Milan

• Hotels
  Our choice of Milan's best character hotels.
  
• Essential Milan
  Quick guide to this Italian city.
• Milan Feature
  Helena Thompson finds Italy more than a pretty face
  

Hotels
Our choice of Milan's best character hotels.

Carlton Hotel *****
Milan, Italy
The Hotel Carlton is situated in one of the most central and interesting zones of Madrid, within easy distance of the Prado Museum, the Queen Sofía Art Gallery, the Thyssen Museum the Botanical Gardens, and close to the Atocha railway and underground station. The hotel offers 112 comfortable rooms equipped with air-conditioning, television and hairdryer... (more)

Hotel Raffaello ****
Viale Certosa, Milan
A smartly presented hotel with a good range of facilities and a location close to the trade fair area, the Raffaello is also within striking distance of the Milan's centre and its famous landmarks... (more)

Hotel Teco ***
Via Spallanzani, Milan
Recently the subject of a complete refurbishment, the Teco is a generally well-looked after hotel in a good location with a good range of room types and sizes... (more)

Hotel Trieste **
Marco Polo, Milan
Following recent renovation, the Trieste is a simple yet stylish hotel, ideally located in the heart of Milan.... (more)

Essential Milan
Quick guide to this Italian city.

Introduction

In contrast to the age-old feel of Rome and Florence, Milan gives Italy its modern sheen. A fashion industry Mecca, Milan is more famous nowadays for leading designs than its historic artefacts. That said, there are still plenty of Gothic and Renaissance treasures to be seen, not forgetting, of course, the stunning visual and aural delight of the world-renown Opera house, La Scala.

Top Sights
1. Duomo - Landmarked by the Madonnina, a gilt statue on the highest spire, the huge Dome is a gothic masterpiece. A panoramic view of the Lombard Plain and the Alps is in order for those who clamber the church's 158 steps.
2. Pinacoteca Di Brera - (Brera Painting Gallery) Religious paintings and prestigious works by Raphael, Mantegna and Titian are among one of Italy's finest art collections.
3. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele - Unusual 19th century glass top barrel vaulted tunnel that gauges quizzical looks and instigates much brow-furrowing when visitors stop off for a coffee at the trendy cafes. Others simply window-shop as the goods tend to be a little on the pricey side.
4. Santa Maria Delle Grazie - Famous for being located next to the rectory, Cenacolo Vinciano, where Da Vinci painted the world famous Last Supper. The painting is now a shadow of its former self and groups are kept to a minimum.
5. Teatro Alla Scala - Verdi built on his reputation here and Maria Callas shot to operatic fame. The history of the theatre can be explored at the adjacent Museo Teatrale Alla Scala.

That's Entertainement
1. Boeucc - For a right royal gourmet treat, visit Milan's oldest restaurant lavishly adorned with thick red carpet and chandeliers. The food is well up to scratch too, serving up a range of traditional Milanese to more exotic morsels.
2. Le Scimmie - Relax with an evening of cool jazz in laid-back surroundings.
3. Rock Hollywood - Despite its tasteless name, this is the place to be for dedicated fashion followers.

Shopping
Milan's most elegant shopping streets - Via Monte Napoleone, Via Manzoni, are just a few minutes walk from the Duomo. While the boutiques may be impressive, the prices are jaw-droppingly expensive. For those on tighter budgets, try Corso Buenos , a shopping district that tends to be a bit easier on the purse strings.

Hotels
As you'd expect from such a fashion conscious capital, the hotels are chic and elegant at both the top end and lower half of the market. As a rule, service is first-class and there's a wide range of modern facilities. The real treat is that plenty of hotels, such as the moderate Hotel Teco, are bang in the centre of town, close to the nightspots and culture but discreet enough to ensure a relaxing stay. For a hotel closer to the trade fair area, try Hotel Raffaello, which is still just a few kilometres from the city centre.

Essential Info
Currency - The Lira (ITL). There are about 1,900 Lira to the Euro and to the US Dollar.

Weather - Sightseeing can be hard work for some in July and August, especially in the middle of the day, when temperatures regularly top 30 degrees centigrade. The upside, of course, is that the weather stays pleasantly warm throughout the winter months and is just about perfect during spring and autumn.

Hotelgenie.com carefully selects all hotels in this guide to bring you a choice of fine, character-rich establishments, many at exclusive discounts.