X - Miscellaneous and not relevant, Milan

Favorite thing: Milan is the financial hub in the whole of Italy. So, you'll definitely find lots of expats and foreigners working here.

I'll include a shortlist of places recommended by Milanese housing agents to foreigners settling down in Milan (see below):

Brera/Solferino
If your company lavishes you with a huge expense account, you may wish to consider living in this district. Rentals here are exhorbitant! But then again, if you do have plenty of cash to play around with, then I must encourage you to stay here. Who wouldn't want to live right smack in the center of town?

Porta Romana
A district that is quite near to the city center and not too bad a living alternative to the expensive Brera/ Solferino.

Naviglio
This district boasts of charming old canals and kewl cobbled-stone streets. I love it here. ;-) There is a lively café and pub culture, especially in the summer. The 'ringhiera' (buildings) are characterized by their long balconies connecting each apartment. Almost everyone living here seems very friendly. On weekends when the Sunday market 'comes to town', you may wish to hop onto your car and head somewhere else. It can get very noisy here with throngs and throngs of crowds, tourists et al.

Magenta/Vincenzo Monti
Very central and equally charming. Besides, it's also close to the Parco Sempione - a haven for dog and sports/fitness lovers.

If you're a first time expat living in this city, BENVENUTO!

Favorite thing: When you're walking around in beautiful Milan, and you feel like having an icecream. Try the rose flavoured icecream. It is absolutely delicous. At first you hesitate, eating something that tastes like a flower? But I suggest you try it, you just might like it!

Favorite thing: Walking all over Milan, you'll notice very big and coulored ad's posters.
Milan is the Italian fashion city, it's the heart of so many actvities and it has a glossy image.
Moreover, here all is bigger than in other italian cities also ads....
It's so different respect small towns in Milan hinterland!!!!!!!

Favorite thing: Not all of the art work in Milan is ancient. This giant rotating disc was sculpted by Amaldo Pomodoro in 1980. It actually rotates. It is within walking distance of the Duomo but is direct contract to historic scenes around the Duomo. It is located in Piazza Meda.

Favorite thing: Difficult to think of a favourite thing as it's an incredibly dull place, unless you like shops. There's better places to visit in Italy.

Fondest memory: The only thing to brighten up your trip would be to make sure you're there when there's a football match at the San Siro stadium.

Favorite thing: ICE CREAM! Believe it or not I am not a major ice cream fan - can always resist it in favour of some Cadbury's chocolate but in Milan I did discover some very tasty ice cream shops. Two places I would reccommend would be a little Kiosk round the corner from central station - its at the end of the concourse where you get the bus to the airport. The guy is only open during the summer and is a Sicilian - the prices are very reasonable and the flavours are beautiful - his speciality is "nocciola" which is nut flavour with whole haszelnuts in it - v tasty,,,,
But my favourite ice cream place of all is on Corso Ticinese and is called Gelato Artigianale - they have a lovely flavour called Nocciolato (combine nut and chocolate) which allows you another flavour for the creamy Yoghurt....am I making you dribble yet?!

Fondest memory: Turning 29 in Milano and going out to a Sri Lankan meal with Paola and her friends followed by a very fun evening at a Communist rally/carnival. Who knew that those Milanese communists knew how to party so well? That was my first and last Sri Lankan meal not because it was horrid, it was very good but because I haven't found a Sri Lankan place since then.

Favorite thing: If you're in Milan during September, take a trip to Monza and watch the Formula 1 race. That is, of course, if you like this sort of event.

Fondest memory: I will never forget jumping on to the Monza circuit after the race and running towards the podium to see the winners up close. Flags waved, everyone was trying to get on national tv and I managed to take a picture on pole position.

Favorite thing: This was a very strange experience. I was visiting the Cathedral, and this huge crowd of people started gathering and this guy came out of the bank there. He started making a speak, and I have NO idea what he was saying, but I thought I should get a picture=)

Favorite thing: Andare in Valtellina a vedere le cascatelle tra i monti.... come questa!!!!
Non è un piccolo miracolo della natura????
L'altro miracolo a due gambe è Ari ;-)