Milan located in the Lombardy plains is a gamma city of Italy. The name of Milan is synonymous with the world of fashion and designing. The word milliner comes from Milan. The Piazza Duomo is the world’s oldest shopping mall. The World Exposition was held in 1906 and Milan has bid for it again for 2015. The residents of Milan are known as Milanese. Milan has humid sub-tropical climate in sharp contrast to the general Mediterranean climate of Italy. Its winters are wet and cold while summers are uncomfortably hot and humid. Milan is full historical sites – The third largest church in the world The Duomo and the Bibloteca Ambrosiana containing drawings by Leonardo da Vinci etc. Milan is a business centre of the world and the seat of the Italian Stock Exchange. Its Fiera Milano is the largest international trade fair centre. Today Milan is undergoing a second renaissance with new upcoming architecture touching the skies – the most famous two being Duomo and Pirelli Tower.
Milan boasts of three international airports. Milan airport or Malpensa International Airport is in the province of Varese near Milan. It is connected by Milano-Varese highway as well as by Malpensa Express train route. Bus services connect it with the other two airports – Linate airport and Orio al Serio Airport. Malpensa registered the footfalls on 21.7 passengers in 2006. Recently Alitalia has shifted from Malpensa to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport. But several important flights to Europe, Africa and Asia will continue from Milan airport. Malpensa has two terminals – one for commercial and the other for charter and low fare traffic. A third runway is being built. The cargo terminal known as CargoCity annually handles more than 410,000 tons of freight. It is also linked with north Italian cities and those in Switzerland.
There are many hotels comfortably close to Milan airport. Two of them are located in the village of Somma Lombardo – just a few minutes from Terminal One. These are good options for those alighting or leaving early. In First Hotel all the rooms are fitted with air conditioners. The rates are inclusive of a buffet breakfast. The dining hall is unique with small bits and pieces of aircraft fixed on the walls. Hotel Cervo is ten minutes walk from First Hotel and is relatively cheaper. All the rooms have private bathrooms, air-conditioning, television, mini bar and telephone. The lobby is fitted with a computer. The restaurant is famous for its signature item of papparadelle with venison.
