Preparing for my third trip to Milan and my second time attending Design Week, I felt an undeniable mix of familiarity and excitement. Milan is a vibrant, welcoming city, especially during Design Week. Its compact size makes it easy to navigate, with convenient public transport and a walkable city centre, particularly in the Centro Storico (historical centre). But Milan is so much more than just the Fair—there's a world of design, culture, and architecture waiting to be explored beyond the bustling event venues. (For more insight on my experience at Design Week, check out my prior article A Deep Dive into Salone Del Mobile 2024: Trends, Highlights, and Innovations).

Milan: A Short History of Italy’s Design and Fashion Hub

Milan, Italy's financial hub, is also a global design and fashion capital. Known for its rich history in artisanal luxury goods, Milan transformed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the rise of textile manufacturing. The 1950s economic boom further cemented its status in industrial and furniture design, and the city became a pioneer in ready-to-wear fashion by the 1970s. Today, Milan continues to be a trendsetter, blending its historical roots with contemporary creativity.

Architectural Marvels: A Journey Through Milan's Iconic Structures

While not as well known for architecture as other Italian cities, Milan boasts a rich architectural heritage, from historic landmarks to contemporary innovations. The Duomo di Milano, the largest church in the Italian Republic, is a breathtaking Gothic cathedral whose construction began in 1386 and continued into the 21st century. Although I didn't visit the Duomo on this trip, my previous experiences touring its terraces, or rooftop, remain unforgettable. The views over Milan and the intricate detailing of the spires, buttresses, statues, and gargoyles are breathtaking as is the pink-hued marble cladding, which stops you in your tracks when you catch sight of it. If you ever find yourself in Milan, I highly recommend touring this stunning cathedral.

At the other end of the spectrum is Villa Necchi Campiglio, built in the 1930s for the Necchi Campiglio family. It is a stunning example of modernist Italian architecture, designed by Piero Portaluppi. The villa features formal and informal gardens, a tennis court, and Milan's first private pool. Its interiors blend Portaluppi's original designs with 18th-century furnishings, added in a later renovation, creating a unique and elegant space. Located in the "Quadrilatero del Silenzio," this area is known for its architectural design commissioned by wealthy industrialist families in the early 20th century. If you’re visiting Villa Necchi, don’t miss Villa Invernizzi, a majestic, albeit private, villa a short stroll away, where you can spy, through the fence, a flamboyance of flamingos strolling its gardens!

The Sforza Castle, dating back to the 14th century, is one of Europe's largest castles and now hosts an extensive art collection, including applied arts, furniture, musical instruments and archaeological artifacts. While I didn't tour the castle's interior on this visit, I did spend time exploring the grounds which is well worth it to admire the iconic red brick architecture, towers, battlements, and Parco Sempione, Milan's answer to Central Park.

These are just a few of the architectural highlights in the city but these landmarks reflect Milan's rich design heritage and contemporary creativity, blending historical significance with modern innovation.

Visiting Sforza Castle

Design Districts: Discovering Milan’s Creative Hubs

Milan's design districts each offer unique experiences, especially during Design Week. Brera, the original design district, remains the hub of activity. This romantic, cobbled neighbourhood is part of the Centro Storico and a must visit. However, Design Week extends beyond Brera, with several other districts worth exploring both in, and out, of Design Week:

Tortona: Once an industrial district home to factories and warehouses, Tortona is now a creative enclave of indie concept stores, galleries, boutiques and restaurants making it one of the hippest, trendiest parts of Milan.
Porta Magenta: Part of the Centro Storico, rich in 19th-century architecture, and host to the 5Vie district, this feels like a more genteel area of Milan. With wider streets and a more relaxed pace, this district is home to a UNESCO listed heritage church, Santa Maria della Grazie, which is also home to Leondardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
Navigli: Considered by some a ‘mini-Venice’, this district is defined by the few remaining canals that were once used for a bustling commercial trade. Now it is a vibrant and lively hub of bars, restaurants and arty boutiques. Buildings are painted with vibrant colours, again reminiscent of the isles of Murano and Burrano in Venice. And, while I wasn’t there for it, apparently the antiques market held the last Sunday of each month is a treasure trove for fashion, furniture and fabulous finds.

Each district has its flavour and focus, making them all worth visiting.

Exploring the streets of Milan

Immersive Showrooms and Events: Design Week Highlights

During Design Week, I had the pleasure of visiting various showrooms, studios, and events, such as the Fanuli Welcome Drinks and Dinner, which provided excellent networking opportunities and insights into the latest design trends.

Cultural and Artistic Experiences: A Fusion of History and Modernity

Visiting museums, art galleries, and villas like Alcova at Villa Bagatti Valsecchi enriched my understanding of Milanese design. These experiences highlighted the city's ability to blend historical significance with contemporary creativity, influencing my design perspective by reinforcing the value of juxtaposing old and new elements.

Touring Villa Bagatti Valsecchi for Alcova

Local Cuisine and Cafés: Culinary Delights for Designers

Visiting Italy without indulging in the amazing gastronomy would be criminal so it goes without saying that exploring Milan's culinary scene added a whole other layer to my trip (and my waistline!). Some of my favourite foodie moments include:

Gloria Osteria: Located opposite the Sforza Castle, Gloria's divine 60s-inspired interior and contemporary take on classic dishes make it a must-visit. The service was delightful with the waitstaff serving with a twinkle in their eye and each with a touch of pink in their outfit, the interior is joyously layered, colourful and playful and the food and cocktails are next-level delicious.
El Tombon de San Marc: Located in historic Brera, this sophisticated art deco gem offers impeccable service with a modern take on classic Milanese cuisine. You can’t go past the Risotto Milanese or their Osso Bucco and be sure to finish with their divine homemade vanilla ice cream, complete with sides of hazelnuts, almond crumble, rich chocolate and your choice of rum or berry sauce. Oh, and they have a fab playlist to elevate the experience.
Marchesi 1824: With three locations in Milan, this pasticceria celebrated its 200th birthday this year. While the Corso Magenta location is all old word charm, visiting the the Galleria de Vittorio Emanuele II pasticceria feels like being inside a pistachio macaron, in the best possible, Wes Anderson way. Their hot chocolate is to die for - impossibly decadent, rich and creamy.
Bar Camparino: Opening onto the Piazza del Duomo, this historic bar is the perfect spot for an aperitivo, offering design and cocktail lovers something special with stunning art nouveau mosaic walls, a beautifully crafted timber bar and expertly mixed cocktails. While it’s hard to go past a Campari Spritz, Negroni or my favourite, Negroni Sbagliato, the locals seem to prefer a Campari Shakerato - Campari, Orange Flower Water and a dash of salt water, shaken with ice. Cin Cin!

Each of these locations boasts unique and inspiring interiors, adding to the overall Milanese cultural experience.

Breakfast at Marchesi 1824

Shopping for Fashion Enthusiasts: Unique Finds and Inspirations

Milan is the style capital of Italy with an enviable roster of fashion houses and boutiques. With icons like Armani, Gucci, Prada and more lining the cobbled lanes of the Quadrilatero d’Oro I both window-shopped and explored further afield, with a few of my highlights including:

La DoubleJ: A vibrant, print-forward brand embracing maximalism and celebrating the ebullient Italian way of life, their flagship showroom on Via Sant’Andrea epitomises their brand with a lotus leaf ceiling, vibrant green walls and a bold green and white floor tile.
MaxMara: Icons of Italian ready-to-wear fashion, Max Mara epitomises chic, easy ready-to-wear designs with impeccable tailoring. Encompassing several diffusion lines under the MM umbrella, I’m particularly drawn to Weekend Max Mara and SportMax for effortless style, sophisticated fabrics and quality construction.
10 Corso Como: Recognised as the first concept store combining lifestyle, fashion, art, and food, 10 Corso Como, near Porta Garibaldi, offers an ever-changing, immersive experience across fashion and design. During Design Week, it hosted several exhibitions, including the sensory Panton Lounge showcasing Verner Panton's iconic pieces. It also houses a fabulous restaurant that spills out into the verdant courtyard that I highly recommend for a magical evening meal or simply aperitivo.

Dining at 10 Corso Como

Reflecting on Milan: A Transformative Experience

Exploring Milan enriched my understanding of design, from the sartorial elegance of the Milanese to the city's architectural and artistic influences spanning centuries. Whether admiring an unconventional window display, intricate interior details, or the juxtaposition of historical and modern elements, Milan's essence will undoubtedly influence my future design approach.

Milan is a city that blends architecture, fashion, finance, and history into a unique and worthy destination. It also serves as a fabulous base to explore Northern Italy, including Lake Como, Lakes Maggiore and Garda, Verona, and, if time permits, Venice and the Cinque Terre.

Stay tuned for Part 3 of this series, "Design and Travel in Italy: Inspirations from Milan and Beyond," where I’ll dive deeper into one of these regions that inspires creativity while sharing more travel tips for discovering Italy's hidden gems!

Alla prossima (until next time)!