Milan

Duomo and an equestrian statue at sunset, Milan. Gianni D

Milan is Italy's business hub and center of chic. It is the country's most populous and prosperous city, serving as the capital of commerce, finance, fashion, and media. Milan is also Italy's transport hub, with the biggest international airport, the most rail connections, and the best subway system.

From St. Ambrose and Leonardo da Vinci to the waves of migrants who fueled its growth in the second half of the 20th century, outsiders have always been drawn to Milan for its open, freewheeling commercial culture and acceptance of new ideas. The result has been an ever-expanding power, and a juicy target for conquest. Virtually every invader in European history - Gaul, Roman, Goth, Longobard, and Frank - as well as a long series of rulers from France, Spain, and Austria, took a turn at ruling the city. In the Renaissance, Milan became one of the first independent city-states, but its heyday of self-rule proved comparatively brief. From 1277 until 1500, it was ruled by the Visconti and subsequently the Sforza dynasties.

Today, Milan is the capital of Lombardy, the most populated and developed of Italian regions. The city proper has about 1.3 million inhabitants (2004). Leonardo's Last Supper and other great works of art are in Milan, as well as a spectacular Baroque Duomo, the finest of its kind. There are also a wide variety of lovely churches to visit in Milan, a synagogue, and ancient Christian sites like the baptistery under the Duomo.

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	Battistero Paleocristiano Beneath Milan's Duomo lie the ruins of this 4th-century baptistery. It is widely believed to be where St. Ambrose, Milan's first bishop and patron saint, baptized St. Augustine.
	Biblioteca Ambrosiana Cardinal Borromeo's collection of over 30,000 manuscripts includes a 5th-century Iliad, early editions of Dante's Divine Comedy, and the Muratorian Canon (170 AD), the earliest authoritative list of biblical books.
	Duomo (Cathedral) Milan's Duomo is a large, elaborate and spiky Gothic cathedral on the main square in the city center. It is the second largest Catholic cathedral in the world.
	*Santa Maria della Grazie (The Last Supper)* The former Dominican monastery church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan is home to Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, one of the most famous paintings in the world.
	Sant'Ambrogio Noted for its architecture, this basilica was consecrated by St. Ambrose in 387 AD. It became the model for all Lombard Romanesque churches.
	San Lorenzo Maggiore Dating from the 4th century AD, this is the oldest church in Milan. It recalls the days when the city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire. 16 ancient Roman columns line the front of the church.
	San Satiro First built in 876, the church was dedicated to St. Satyrus, brother of St. Ambrose, and stands on the reputed site of his house. Later dedicated also to Mary, its full name became "St. Mary Staying with St. Satyrus."