Archive for 'Milan'

Car lovers from all over the globe will know that Italy is one of the key destinations to visit over the course of your lifetime. Traditionally, Italy has produced some of the world’s favourite cars as well as some of the world’s most desirable luxury cars. As such, these companies and brands often have museums dedicated to their history and the cars that they have made and have made them famous throughout the years. You can head to the Ferrari Museum, the Lamborghini Museum, the Fiat Museum and more but, if you have found a vacation rental in Milan and are exploring the city, then the obvious choice is the Alfa Romeo Museum, located a few kilometres from the city centre of Milan, in Arese.

The Museo Storico Alfa Romeo (now called the Museo Alfa Romeo - La macchina del tempo, which literally means, “The Alfa Romeo Museum – Time Machine”) is dedicated to over 100 years of history of the Alfa Romeo brand. Alfa Romeo, while best known for their cars, has actually produced automobiles, commercial vehicles, railway locomotives, tractors, buses, trams, and marine and aircraft engines throughout the years. This museum tells the tale of the brand and all of those incredible machines that it has put out into the world over time.

Milan is one of the most impressive fashion capitals in Italy and in the world with a long and lauded sartorial history, plenty of incredible boutiques, headquarters and flagship stores of many of the world’s most famous designer labels, designer cafés, restaurants, and bars, fashion museums, ample opportunity for stylish people-watching, and so much more besides. However, as more and more of the clothing market turns to vintage and resale in a bid to make the industry much more sustainable, savvy and stylish travellers who have found a vacation rental in Milan might be looking for some of the best places to shop for clothes in search of a new home. As such, we have compiled a list of just five of the must-see vintage stores in Milan in order to kick off your trip to this fashion fanatics’ dream holiday destination. Read on, get shopping, and go green.

Bikes are a pretty central fixture of Italian life and the visual character of the country from the image of Audrey Hepburn speeding, carefree, through the streets of Rome, to the iconic scenes of a man and his son desperately combing the streets for his stolen bicycle in, “The Bicycle Thieves.” You may have even imagined cycling through the historic streets of an Italian city or the open countryside. That can be readily achieved but if you're a serious cycling and bicycle enthusiast and want to learn more about the history of it in Italy or experience more cycling related activities, then you'll also find lots to see and do. If you have found a vacation rental in Milan, for example, you need to make time to head to Bianchi Café & Cycles.

You would be forgiven if Japan was the first place that came to mind when you were talking about cat cafés but if you are a cat lover who has found a vacation rental in Milan then rejoice, as the city is home to its very own kitty coffee shop; the Crazy Cat Café. Full of feline friends, delicious treats and feline-friendly menu options, this highly Instagrammable cafe has become a firm favourite amongst those in the know and really is a must-see if you love cats.

Located very centrally, on via Napo Torriani, the café was opened in the October of 2015 and is home to a clowder (yes, that is the collective term for cats, though “clutter”, “glaring” and, “pounce” are all also used) of rescue cats that have been adopted and taken care of by the owners. The first and only such establishment in Lombardy, it has taken a Japanese idea and adapted it to the tastes and pace of Italians.

Paying a visit Santa is a must for kids in the run up to Christmas and, if you have found a vacation rental in the Lake Maggiore area, you will be presented with the unique opportunity to see him on his very own boat!

According to local legend, Santa Claus has arrived in Milan at the end of November each year since 1400 to deliver toys and gifts to each child in the city. Next, he is said to hop on his boat, leave the city, and head up the Navigli and Ticino River to make his way to Lake Maggiore. He visits all of the lakeside towns before stopping and settling in the village of Intra until Christmas.