“Ladies and gentlemen, we have just landed at the Milan Malpensa Airport, the outdoor temperature is 26 degrees… ” Yay! After a 13-hour flight, finally I am here in Milan! The weather is just wonderful, and my mood is just like the weather.
As we all know, when people mention Milan the first word that appears in their brain is “fashion.” Of course, Milan is one of the most fashionable cities in the world. It is the birthplace and shopping heaven for many high-end fashion brands such as Armani, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, and Prada. Most of the world fashion companies have their offices here. However, if you think fashion is the only prominent thing about Milan, then you will definitely be shocked by Milan’s rich culture and beautiful views.
Milan has many famous architectural heritage buildings, such as Teatro allo Scala which stages the world’s highest level operas, and the Duomo Church which is the largest gothic building in the world (it took almost 600 years to complete its construction). Before I went to visit the Duomo Church I thought the church would be a very serious and silent place, but the reality is quite the opposite. There are always some couples and friends sitting on the steps of the main entrance chatting with each other, and there are many tourists busy taking photos of this grand masterpiece on the Duomo plaza. The atmosphere here is not serious at all but very relaxed and harmonious. You can sit at a small coffee shop, which is just beside the Duomo church, buy a cup of the pure Italian coffee, and look at the pigeons coming and flying away. As you sit there you may feel that the scenery in front of you is like a beautiful painting and you are a part of it.
The Italian people are very hospitable. They like wine, cigarettes, pasta and pizza of course! They are willing to help you, no matter if you are here as a student or a traveler. I once encountered some difficulties in finding the connecting flight at the airport and a very kind Italian lady led me to find the right boarding gate. She told me many interesting things and customs about Italy and Italians. She said ‘to enjoy life’ is the first important rule for Italian people, and she wished me to have a great time here. I will absolutely have a great time here in Italy!
Here are some of my traveling tips if you are going to Italy. There are many famous travel places near Milan such as Venice, Florence, Pisa (where the leaning tower is), Cinque Terre… If you don’t have a big budget for traveling I would recommend you frequently check the Trenitalia website. They often sell some special discount tickets, but you need to get them as early as possible otherwise they will sell out very quickly. Another way to save money is to travel by flying with the low-cost airlines, the ticket from Milan to Paris only costs 20 Euros. If you decide to travel by plane there are many shuttle buses that are waiting outside the Milan central station to take you to different airports.
Lin Deng is in her 3rd year in Beedie School of Business. She was on an exchange for the 2015 Fall semester at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. She loves history, traveling, and exploring the different cultures in different countries. The exchange program provides more opportunities to her to see the world, develop her personal life experience and maximize the utility of her university knowledge. If you have any questions about Milan or Bocconi University, please feel free to email her at denglind@sfu.ca.