Milan
 Milan (Milano in Italian) is the capital of the region of Lombardia and of the province of
Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while the urban area is the fifth largest in
Europe with an estimated population of 4.3 million. It is the largest city in Italy. Milan's Malpensa Airport
is one of the major entryways into Italy
 The city was founded under the name of Mediolanum by the
Insubres, a Celtic people. It was later captured by the Romans in 222 BC, and the city became very successful
under the Roman Empire. Later Milan was ruled by the Visconti, the Sforza, the Spanish in the 1500s and the
Austrians in the 1700s. In 1796, Milan was conquered by Napoleon I and he made it the capital of his Kingdom
of Italy in 1805. During the Romantic period, Milan was a major cultural centre in the Europe, attracting
several artists, composers and important literary figures. Later, during World War II, the city was badly
affected by Allied bombings, and after German occupation in 1943, Milan became the main hub of the Italian
resistance. Despite this, Milan saw a post-war economic growth, attracting thousands of immigrants from
Southern Italy and abroad.
An international and cosmopolitan city, 13.9% of Milan's population is from
abroad. The city remains one of Europe's main transportation and industrial hubs, and Milan is one of the Europe's
most important centers for business and finance.
 Milan is recognized as a world fashion and design capital,
with a major global influence in commerce, industry, music, sport, literature, art and media. The Lombard
metropolis is especially famous for its fashion houses and shops such as along Via Montenapoleone, and the
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in the Piazza Duomo, reputed to be the world's oldest shopping mall. The city has a
rich cultural heritage and legacy, and has a unique cuisine. It is home to numerous famous dishes, such as the
Panettone Christmas cake and the risotto alla Milanese. The city has
a famous musical tradition, being home to several important composers such as Giuseppe Verdi and
theatres such as the Teatro alla Scala. Milan is also well-known for having several important museums,
universities, academies, palaces, churches and libraries such as the Academy of Brera and the Castello
Sforzesco as well as two renowned football (soccer) teams: AC Milan and Inter Milan. This makes Milan one of
Europe's most popular tourist destinations, with over 1.914 million visitors to the city in 2008.
Inhabitants of Milan are referred to as "Milanese" . The city is nicknamed by
Milan´s inhabitants the "moral capital".
Courtesy of Wikipedia
| 
