Your property in Milan
Apartments are the most sought-after property in Milan as they put buyers in the heart of one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan cities.
Light and airy homes for families and young professionals can be found in traditional or modern buildings across the city, whether it’s in one of the bustling areas within the inner ring road, such as San Babila, Porta Nuova or Ticinese, or alternatively in the leafier suburbs, in areas like Quinto Romano, Romano Bianco or Cologno Monzese.
For larger properties, the wider outskirts of Milan offer smaller conurbations within a short distance of the city centre.
Inside Milan
Fashion, design and finance are synonymous with modern Milan, a vibrant city undergoing significant change. New high-rise buildings in the Porta Nuova and City Life districts, designed by globally renowned architects such as Zaha Hadid and Daniel Libeskind, are altering the skyline that has for centuries been dominated by the gothic Duomo.
The clash of old and new is a constant theme, with Milan boasting a rich cultural heritage yet always looking to modernise; with the Piazza Gue Aulenti, named after its female architect, an updated take on the traditional piazza; its museums full of Renaissance art yet the city becoming a tech hub; and La Scala being one of the most famous opera houses yet Milan fostering a lively contemporary music scene.
Gastronomic excellence is ingrained in the city, which is in the top five cities for Michelin-starred restaurants, while Milan is also an international shopping capital with Corso Como hosting numerous high-end boutiques.
Landscape
Milan is an extremely flat city, situated in the low-lying Padan Plain in the northern region of Lombardy.
In spite of being the second most populous city and the largest by area in the country, classic Italian countryside is just a few kilometres outside the centre, complete with vineyards, cypress trees and olive groves.
And slightly further afield is the famous Italian Lakes district, offering truly spectacular scenery and quintessential laid-back living.
Education
The multicultural city possesses a vast array of international schools, with a large proportion following the British curriculum, but American, French, Swiss, Canadian and International Baccalaureate equivalents also available.
And where further education is concerned Milan flourishes, with four of Italy’s best universities located in the city, including Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and University of Milan.
Activities and Entertainment
Delving into Milan’s significant history via its numerous architectural wonders is totally captivating. From its pink Candoglia marble Duomo that took 600 years to build, the red brick Castello Sforzesco, or the Basillica di Santa Maria delle Grazie, which houses the city’s most famous mural, The Last Supper, by Leonardo da Vinci, there’s plenty to explore.
The Milanese also know how to relax though, with plenty of picturesque gardens dotted about the city, including the Vigna di Leonardo, which has the original vines of Leonardo da Vinci, and being regarded as a global fashion capital, shopping is a favourite past time in the city, with people flocking to Quadrilatero della Moda (‘fashion square’) or the Corso Como complex.
A true passion within the city is football, with its two major teams AC Milan and Inter Milan both competing in the top tier of Italian football, Serie A.
To get away from it all, those who enjoy exploring the outdoors don’t have to travel far beyond the city’s boundaries to reach unspoiled countryside for hiking and cycling.
Arts and Culture
Milan impresses with its sizeable Renaissance and modern art collections, with works from masters such as Rubens, Goya and Van Dyck housed in the Pinacoteca di Brera gallery, while a glut of 20th Century art can be seen in the Museo del Novecento, in Mussolini’s Arengario palace.
The city also knows how to put on a show, with the world’s largest furniture trade fair, Salone del Mobile, taking place in Milan each year, as well as its famous Milan Fashion Week, where avant-garde designers exhibit their latest creations twice a year. More down-to-earth experiences are available at the city’s plentiful markets, including the trendy East Market and the antiques hub Mercatone dell’Antiquariato.
Music and theatre are a huge part of life in Milan, with the internationally renowned La Scala opera house putting on top-notch ballet and classical music concerts, and the Piccolo Teatro di Milano putting on up-to-date shows. A vast array of smaller music venues cater to the city’s love of jazz and rock music.
Food and Drink
The Milanese are extremely passionate about their food, with the city carving out its very own place on Italy’s culinary map.
From local pastas, such as risotto alla Milanese made with saffron, to various veal dishes including ossobuco (stewed shanks served with polenta), to vegetarian dishes such as wild mushroom pappardelle or Milanese-style Minestrone soup, there are plenty of local specialities to try in independent restaurants and the city’s array of Michelin-starred restaurants, such as two-starred Seta.
The cultured city relishes in offering global cuisine as well as local dishes, meaning restaurants serving Chinese, through to Japanese and even Peruvian can be easily found.
Milan benefits from the wider Lombardy region’s exceptional wine offering, with popular and well-known wine styles including Valtellina, the sparkling Franciacorta and Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico. Lombardy has five DCOGs – the highest classification for Italian wines.
Accessibility
Milan’s Malpensa Airport is the second busiest in Italy, serving a large number of European and other international destinations.
The city is also well-connected by train, with the country’s fastest Frecciarossa high-speed trains connecting it to Turin, Bologna, Roma, Naples and Salerno, while the Frecciabianca trains connect it to Venice, Udine, Trieste, Genoa, Bari and Lecce.
The motorway system surrounding Milan is also excellent, providing a simple way to traverse the city and to access other cities such as Genoa and Turin, or the Italian Lakes area.