Milano is the country's economic engine room, home to Italy's stock market and business centres. This stylish city is also the world's design capital and a leading fashion centre.
The Duomo is one of the world's largest, most striking cathedrals, while Milan's art galleries, many housed in former palaces, are home to a host of significant works that include da Vinci's Last Supper.
Area: 1,980 sq km
Population: 1.3 million
Country: Italy
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1 (Central European Time)
Telephone Area Code: 02
Milan has long been a crossroads for travel between the Continent and the peninsula, and there are plenty of options for getting to the city.
The Malpensa airport handles almost all international flights. It's about 50km (31mi) northwest of the city. Most domestic and some European flights use Linate airport, about 7km (4.3mi) east of the city centre. Public transportation links both airports to the city centre.
The Orio al Serio airport is easily reachable by bus from Bergamo, Milan and Brescia.
Train lines from Stazione Centrale in the city centre run to all parts of Italy and Europe. There are two other stations, Nord and Porte Garibaldi.
Many of Italy's main motorways converge at Milan's ring road, known as the Tangenziale Est and Tangenziale Ovest.
Milan's public transportation system is efficient. There are three underground lines as well as 120 tram, trolley-bus and bus lines covering alla areas of the city.
Tickets are available at Metropolitana Milanese (MM) stations and some newspaper stands. You can sometimes get a free public transport map from ATM offices at the Duomo metro station and Stazione Central.
Don't bother trying to hail taxis, as they generally won't stop. Head for one of the ubiquitous taxi ranks, which have telephones.
