Milan is the capital for Lombardy and has a population of 1.3 million people. The city is quite popular for designers, artists, photographers and models and also boasts ancient buildings and palazzos making it as an interesting and a glamorous city .

Fact 1:
Milan enjoys the Continental climate which is wet and chilly during winter and hot and humid during summer. Winter usually falls in between December and February and spring is generally rainy. Winter temperatures range between 30 and 50 °F (−1 and 10 °C) and in summer between 68 and 86 °F (20 and 30 °C) .

Fact 2:
Milan did not suffer much during the “Black Death” (bubonic plague) in 1348, it suffered greatly on the following plagues like the Epidemia Magna of 1451.

Lazaretto, a large square with a church in the middle became an important area when Milan was struck by three major epidemics in 1524, 1576, 1629, 1524 which killed 50,000 deaths or half of the residents in Milan. Lazaretto was built as a hospital to confine and shelter the sick to prevent the spread of the disease .

Fact 3:
Milan has the record for having the largest opera house in Europe, the Teatro alla Scala . It was designed by Giuseppe Piermarini and the construction only took two years and was inaugurated in August 3, 1778. In 1943, when Milan was bombed, the theater was destroyed, however, after the war, it was the first building to be rebuilt and reopened in August 3, 1778 with a concert by Arturo Toscanini .

Fact 4:
Milan Cathedral or Duomo di Milano is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world. It is of Gothic architecture and one of the main features of the cathedral are its 135 spires mounted with statues of important people in Milan and Bible characters. The highest spire measures 657 feet tall holds the important symbol of Milan, Milan the Madonina or Little Madonna. There is a law passed in Milan that no structure must exceed the height of the Madodina

Fact 5:
The Castello Sforzesco is one of the main attractions in Milan with its 12-mini museums and archives from the Paleolithic era up to the 1950’s. The building used to be the residence of the noble family, Visconti from 1938. The Sforzas restored it in the 1940’s but fell into decline in 1499.

In the late 18th century there were talks of demolishing the structure and in early 1900’s the bulwarks were knocked down. Luca Beltrami, an architect fought for the preservation of the building and oversee the restoration of the castle from 1893-1904 .

Fact 6:
20% of Milans migrants came from the following ten countries: Philippines, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, Egypt, China, Peru, Romania, Morocco, Ukraine, and Albania .

Fact 7:
Milan is popular for its’ aperitivo. Aperitivo is the tradition of pre-dinner drinks with appetizers. Appetizer spreads range from olives and cheeses; potato chips to pasta and pizza; bruschetta ; meat and vegetables and fruit salads.

The purpose of the aperitivo is to stimulate the tastebuds before dinner. The aperitivo starts from 6PM up to 9PM .

Fact 8:
The most noteworthy monuments in the Lombard Renaissance is the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie which was built between 1466 to 1490 overseen by Guiniforte Solari. Leonardo da Vinci’s great work, The Last Supper is kept in the said church and the said painting is now part of the UNESCO Heritage Site .

Fact 9:
Milan has one of Europes highest GDP. In 2014, Italy has an estimate of €153.249 billion national GDP where 9.9% was generated by Milan. In 2004, the metropolitan of Milan has a GDP of €241.2 billion making it as Europes 4th highest GDP. If Milan will be the 28th largest economy in the world .

Fact 10:
Milan is recognized as one of the world’s important fashion capital along with Paris, New York, Rome, London and Tokyo. It is the home of famous designers like Giorgio Armani, Valentino , Garavani, Gianni Versace, Donatella Versace, Prada , Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce.
Milan has two fashion week, one for Spring and one for Autumn .