Our last two days, here in Italy, were spent in Milan. My entire life, I knew Milan as the capital of fashion and design, as well as home to many famous fashion models and designers. Working for a private fashion boutique, and loving to stay current on fashion myself, a major excitement sparked for me and my visit to Milan. Not even five minutes off the train, and I was able to spot models and all the fashion brands (some native to Milan) I knew. While walking through the city later on, and while sitting on the steps of the duomo, I spent a long time people watching, and admiring the styles of the Milan natives. It was easy to spot a tourist over a Milan resident, as the differences in style were practically slapping you in the face. Hand in hand with fashion is shopping. So, I was in complete amazement while walking through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is Italy’s oldest active shopping mall. Named after the first king of the Kingdom of Italy, the Galleria presents as a four-story double arcade in the center of town.

My second favorite experience of Milan was another major landmark, the The Gothic Duomo di Milano cathedral. I was in complete awe of its gothic structure and intricate architecture. Luckily, I was able to do a spire walk. After climbing the many many stairs to the top, I overheard a possible tour guide say that there are more statues on this gothic-style cathedral than any other building in the world. There are 3,400 statues, 135 gargoyles and 700 figures that decorate this Duomo. The view from the top was breathtakingly beautiful. It gave an amazing view of the city of Milan, and especially of the Galleria from the top. I decided to sit on the rooftop for awhile, and as I did all I could think about was how lucky I was to have this experience, as it was one I would never forget.