|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
History Milan, a city of 1.3 million people and covering 1,980 sq km, is said to have been founded by Celtic tribes, who settled along the Po river in the 7th century BC. It received its name from the Romans who stormed the city in 222 BC and called it Mediolanum (middle of the plain). From the mid-13th century, the city was governed by a succession of important families: the Torrianis, the Viscontis and the Sforzas. Under the latter dynasties, Milan enjoyed considerable wealth and power. The city came under Spanish rule in 1535 and was given to Austria in 1713 as part of the Treaty of Utrecht. Napoleon made Milan the capital of his Cisalpine Republic in 1797 and his Italian Republic in 1802. It was here that he was coronated as King of Italy in 1805. Austria regained control of the city in 1814 but it wasn't long before troops under Victor Emetroanuel II and Napoleon III cleaned out the Austrian forces at the Battle of Magenta. Milan was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy in 1860. Mussolini founded the fascist party in Milan in 1919 and so it is fitting that his career ended here; his corpse was hung upside down from the roof of a petrol station on Piazzale Loreto after he was shot trying to flee the country in April l1945. The post-war industrial boom was initated by car manufacturing and greater access to northern Europe via the new Alpine tunnels led to a spurt of growth. Today Milan is a city of fashion and design and rivals Paris as the world's design capital. This is reflected in the Milanese and their sense of style. While Milan is home to a number of renowned pieces of architecture, Milan Cathedral, La Scala opera house, and the Brera Art Gallery, it is not a city known for its looks, that is reserved for Milanese. Milan Castle bears witness to the city's golden age of Milan, when Ludovico Sforza transformed Milan into a glittering Renaissance pageant. The San Siro football stadium, home to A.C. Milan and Internazionale F.C., and the Central Station, are two more examples of buildings that have become world-famous landmarks. Milan is considered the real capital of italy as home to Italy's stock market and financial centre and second largest city in Italy. It's a historic city, with enough churches and museums to keep you busy for a week - the Accademia Brera, duomo and the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie - but there are also parks and cafés to relax in, and the contemporary aspects of the place represent the leading edge of Italy's fashion and design industry. |