Don't Forget Milan

Milan's Fortress, Frescoes and Fashion

Amazing Milan

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

The Grand Fortress - Sforza Castle

In the ultimately sophisticated city of Milan there is so much to see. There is the famed architecture of the internationally renowned Duomo, - but also leading into the centre of the city and towards the cathedral, there is the breathtaking Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. In a strictly terminological sense this could be considered one of the world’s first shopping malls -  although the soaring dignity and architectural magnificence of this four storey gallery make it less than reasonable to trivialise it in such a way. The Galleria draws together the four points of the compass under high glassed ceilings, creating a sheltered crucifix-shaped tunnel which leads out into all directions of Milan.

The internal walls of the Galleria are decorated in friezes depicting stories of nineteenth century life in Milan. These friezes are a feature of Milan which have been inserted everywhere from grand arcades such as the Galleria, to simple back street alleys where grandeur is far from expected. Carefully preserved and maintained, these frescoes subtly interplay with the relief of the ancient facades as they revel in their decorative grandeur.

Heading east from the Duomo which is in all respects the heart of Milan, there is a processional pathway through the streets leading to the Grand Fortress with its brick fortifications, its corner towers and its expanses of defensive walls. This is Sforza Castle - once the fortified stronghold of Milan. Today it is an open fortress, its drawbridge now gone but its steel gates, its defensive ramparts and its fortifications still intact. As you exit the castle grounds to the east, the imposing brickwork gives way to the contrasts of a vast park with expanses of tree lined boulevards and lawns, providing a green haven right in the heart of Milan.

Finally it has to be said, there is nothing more noticeable in Milan than the style and the fashion which surrounds you everywhere. Women dress well. Old and young, they dress to be seen. However the men are not to be outdone. In Milan you will see the best of suits, the most sophisticated of understated styles, the perfect cut, exquisite styling tailored to perfection. Only the tourists fail to meet the high standards that the Milanese set for the world.

Parco Sempione

See also:

www.unusualstays.com ( A New Zealand rundown of unique places to stay)

pippy.mccurdy@gmail.com

The Rome That is Passed By

www.unusualstays.com ( A New Zealand blog of unique places to stay)

pippy.mccurdy@gmail.com

The Traveller's Rome

In a city that is renowned and admired world wide for some of the most famous monuments of all time, there are also those not so famous edifices which in a lesser city would be prime attractions in themselves. But in Rome? - Barely a mention.

The mighty Emperor Hadrian left his mark on many parts of the world. There was of course, his mighty wall - the remains of which snakes its way through the English countryside even today. There was the Temple of Venus and  Roma, -  which still stands partially in tact on a hill near the Colosseum and is visited by an estimated four million sightseers a year. There is the magnificent Pantheon with its huge domed roof - two thousand years old and still the largest un-reinforced dome in the world. These are Hadrian’s most well known legacies.

But if you happen to wander through the heart of Rome along the well-tramped streets as you weave in and out of the throngs of tourists, tour guides and guided walks, and then if you divert just a little, you will find yourself at the foot of what remains of the Temple of Hadrian; - eleven giant columns in a row with a huge scarred and pitted wall behind.

The Temple of Hadrian

This is the temple’s north  wall, - the only remaining wall, - now assimilated into the facade of the Rome stock exchange. There are no hoards of tourists around this edifice, just a handful of hawkers and captured in a moment in time, a girl playing violin in homage to a forgotten wonder.

A little further on but still in the main tourist tract of the city you may wander possibly by mistake, into the astonishing Galleria Sciarra. This Galleria is an object of great beauty. It soars up on all sides, its walls covered in murals and frescoes from the nineteenth century. Above these walls sits a pyramidal glass roof .

Galleria Sciarra

The art on the walls of the Galleria is the work of of a single artist, Giuseppe Cellini, and depicts themes in reverence of the virtues of  nineteenth century womanhood;  virtues such as self - sacrifice, servitude, obedience and chastity. Well perhaps the themes are no longer so acceptable but the overall effect of these tall art-covered walls in their rich earthy tones, is dramatic. This Galleria is easily missed. It is not well marked. The entrance is humble. It is not likely to be on your walking trail. But it is a detour you will be glad you took.

The surprise finds of Rome go on and on. Above, just two of these. And then there is the open air theatre beside the River Tiber. There are the night cafes and bars along the west bank. There is the eccentric Coppedè district. And there are also the wonders that you will find on your own; -  always the best discoveries.

Movies by the Tiber