Milan

Sometimes described as the ‘workhorse’ of Italy, urban hub Milan in northern Italy is set apart from its counterpart neighbours by a dedicated ethic of graft and industry. Yet the Milanese are a creative bunch with the city sitting at the crossroads of designer fashion and cutting-edge architecture, they sure know how to have fun too.

Discover a city intersected by old and new where the marble monolith and city landmark cathedral (or duomo di Milano) was carved with Gothic precision in 1386 and looking at the intricate detail you begin to understand why it took 600 years to finish. Located in the heart of Milan, the duomo is surrounded by history - La Scala opera house, which opened in 1778, the 18th century Palazzo Reale di Milano and the fortress of Sforzesco creating a wheel of culture. Sitting side-by-side with Milan’s storied culture is another string to Milan’s bow – its standing as Italy’s fashion capital. See future fashion trends shaped first-hand in Quadrilaterodella Moda, where flagship street Via Montenapoleone is home to every Italian fashion brand you can think of, and some more. By contrast, boho-chic neighbourhood Brera is a showcase for emerging talent – get it here before the catwalks do, and of course Milan belongs to the ‘Big Four’ of fashion weeks with London, Paris and New York.

The home of one of our favourite architects’ studios, Peter Pichler Architecture, design and architecture has always been an important focus for the city. The annual Milan Design Week is perhaps the biggest in the world, and with it is anchored the furniture fair Salone del Mobile. Alongside numerous spin-off fairs, Milan Design Week is a huge event in the calendar for any wannabe designer, prospective buyer, design-lover or furniture-maker, keeping Milan always at the forefront of innovative design. Modern architecture encircles Milan’s historic centre, with influence from acclaimed international architects, especially visible in the Porta Nuova district, characterised with a jagged skyline of skyscrapers including the eye-catching green beacon or Bosco Verticale(vertical tree) by Boeri Studio, Herzog & de Meuron’s Feltrinelli Porta Volta and the curved Generali Tower, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.

Evenings are for the Milanese to have fun. With tasty food ready to go for hungry workers, the night starts aside Navigli's buzzing canals with aperitivo perhaps followed by classic Milanese - veal chops and risotto – then onto the next in-the-know bar. In work-hard, play-hard centric city, Milan is the beating heart of creative industry, constantly evolving and reinventing. Keep an eye on this one.