Milan

As promised, here is a second post of recent travels. This Fall we are trying to take trips to all of the locations that are within a day trip of Lausanne. The last few weeks we have gone to Montreux, Interlaken, and now Milan. Milan might be the furthest extent of our day trip range. We awoke at 5 AM and returned home at 11 PM. It was a long day, but worth it to me.

EARLY in the morning, eating breakfast on the train.

Before we went to Milan, I was a little doubtful after hearing that some people found it not to be a good destination while others like it a lot. My final analysis is that I loved it. Not only is it one of the primary Renaissance cities, but it is now the 2nd largest city in modern Italy and the fashion capital of the world. It wasn't very touristy, but we wanted to get out into some the areas of the city where most visitors don't visit. I like being able to see the historical aspect of the city as well as modern life in a big metropolis. I think we will have to make a return trip as there just wasn't enough time in a couple of hours to see all of the historical sites. Included in the list of sites we missed is La Scala and "The Last Supper" painting by da Vinci. For the painting, you are required to purchase tickets for months in advance.

The primary areas we visited were the famous Duomo and the Sforza Castle, which included a ceiling painted by da Vinci and an unfinshed sculpture by Michelangelo. It's pretty humbling to think you are standing in the same room as someone like that.

Sforza Castle

Da Vinci room in the Sforza Castle. If you can't tell, it is painted so that the columns are tree trunks, and overhead is covered in a canopy of foliage. For some reason, in the 19th century, the resident art historian decided to "improve" on da Vinci's original work. The modifications have since been restored to the original state.

Michelangelo's unfished Pieta.

Other pictures from Sforza Castle

I should mention that in the square to the Duomo there are many "street vendors"; Ashley was a little less kind in her depictions of them. We had read ahead of time to be vigilant before going into popular areas as the beggars will force bird food into your hand so that the birds swarm you and they can pickpocket you. Then, after doing this, they will follow you around until you pay them for the bird food. Italy has a reputation of being friendly to pickpockets. A friend of mine visited friends in Italy his first month working over here. At the train station in Italy on the way home someone came up to him and ran away with his computer bag, which included his computer, passport, phone, and wallet. Thankfully, he was able to run the thief down and take his bag back. Needless to say, we were adequately warned and vigilant.

Below are some pictures of the Duomo. It's incredible how when you come around the corner it just jumps out. No special lighting effects added.

The Duomo. One of the largest cathedrals in the world. Napoleon was once crowned inside on his march across Europe.

On top of the Duomo.

You might not believe it from the view below, but inside, this is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen. Unfortunately we couldn't take any pictures because the priest was preparing for a service and requested that visitors not disturb him. So far, Italy seems to be the only place where they actually still use their churches.





It's incredible to me that Italy and Switzerland are neighbors. Switzerland is very clean, efficient, and rule following. Italy is none of the above and just chaotic. It was kinda gritty and I liked it. It felt more like a real country that had to produce stuff through industry. I think there's a place in the world for both. The contrast between countries neighboring each other is just amusing to me.

As Orson Welles' character says in a famous line:

"You know what the fellow said—in Italy, for thirty years ...they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace—and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock."