The next morning, we were on the train to our final destination, Milan. When booking a hotel pre-trip, we discovered that a convention was in town and the few hotel rooms left were very expensive, at least $400 for single for one night. As a result we ended up in a 2 star hotel out of the tourist zone, Hotel Piola. The hotel did not provide breakfast and was basic, clean and quiet for only $150 for the night.
A quick trip to the Piola Metro stop from the central train station and we were at the hotel to deposit our luggage before we headed out to see some of Milan. By metro we traveled to visit the Duomo. You can use your credit card to badge in and out (be sure to badge out) of the metro system, tickets aren’t needed.
The Milan Duomo is one of the great sites of Italy. The Duomo ticket office is on the right hand side of the street as you face the Duomo. We purchased tickets for the Duomo itself and the Duomo Museum. During an earlier visit to Milan, we toured the Duomo terraces (roof). If you can also visit the Duomo roof. After our visit we headed out to find lunch and ended up at Ossbus Osteria Milanese.
To get with the Milan fashion scene (sort of anyway) we strolled down Via Montenapolene where the most expensive fashion retail companies have shops. After having a coffee at Illy as we contemplated paying $10k for a handbag, we hopped on a tram to Naviglio Grande. This is an interesting section of Milan where numerous shops and restaurants line a revitalized shipping canal. We finished the day with drinks and food at Restaurant ZOG along the canal.
In the morning, after breakfast at Gusta Mi Bakery close to Hotel Piola, I investigated the nearby Milan Polytechnical University. Later I traveled by Milan Metro to Linate Airport for the first leg of my flight home.
Costs – My costs were approximately $4500 for thirteen nights, including meals, drinks, Italian car tour, transportation, and entry fees. This amount does not include airfare or gifts. Hotel costs averaged $190/night for a single, with the best hotel, in Bergamo, being the least expensive.
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