A Defense of Milan

I have heard multiple times since coming to Italy that the Milanese, like their city, are cold, impersonal, and unwelcoming. I expected a city of grey steel and people in black business suits walking in straight lines and never making eye contact. I expected to hate Milan. Even the guidebook warned that Milan is a destination strictly for city lovers and even then not to expect much. I am not a city lover, but my travel companion is and I agreed to the Milan on the pretense that we would only stay for a day. Naturally I was surprised that Milan was everything the books had said it was not. Milan is now on my list of favorite cities and mind you, the list is short. For such a big city, we kept asking, “Where are all the people?” In Florence we become so used to fighting our way through the crowd, it was incredible to walk with a four foot radius of personal space. The subway system is fairly easy to navigate (just don’t get on the suburban line like we did or you will end up in a filed). The cathedral in Milan is a visual feast and is a massive and impressive example of Gothic architecture. We did manage to get lost for a short time, but never felt the sense of urgency or uneasiness that I normally experience in cities. We were always on guard, but there was never a time when we felt unsafe. Even though finding a cheap/ clean hotel in Milan is a trick that we didn’t accomplish very well, it was still worth it to stay two nights so we could see everything without being rushed.
Also, I feel the need to dispel the notion that Milan is an ugly, steely city. The streets were clean, sites such as the castle and cathedral were beautiful, a huge park of trees, large spaces of green, and walking trails punctuates the city center, and various fountains, sculptures, and historical architecture give a sense of uniqueness to the modern and fashion forward city of Milano. If nothing else, Milan is the people watchers paradise. Even 70 year old women are sporting the newest fashions and making up their own. It was beautiful. In the castle there are about six museums and as students we had access to all exhibits for only 1.50 euros. Like any city food can be a bit more expensive near the sites, but unlike Florence, the sites are free. Still, I understand that Milan isn’t for everyone, but I think it has a reputation that it doesn’t deserve among Americans. So if you find yourself needing a change of pace, Milan is the place to go.