Milan.
- Rageshree Rajmohan
- Jun 14
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 23
My OPEN story had come to an end by October 2014 and I was generally doing nothing when Manorama asked if I could ‘help’ them out with the launch of an international Décor magazine. Having launched the Indian edition of Britain’s largest selling modern home magazine, Livingetc, for Images Group in 2009, I readily agreed. It was sometime Jan-Feb 2015. It was a French tile;but I did not have to contribute on the Contract as they had already wrapped it up and signed. Though our launch was slated for later part of the year, the Licensors wanted us to attend Salone del Mobile, the world’s largest home decor fair, which is held annually in Milan. Since I was only a consultant, I had planned to ‘enjoy’ Italy by visiting places of my interest in Milan and Rome, which one could never do otherwise while on work abroad. I carried my Canon DSLR too. Since I was unemployed, I had time to plan my ‘sightseeing’. Every stop was neatly planned, having bought all Entry Tickets online.
I landed In Milan at wee hours on 15th April and headed straight to Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_delle_Grazie,_Milan) which houses Last Supper, the mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci, after dumping the luggage at the hotel clock room. Commissioned by da Vinci’s patron, Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, the painting (c.1495-1498), is considered to be a landmark which announced the arrival of High Renaissance. There were not too many visitors, may be because it was quit early. I walked in through the narrow entrance of the Church and came across one of da Vinci’s largest works and one of the most recognisable paintings quite instantly. Feeling was quite similar to what I went through on seeing Mona Lisa, another famous painting of da Vinci, in Louvre Museum, Paris. I am sure, I will perhaps feel the same if I ever come across the original of Guerrillo Heroico, the iconic photograph of Che Guerra by Alberto Korda. You are sighting an image which has flashed a million times in your conscience. Equally important is the fact that you have there to see a particular painting and you are expecting it any moment. Unlike spotting a tiger in Ranthambore National Park!
Milan can boast of one the world’s largest array of frescos. Every church has stunning frescos; but,I could visit only a few churches even though I was partly a tourist in this trip due to time constraints. San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore and Santa Maria Presso San Satiro (Church of Santa Maria next to San Satiro) are among the few I am lucky to have visited. Though I have been to Milan multiple times after that, I could not expand my list except stopping by enroute airport and taking pictures of 'Piazzale Loreto', the Square where dead bodies Mussolini and his mistress were hung upside down by Communists at the end of WW II. Mussolini and Petacci were executed at a place near Lake Como earlier while trying to flee to Germany. One would always spend the evenings outside the Duomo, though. It’s an amazing place to walk around, sit, have a beer and relish one of the most delicious Italian cuisines. Pizzia del Duomo also has Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, world’s oldest luxury mall, which is an architectural marvel.
Pictures can express much more than words! Do check out the Gallery or the buttons 'Milan Pictures' ,'Duomo Pictures'and 'Lake Como' right at the top of this page.
Duomo di Milano
When I told a friend that I am going to Milan on business, he told me ‘Milan is a great place; you must visit Duomo’. First in my list, of course, was Last Supper. My father had told me about the square where dead bodies Mussolini and his girlfriend put on public display by Italian Communists, which was in my priority list. After finishing 'Last Supper' and amazing frescos across many churches I must have had a beer or two and some steak or grilled fish before taking a nap in the hotel room. In the evening Mridula, our editor and I decided to go to Duomo. Down below our hotel was the Metro station. Couple of stops and we were in Duomo.
The very first sight can never be forgotten. I had looked up pictures; still, when you actually see it- it’s different feeling altogether. The structure, from outside, itself is so stunning that one would walk around and check it out from all sides. One just does't feel like leaving the place, which you don’t really have to for hours together. There are so many places to sit, there are many restaurants right opposite Duomo too. A bit touristy; but amazing food. The whole environment is so fascinating that you wouldn’t want to leave the spell. Though I went to Piazzo Duomo every single day in evening, it’s on my last day that I could visit Duomo. I had finished my Salone bit early that day and had to take an evening train to Rome. Inside Duomo so mesmerizing that I am incapable of describing the experience.
Duomo is not just a historic Cathedral and an architectural marvel, it’s a hub of cultural activities in Milan. Liturgic life is something one can expect. But the avenues to experience Duomo is very vast and diverse- live events, Museum, archive and library and even MICE Events.
Duomo is the seat of Archbishop of Milan and is dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary. The cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. Construction began in 1386, and the final details were completed in 1965. It is the largest church in the Italian Republic.
The 600 year old history of construction of Duomo is very interesting. With da Vinci participating and withdrawing from the competition for designing the central cupola to Nepolean being crowned the King of Italy at the Duomo. Btw, there is a statue of Nepolean on top of one of the spires. Oh! The spires in Duomo will really blow you out of your minds. And there are a zillion of them!
Lake Como: In one of my Milan visits, we were to meet a few clients in their factories situated on the outskirts of Milan. Marialino Siclari, our business associate in Milan, announced that on a particular day all meetings were near Lake Como, where we could have lunch as we have sufficient time between meetings. I was with three ladies- Mridula and Vinita apart from Marialino. These factory visits are good; they showcase their new lines and one could see their entire range as well. In such ‘Factory Visits’, they take you through the history and philosophy of the brand as well.
The girls must have been expecting to bump into Geroge Clooney! I don’t remember if I hoped to see Catherine Zeta-Jones or Amal Clooney walking out of a grocery shop. But we had lunch at Lake Como.Beautiful place!
Located on the foothills of Alps, it is just about 45 KMs from Milan on the Venice Expressway. (Btw, I had spotted a Mahindra Quarto on the expressway. I have seen a lot of Suzuki Balenos in Milan) Lake Como offers a spectacular view. Mountains beyond looks beautiful too.Opulance all over; even the old pictures in the restaurants sufficiently display classic and luxurious past of the place. My lunch was light; but yum! I love Italian cuisine :) We had to get back to Milan by evening for a 'Store Visit'; otherwise, I would have downed a few Martinis at Hemingway Cocktail Bar & Restaurant!
(For the unitiated: Lake Como can boast of many celebs,including George Clooney, as owners of villas there; while many are fequent visitors)
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