Every Spring and Fall, long-limbed models, haute couture designers, and rabid paparazzi flock to the streets of Milan, Italy, to see and be seen in one of the fashion capitals of the world. But beyond the runways and the flashing lights, there lies a city steeped in powerful history, rich in innovative architecture, and thrumming with an energy for a promising future.
Once the capital of the Roman Empire, Milan now holds the moniker of capital in many senses: capital of the region of Lombardy, the financial capital of Italy, and capital to fashion lovers the world over. Internationally known streets Via Della Spiga and Montenapoleone certainly ooze designer brands and high-end luxury shopping. And nearby Corso Buenos Aires, the longest shopping street in Italy and Europe, is jam-packed with every kind and price-level of retail store available. If, however, weary shoppers are up for a peek into the grandeur that is the architecture of Milan and Milanese life, a stop over to Piazza del Duomo is just the thing.