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.