No one really knows when, but sooner or later we will all be able to go back to our normal lives, returning to our activities, work and leisure, and we will be finally able to travel around again. When the day will come, you should not be found unprepared, right? If you love fashion, maybe one of the first thing you will be thinking of is a shopping trip to Milan, one of the world’s capitals of style and design. Should this be the case, here are some insider’s tips for you.
Milan is particularly famous for Via Montenapoleone, the high street dedicated to the most exclusive luxury brands of the planet, with its neighboring Via della Spiga, studded with an array of sophisticated boutiques, stunningly arranged shop windows, superb historical residences and ancient workshops turned into showrooms by the most famous designers. In Italy the ideas of fashion and style, on one hand, and history and tradition, on the other hand, are concepts strictly connected, that cannot be torn apart. In fact, this area, now the most elegant and sought-after shopping district in Milan, was once home to the aristocrats and prominent members of the Italian society, the refined opulence of whom still reflects in the splendid architectures of the palatial buildings. This is also the area of the Teatro alla Scala, probably the most famous opera house in the world.
At a walking distance there is the beautiful Brera, a district soaked with a bohemian and trendy atmosphere, which also makes it the coolest place for an aperitivo. In Brera’s narrow streets and alleys there are many boutiques showcasing highly curated collections, handcrafted jewelry shops, showrooms, antiques and art galleries. In fact, in these neighborhoods one can visit the Pinacoteca di Brera, the public art gallery containing one of the foremost collections of Italian paintings, most of which from the Renaissance.
A few 100 meters away from Brera you can find the extraordinary modern surroundings of Piazza Gae Aulenti, where newly built skyscrapers enclose a pedestrian area exclusively dedicated to the most famous and outstanding fashion brands. From Piazza Gae Aulenti you can also admire the buildings named Bosco Verticale -Vertical Forest -, two residential towers that contain more than 20.000 trees and perennial plants, which make a beautiful model for sustainable residential construction that have received several world awards for excellence.
No one visiting Milan should ever miss the central square, Piazza Duomo, with its majestic cathedral, aslo the emblem of the city. From the Duomo you can stroll along Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, the oldest boulevard in Milan (nowadays always crowed with tourists and locals), where all the major international brands and department stores line up their window shops. In Piazza Duomo you may enjoy a splendid panoramic view of the city from the nearby Terrazza Martini.
A more casual and urban style, dominates the district of the Navigli, the ancient waterways of Milan. This is the most colourful and picturesque corner of the city, with a very vintage feel. It is one of the most popular areas too, loved by crowds of young Milaneses enjoying all day long a large variety of bars, pubs and restaurants, with their dehors set all along the canals. But is also a great shopping destination where you can find many independent brands, unique pieces, jewelry workshops, and handmade creations by local designers.
The gorgeous contemporary lines of the residential spaces designed by the Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid – grand yet harmonious white blocks in the shape of cruise ships – can be admired around the area named CityLife, which is also the newest shopping district in Milan, a large mall offering more than 80 stores and boutiques, packed with the latest collection by popular fashion brands, plus a wide choice of restaurants, cafeterias, and theatres.
Last but not least, Milan has one of the longest shopping avenues in Europe, which is Corso Buonos Aires, with its 350 shops mostly dedicated to fashion.
Sofashion 