On to Milan

 Saturday 

24 August 

Day 55

41 to go

Moving day again. The alarm sounded at 7am, heralding the start to our day. We didn’t waste any time getting up and organised. We enjoyed the view for a final time and were out the door by 8am.  Having mapped out our journey yesterday, we had an easy time catching lifts, getting metro tickets and arriving at the Principe station, all by 8.20am, an hour before our train departed. 

Today there were no stern local police at the metro exit demanding tickets. They probably thought tourists don’t move this early, or they enjoyed a sleep in, being a Saturday. 

We sat on the platform trying to second guess which end of the platform we would require. In the end we stayed in one of the glass booths, trying not to breathe in the smoke swirling around us. When the train arrived at 9.15am, we had to hike the full length of the platform, but it wasn’t an issue and we were safely in our seats with plenty of time, grateful there was no delay today. We sat back and enjoyed the journey through tunnels that eventually opened up into wide farmland. Paul had to continually keep tabs on our large case, as  it wanted to roll around when we banked into left hand corners. He also had the company of a greyhound that was happy to have its head scratched during the journey.

At 10.50am, we pulled into Milano Centrali Station. We piled out with our bags and made for the exit. This required two sets of escalators to reach the ground level and once on the street, we had Google navigate our way to the NYX hotel, which was basically across the street. We weren’t able to check in but we were able to stow our bags, which we did and then we returned to the station. 

Our first job was to buy our forwarding ticket to Lecco for tomorrow and then it was off to find the metro to the Duomo. We didn’t need to buy tickets, as you could tap on with your bank card, so rather than join the ticket cue, we just walked on in. We missed a train by seconds, but another arrived soon after. Four stops later, we were emerging from below and the Duomo loomed large, unfortunately, so did the tourists and the swarms of pigeons. 

The Duomo is an opposing and very grande structure. It almost looks made of delicate lace. We checked out the facade, watching people walk over the roof, as we did twelve years ago. We did a walk of the perimeter, taking in the intricate carvings and the pastel colours of the granite. We listened to a talented busker playing his guitar and then walked Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, it was built by 1877. This shopping arcade is as magnificent as the Duomo. The glass and steel domes and the stunning mosaics are examples of wonderful and intricate architecture. 

We exited via Piazza Della Scala and checked out the Leonardo Da Vinci sculpture, then we opted to walk back in the direction of the hotel. 

We wandered a very wide road, noting how different this city is to Genova. We came across a large parkland, Giardini Indro Montanelli, and opted to walk its winding paths, shaded by trees. There was a small cafe, so we stopped for lunch and a bit of a rest. It was 30 degrees and very muggy. 

As we left the park, we passed a round building with a green copper dome. Turns out this was a planetarium. We wandered another wide colonnade. Being Milan every store seems to be high end fashion and accessories. Some of the window dressings left a lot to be desired. I think I will keep my money in my wallet.

We passed a number of interesting churches and other buildings before stopping at a supermarket and then popping around the corner to behold the Central station. We wandered the path, dodging the trams and then took in the art that is dotted around the forecourt. We wandered to a fountain, longing to dip our toes in, but sign was clear, no swimming! We took in the grand architecture of the station, admiring the mosaics and the grand shapes carved from stone. It is truly a beautiful station.

Having chewed up enough time, we made our way back to the hotel and checked in. We were given our key to room 1109, the top floor, and then took our bags from storage and made our way to our room for the night. We had a sweeping view of the station and the streets and buildings surrounding the area. 

We dumped our bags, knowing we didn’t need to get into much and proceeded to enjoy a couple of hours downtime in the aircon. By 4.30, we were thinking we should go out and see some more of Milan. Paul had found a craft beer bar near by, so we decided to head there first. We passed Chiesa Parrocchiale Di Sant’Agostino on the way to Bar Gluck. We stayed at the small establishment for a drink, but it wasn’t anything special. 

I did a search of things to do and we opted on a couple. When our drink was done, we made our way to the nearest metro and caught the train to Lanza Station so we could check out Castello Sforzesco. This was a very impressive brick building, with a dry moat and drawbridge entrance. We made our way through the gate and entered the central square, taking in the large, walled space. I spied a cat that ducked under a set of stairs to hide on a rock ledge. 

We made our way out another entrance which lead to Parco Sempione. In the distance we could see the towering Arco Della Pace, the triumphant marble gates. We returned to the Castello, walking towards another exit. We passed a large pond in the middle of a walled garden that reminded me of the Alhambra in Spain. 

Out the next exit, there was a large, round fountain, Fontana Di Piazza Castello and also a grand sculpture of Garibaldi with the obligatory pigeon on top. We then went in search of the Cadorna metro, passing the Sew, Needle, Thread sculpture along the way. 

We caught the metro to the Genova station and then walked the streets to Naviglio and its canals. We walked over the grande canal via the Ponte Alda Merini and then made a bee line for a waterfront restaurant for dinner. We enjoyed a lovely pizza and cold cuts and cheese. When we finished our meal, we walked the canal to Ponte Enrico Molteni and then caught the metro back to Centrale station and  returned to the hotel, tired but satisfied.