Milan, a city with a historic heart and modern vitality
Milan is the engine which powers the Italian economy, producing 10% of GDP.
It is the seat of 10 separate universities and 25% of all Italian research is
conducted here. Each year more than four million tourists stay in its numerous
city hotels. The Ancient Romans called it "Mediolanum" since it was in the centre
of the great connecting roads of the time. It is still one Europe's most welcoming
cities, and getting here is easy: 364,000 flights a year arrive from over 200
destinations, while about 25,000 rooms are spread across 380 hotels. The system
is rooted not only in manufacturing but in services, culture, showbusiness, art,
cinema, television, volunteering, fashion, sport and research.
Milan also has an
ancient past, as it was capital of the Western Roman Empire, and boasts a unique
artistic heritage of which Da Vinci's Last Supper, the Duomo and La Scala theatre
are just a few examples. Today Milan is the modern global capital of fashion and
design, a shopper's paradise and a vibrant, fashionable city full of things to do
and lively nightlife.
The ideal location for meetings and conferences thanks to its
role as undisputed business and financial capital of Italy, it is also home of the
financial markets and is the base for all of the country's multinationals, making
Milan a confirmed international metropolis. Its fine aesthetic traditions are upheld
in new projects carried out in the city by star architects like Norman Foster, Zaha
Hadid, Arata Isozaki, Daniel Libeskind and Renzo Piano. The city also enjoys an enviable
setting in Lombardy. Filled with enchanting art cities, this is the Italian region with
the largest natural parks and splendid lakes - like Como – surrounded by mountains, and
is a paradise for both mountaineers and skiers. The region's strong attachment to its
longstanding traditions is reflected in the unforgettable flavours of internationally
renowned local cuisine and wine.