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Duomo: the heart of Milan beats at the Piazza del Duomo with the iconic cathedral, the third largest church in Europe, after Rome's Saint Peter and Seville's Cathedral. The construction of the Gothic building with the forest of point edges scraping the almost permanently cloudy sky started in 1386 but took six centuries for its completion. It was decorated with 2,245 external statues and 135 obelisks, among which the one with the gilded Madonnina stands out. Inside the cathedral, high above the Altar, the nail that is considered as originating from Christ's Cross is kept. You will see the lifting mechanism, possibly a Leonardo Da Vinci device, used to reach this sacred relic. Climb on the Duomo's top to enjoy Milan's panorama.  
Address: Piazza del Duomo, 39 02 7202 2656, www.duomomilano.it/

“The Last Supper”: Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece can be seen on the wall of Cenacolo Vinciano, the refectory of the Santa Maria delle Grazie renaissance monastery. The fresco took three years for its completion, from 1495 to 1498, and it is said that it depicts the moment when Christ reveals to its disciples that “one of you will betray me”. The work attracts visitors from around the globe, despite the wear it has suffered and the extensive works for its restoration, which lasted 22 years. Only 25 persons a time are allowed in the room and phone or online reservations are required. 
Address: Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie 2, 0039 02 92800360, www.cenacolovinciano.org/

Brera Art Gallery: next to Maria Theresa's Fine Arts Academy stands the elegant Art Gallery, which at the commands of Napoleon, housed treasures from the entire kingdom of Italy of the time. Come to admire Bellini's Pietà, Mantegna's Lamentation of Christ, masterpieces by Tintoretto, Veronese, Caravaggio, Van Dyck, Rubens and other artists of the Italian and the Flemish school of Renaissance.  
Address: Via Brera 28, 0039 02 72263264, www.brera.beniculturali.it

La Scala: the most famous opera house in the world. In the 18th century building with the neoclassical façade, visit the museum dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi who composed “Nabucco”, admire the red galleries and try to get a ticket for a show. You will experience the amazing acoustics and special energy of the venue where Maria Callas, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev and many more made history happen.  
Address: Via Filodrammatici, 2, 0039 02 88796112, www.teatroallascala.org/

Sforzesco Castle: imposing 15th century castle, built at the orders of Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan. Its decoration was assigned to top sculptors and painters, including Leonardo Da Vinci. Today it houses significant museums of the city, such as the Prehistory and the Musical Instruments Museums, while the rich collection of the Museum of Ancient Art consists of 230 works of Italian art, with Michelangelo's “Pietà Rondanini” standing out.  
 Address: Piazza Castello, 0039 02 88463700, www.milanocastello.it

Biblioteca Ambrosiana: visit the historical library, dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Saint Ambrose, which managed to impress Lord Byron with its volume. It is famous for the vast collection of Da Vinci's manuscripts and designs, among which the famous Codex Atlanticus with notes and drafts of the renaissance polymath ranging from mathematics and astronomy to parachute flying. It also has an exceptional Art Gallery with works by Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, Tiepolo.  
Address: Piazza Pio XI 2, 0039 02 806921, www.ambrosiana.eu/

Inter and Milan Museums: If you are a fan of the Italian campionato, head for the San Siro stadium, the so-called “La Scala of Football”, to tour the museums of the two legendary teams of Milan. The tour starts at the locker rooms and then you pass the tunnel to the field, following the steps of Abate and Bonazzoli.  
Address: Piazzale Angelo Moratti, 0039 02 4879 8201, www.sansiro.net/

Prepare for a shopping marathon in the home of Alta Moda. Start at the Galleria Vittoriο Εmanuele II, next to the Duomo, the elegant roofed 19th century shopping mall with the glass-vaulted arcades and the shiny haute couture windows.   

Explore the new season trends in the “quadrilatero della moda”, a little further from La Scala.  Four streets, via Manzoni, via Montenapoleone, via della Spiga and corso Venezia, gather almost all famous Italian and International fashion houses.  

If you want to refresh your style without spending a fortune, head for the “spacci”, the discount outlets in and around Milan. At Salvagente (via Bronzetti 16), you will discover classic pieces from previous seasons with up to 60% discount. Catch the bus for Serravalle Scrivia, 45 minutes from Milan, to get to the Italian Mecca of outlet shopping. Stock outlets offer excellent quality classic pieces, such as mohair coats, evening wear, bags, shoes, cashmere sweaters, pashminas, sporty-chic signature creations.

In Milan, even an espresso can be signature, if you order one in the café or bar of your favourite designer. From six in the afternoon to nine in the evening, the city experiences the aperitivo ritual. Before going home after work, locals drop by at their neighbourhood bar for a drink accompanied by free finger food, salads, cold pasta, Milanese Gorgonzola pies. Happy hour is the perfect time to relax from a stressful day, listening to new age and sax lounge music in bars with a layout that is often based on feng shui and where sometimes intentionally mobile phones are out of range.   

Make reservations for dinner at the trendy restaurants of Brera and try cutlets alla Milanese, risotto with saffron, ossobuco and minestrone. Continue your night in the atmospheric clubs of the picturesque district, favourite hangouts for Eros Ramazzotti and Monica Bellucci when in the city. In Milan, night life hotspots change in the frequency collections change on the catwalk. The hip bars of Corso Como, near Stazione Garibaldi are classic, while night-life alternatives are the jazz bars of the Navigli and San Lorenzo district.

Milan Fashion Week Giant posters on the streets with models of famous Italian houses transform the financial and industrial centre of Italy to an open-air runway in the framework of Fashion Week every spring and autumn. The hottest names of the Italian fashion industry present their collections for the following season in fashion show - extravaganzas at Fiera Milano. Cinema and music stars, celebrities and international jet setters flock to Milan for the spectacular défilés. The air of haute couture in the city hangouts will simply fascinate you.

White Night Come to Milan to stay up all night, once a year, in mid-June, when shops, bars, restaurants and cinemas in the city stay open till six in the morning.

Oh Bej! Oh Bej! The locals in Milan celebrate their patron saint, Saint Ambrose, with an open air market at Sant'Ambrogio square, “opening” the festive period on 7 December. Handmade ornaments and decorations, antiques, warm wine and the classic Christmas panettone cake.

Stramilano Milan transforms to a vast athletic track for three races of 5, 15 and 21 kilometres running across the historical centre and outskirts of the city. Every 1st or 2nd Sunday of April.

Getting to and from the airport in Milan

Aegean Airlines lands at Malpensa Airport of Milan, 40 km from the city centre. A new entry in airport shopping is the “Luxury Square”, a modern version of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele with all famous signature labels. The airport facilities also include pasta corner, pizzeria, gourmet tastes, cafés, banks, foreign exchange offices, post office, car rental agencies, free Wi-Fi.

To get to Milan from the airport, catch the Malpensa Express train to Cadorna, Milano Centrale and Milano Porta Garibaldi stations in the city. Otherwise, take the Air Pullman bus to Milano Stazione Centrale, departing every 20 minutes. Taxis are quite expensive as it is a long distance.