Milan .

Milan - the most populous and prosperous city in Italy. He is the principal city of northern Italy, the administrative center of the region of Lombardy , the largest region of Italy . The city is the capital of the region . In addition, Milan is the capital of the business life , finance, and media in Italy.Along with New York , Paris, Rome and London, Milan is the world center of fashion . By its nature, it is rather more European city than the Italian , despite the abundance of magnificent historical monuments.He is known firms trendsetters , shopping along the streets of Via Montenapoleone and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in the Piazza Duomo , which has a reputation as the oldest center for shopping. He is famous for driving an Alfa Romeo produced in Milan, and the magnificent Milanese silk.

Many visit the city not to interact with history and shopping .Going shopping becomes here almost religious in nature. Thriving film and theatrical life , as well as clubs of various directions and enticing restaurants. Indeed, the city more famous for its character and not the presence of attractions and lifestyle. It is the largest transport junction of the country.It is the largest international airport , most of the railway communications and the best metro in Italy .

Center in Milan - Piazza Duomo, on which stands a monument to Vittorio Emanuel II. Here it is worth veliikolepny Duomo .On the square you can see the Royal Palace , now a National Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of the Duomo Cathedral . Near the world famous La Scala Opera House .

There are a lot of cathedrals and churches - the Church of Sant ' Ambrogio , the church of St. Maurice, Castello Sforzesco , the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie The Last Supper painted by Leonardo da Vinci , the church of San Lorenzo Maggiore, Early Christian church of the Holy Lorenzo the magnificent mosaics and the Romanesque church of Santa Eustordzhio .

Numerous museums in Milan are stored in the history and culture of this city.The most popular gallery of Brera with a collection of paintings , the Museum of the Castello with antique sculptures , frescoes and majolica Ambrosiana Art Gallery , National Museum of Science and Technology, which exhibits science projects of Leonardo da Vinci , the Archaeological Museum , the Museum Poldi Pezzoli with a collection of antique ceramics and contemporary art gallery .

It is believed that Milan was founded by the Celts of Northern Italy around 600 BC. Oe.

around 222 BC. Oe. it was conquered by the Romans , who gave him the name of Mediolanum .

In the IV century AD , during the Bishop of St . Ambrose and emperor Theodosius I, the city became the capital of the western Roman Empire.

After the conquest of the Goths in 539 , and the great Roman Empire , led by Frederick Barbarossa in 1157 Milan was one of the first independent city-states. The flowering period of his government was quite short.

During the Renaissance Milan was ruled by dukes of the Visconti and Sforza families, who had artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Donato Bramante. These families were famous aristocratic pursuit of the sublime and refined , to classical education at the same time - for his cruelty.Much of the extant works of Gothic and Renaissance architecture were created under their authority . But Visconti coat of arms - the snake that eats baby podcherkiivaet bloodthirsty nature of these artists.

The city center is compact and convenient for walking . Convenient subway and other transportation offer access to remote areas.

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