[Photo from Xinhua]

Milano is Italy’s richest, most modern and most innovative city. It is situated in the northern region of Lombardia, in the middle part of the great plain created by the river Po, and is traditionally one of central Europe’s great commercial hubs. It has always been at the forefront of Italian history, often anticipating developments that would later take place in the whole country.

Milano is well-known as a great industrial and financial centre. Most of Italy’s business is done in Milan and most foreign firms are based here. The City has more recently become a world capital for Fashion, Design and Innovation. It houses 7 universities and is well-known for medical and high-tech research.

Milano also boasts a relevant position in the arts. A very significant quota of Italy’s heritage can be found in its museums, churches and palaces. It is well known as the city where Leonardo Da Vinci spent an important phase of his life, accomplishing the greater part of his artistic masterpieces and of his scientific enquiries.

The city also has a very prestigious name in the field of music: La Scala is well-known throughout the world and a number of first-class orchestras make it one of Europe’s musical capitals.

But in the world at large Milan is possibly best known for its two famous soccer teams, A.C. Milan and Inter Milan, that have followers and supporters in the most distant countries. The Monza racetrack, home of Ferrari sports cars, is also quite near.

Milano is growing as a tourist destination: more and more foreign tourists are discovering its attractiveness and its particular international brand of style and elegance. Approximately 6 M. tourists arrive in Milano every year and figures are constantly increasing. Tourism certainly will be a growing part of the City’s future success, especially after the 2015 World Expo “Feeding the Planet – Energy for Life”.