Santa Maria delle Grazie

Milan, in Italy's Lombardy region, may be one of the most underappreciated tourist destinations in Italy. You hear of Milan being the fashion capital of the world, with its famous fashion shows and homes of well-renowned Italian designers, however, when most tourists visit Italy, they tend to overlook this city.

Granted Milan is more of an urban metropolitan city, but it still is hard to understand exactly why it is not more popular. Once you visit this beautiful city, it will be even harder to understand why there is not more publicity for it.

As with many of the cities in Europe, Milan exudes both old world charm and uber-Modern trends at once.

Park Hyatt hotel

As the magnificent Park Hyatt hotel located in the center of Milan perfectly exemplifies, there is no separation between the old architecture built over 500 years ago and the new buildings built in modern years. The exterior of the hotel blends well with the rest of the surrounding architecture and buildings. It is even hard to tell where the hotel was located until we saw the "Park Hyatt" sign. But once you step inside, the lobby of the hotel and the rooms radiates very modern and elegant qualities as you would expect from any five-star hotel.

Complimentary wine and fruit platter was brought up, along with unlimited supply of bottled water service. And if that was not enough, the concierge was always there eager to assist, whether it is finding the closest route to a destination, recommending a restaurant, or even making reservations.

And to add to that convenience, the hotel is located less than a 2-minute walk to one of the convenient underground Metro stations located throughout the city. All of these first class accommodations and services in addition to the first class location make the Park Hyatt Milano one of the top 5 attractions in Milan.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Literally a couple steps away from the hotel is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade, a shopper's paradise. Underneath the elegant glass-roofed dome lays numerous boutiques of smaller brands as well as high-end Italian designers such as Prada, record stores, and plenty of restaurants and cafes. The beautiful pavement mosaics of traditional symbols of Italian cities make this another one of the top 5 sights to see in Milan. Whether window shopping, taking a stroll, or enjoying fine Italian cuisine, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade is the perfect place to be.

Duomo cathedral

Duomo Cathedral

The number one attraction of Milan is located right outside the Park Hyatt Milano and arcade - the breathtaking Duomo cathedral, nearly 700 years old.

The amazing details of the architecture are magnificent, including the gargoyles and gothic statues that cover the church. The sight from the rooftop is not to be missed, as it provides a birds-eye view of the city and simultaneously allows for an up-close look of all the details on the walls and towers that protrude from the church.

The inside of the church is beautiful as well, with intricate stained glass windows. But the impressive exterior alone is enough to give anybody goose bumps every single time you look at the Duomo.

Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper"

Another must-see is the famous masterpiece of Leonardo da Vinci, "The Last Supper". Although viewing requires a reservation in advance and the tickets do not come cheap, it is a worthwhile visit to anyone who loves art or history. Also located inside the Refectory adjoining the church, the Santa Maria delle Grazie should not be overlooked as the dome and the exterior of the church beautifully captures the architecture of the Renaissance era.

Arco della Pace, Castello Sforzesco, and Parco Sempione

Arco della Pace

The final (although not it any particular order) top 5 site of Milan to mention is technically a combination of 3 attractions - Arco della Pace, Castello Sforzesco, and Parco Sempione.

But the location of these three sites makes it simple to view all three almost simultaneously. My recommendation is to walk through the Parco Sempione, which is a large public park, with vast gardens, small bridges, and a lake stretching several blocks. It is a perfect escape from the noise of the busy industrial city.

Conveniently, if you look at one side, you can see the Castello Sforzesco, a huge castle that symbolized the Golden Renaissance Age, which now houses several museums and unique courtyards. If you look in the opposite direction of the castle, you will see the Arco della Pace, or Arch of Peace, which was originally commissioned by Napoleon to celebrate his victories. The Chariot of Peace statue on top of the arch is hard to miss and make this monument even more spectacular.

It is a wonder why Milan isn't more popular as a destination in Italy - it has amazing architecture as Rome, but without the industrial pollution and noise that tend to dominate the city.

This juxtaposition of old traditional architecture and trendy fashionable boutiques on the same streets are abundant throughout the city, with each district exuding a unique vibe. It also has the romance of the suburbs, as Lake Como and other quaint towns for a getaway are about an hour away.

It is ideally located, just a 2½ hour train ride away from Venice in one direction and 2½ hour train ride away from Florence and Tuscany in another direction. Traveling to other Italian cities is easy as well, as there are numerous trains running in all directions quite frequently.

Milan offers something for everyone, whether it is the amazing traditional architecture, saintly churches, or the endless shopping.

One thing that is undisputable is the amazing food and wine that Milan has to offer. From small cafés to larger trattoria, you cannot go wrong with any restaurants you decide to dine in the city. A must is the prosciutto pizza at the popular Victoria Caffe, a few blocks from the Duomo in the Centro Storico area of Milan.

And one must not forget gelatos, which is Italian ice cream, considerably creamier than ice cream. Il Gabbiano, located in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade, offers a wide selection of delicious gelatos.

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