Milan Flights And Sights

An intoxicating mix of the latest fashion trends and world-class art and culture, Milan appeals to fashionistas, art lovers, socialites and opera buffs alike. The shop windows on Via Montenapoleone dazzle with Armani's new styles, sophisticated cocktail hours give the Milanesi an excuse to mingle and the Triennale's cutting-edge ideas challenge conventional design concepts. All this beauty and culture is undergirded by Milan's steel heart: This is Italy's commercial center, the place to coolly strike a business deal.

Things to Do

Rent a bike to experience Milan at your own leisure, taking in the Gothic white-marble Duomo, the steel-and-glass-sheathed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the redbrick Sforza Castle as you zip past businessmen and supermodels. The nearby Parco Sempione fills with locals during the afternoon siesta and is the gateway to Gio Ponti's steel Branca Tower, with bird's-eye views of the city and the Alps beyond. Art lovers can admire Leonardo's Last Supper in the Santa Maria delle Grazie church and Renaissance gems in the Pinacoteca di Brera art gallery.

Shopping

Look all around you for inspiration, then enter designer heaven in the Golden Quadrilateral, just north of the Duomo, where you can walk away with the world's most coveted brands. For a budget-friendly alternative, scour the racks of Papiniano Market, which is packed with designer seconds for both men and women. Antique collectors and art lovers search for gems along the Canale Grande in the Navigli district.

Nightlife and Entertainment

Be moved by classical opera at Italy's premier opera house, Teatro alla Scala, or hear great orchestral works at the Auditorium di Milano. Art students and young locals enjoy the latest music and cocktails in the university area of Brera. For fine live jazz in quirky surroundings, head to legendary Le Scimme in the Navigli, which has its own bar-boat moored in the canal, then dance the night away with celebrities in Garibaldi's long-standing nightclubs.

Restaurants and Dining

Since the 1980s, the aperitivo (predinner drinks with snacks) has been a social affair in Milan. Centrally located bars please business types with restaurant-like buffets, while the trendy joints of the Isola quarter offer food for thought with contemporary art displays. For dinner sample hearty polenta and tender osso buco in Magenta; portion-conscious fusion food from a designer restaurant in Sempione; or good-value pizza from the eateries in Brera.

With American Airlines flights to Milan, it's simple to visit this center of art, fashion and culture. From spectacular museums with priceless works of art to some of the world's best shopping (and everything in between, including pausing for a glass of wine in the afternoon to take it all in), there is no shortage of things to do in Milan. Your amazing trip to this Italian bastion of enduring style starts here.

One of our favorite activities in Milan is a visit to the prestigious Pinacoteca di Brera, or the Brera Art Gallery. It houses a breathtaking collection of Italian paintings -- one of the finest in the world. You'll be able to see works by Caravaggio, Raphael, Tintoretto and Rubens, whose well-known Last Supper resides here. We also recommend the Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco in Italian). Once one of the largest citadels in Europe, today the castle contains an impressive collection of art. One portion of the castle still features surviving ceiling frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci. The collections themselves (there are several here) include the final known sculpture by Michelangelo, the Rondanini Pieta, along with the Codex Trivulzianus manuscript by da Vinci.

Another item on our list of can't-miss things to do in Milan is a visit to the Duomo, or Milan Cathedral. This gothic masterpiece took almost 600 years to complete, with the first stone laid in 1386, and it's the largest in Italy. The streets in Milan radiate outward from the Duomo, or at least circle around it, making it the heart of the city. The cathedral contains a veritable bounty of artwork, including splendid altars by Pellegrini. Inside you'll even find the largest organ in Italy.

Of course, after soaking up all this history, art and culture, it's time for more modern activities in Milan, such as shopping. The Quadrilatero d'Oro, or Golden Quadrilateral, is well worth exploring. Just north of the Duomo, this area is home to esteemed Italian brands such as Prada, Fendi, Giorgio Armani and Dolce & Gabbana. After all, Milan is home to one of the world's most influential fashion weeks, with groundbreaking runway shows from premier designers. Looking for slightly more affordable apparel to bring home as a souvenir? Head to the outlets, as the locals do (try Il Salvagente on Via Fratelli Bronzetti).

And if you need to rest before you've shopped until you drop, there are many bars and restaurants where you can sip a glass or wine or an espresso to recharge. It would be a pity to be in Italy without sampling either!

American Airlines looks forward to helping you fly to Milan for a singular getaway. Browse flights and start planning your Italian escape today.