. It is the 2nd largest cathedral in the world. 40,000 people can fit comfortably inside. The tallest spire is 109 meters high or 358 ft, and you can do a breathtaking roof walk - which we did - WOW!!! The roof climb provides a unique and memorable opportunity to walk h high on the roofs of the huge Gothic cathedral. The views are magnificent and the opportunity to see the pinnacles and sculptures close up along the way is worth the climb alone.

I'll let Mark Twain describe it for you...

What a wonder it is! So grand, so solemn, so vast! And yet so delicate, so airy, so graceful! A very world of solid weight, and yet it seems ...a delusion of frostwork that might vanish with a breath!...

The central one of its five great doors is bordered with a bas-relief of birds and fruits and beasts and insects, which have been so ingeniously carved out of the marble that they seem like living creatures-- and the figures are so numerous and the design so complex, that one might study it a week without exhausting its interest...everywhere that a niche or a perch can be found about the enormous building, from summit to base, there is a marble statue, and every statue is a study in itself...

Away above, on the lofty roof, rank on rank of carved and fretted spires spring high in the air, and through their rich tracery one sees the sky beyond. ...(Up on) the roof...springing from its broad marble flagstones, were the long files of spires, looking very tall close at hand, but diminishing in the distance...We could see, now, that the statue on the top of each was the size of a large man, though they all looked like dolls from the street...

Dinner at a great little place at the hoteliers recommendation. Much more contemporary than any place we have eaten yet. Not traditional at all. Yummy, fresh food. The proprietress looked like Donnatella Versace and was a delight!!!