Italy: Milan

The idea for this trip came 2 weeks ago from Thomas, who heard some of his classmates are participating in the design fair of Milan. We both didn't have plans for this weekend, so off we go! When we arrive at the airport, a lady asks us 'Do you know this is the first flight from Antwerp to Milan? Would you like some champagne and cake?'. This trip starts of nicely! There are several news crews present, and later we appeared on Belgian news and paper!

There are no problems on the flight and a quick train ride brings us from Malpensa to Milan central station. We check in the Koala hostel, which is okay but nothing special except for the Koala theme.

We spend the afternoon in Lambrate. This cozy district has been transformed to show all kinds of design. Not only interiours, but also lifestyle, art, gadgets, ... here are some examples.

#dojowheels a caravan or container converted to a isolated working space. Perfect for business meetings, to finish a project or meditation.

Household art. Common disposable objects laid out in beautiful patterns.

Loads of furniture, and sometimes very experimental, but this heartbeat bookshelf is a good mix combination of looks and utility.

#ineed a wall were you can leave a picture with your most pressing desire. People are looking for various things, like love, vacation, a new neck or just nothing.

Saturday, there is time for more traditional tourist stuff. First up is the Duomo, a very impressive gothic church. Entrance is free, but 7,5 € gets you to the most impressive part, the roof with its abundant gothic decorations and a great view of the city.

Next stop is the science museum. Very extensive and interactive (but not all things work). Highlights for me were the inventions of Leonardo Da Vinci and the space expo with a real moon rock on display! Even here the design week is present, with some artwork and the possibility to test new strollers.

The Brera art gallery is one of the biggest in Italy. While the artwork on itself is already impressive, in some rooms modern furniture is added, giving a very interesting contrast. 

Last stop are the forest towers, Bosco Verticale. These are towers with on every floor terraces with several trees. There is also a sophisticated system to use the waste water for the plants. Unfortunately, it isn't possible to take a look inside.

With some heavy rainfall, our day comes to an end. We enjoy a superb pizza (prosciutto!) and some Belgian beers, another great day!

Sunday we leave early to find a special type of mailbox. Apparently, the special GPS stamps we got only work with a particular postal company. We spend some time in the shops in the huge central station and after some delays get back to Antwerp. 

All in all, two days is enough to get an impression of Milan and see the highlights. I had a great time seeing and playing with all the innovative stuff and design they displayed, so I can recommend it to everybody to visit Milan during the design week if you have the opportunity!

Link to the full gallery.