The Adventure

My plan for the 17th had always been to spend it in Switzerland, then go down into Italy on the 18th. Obviously, things did not go as planned. The beauty of travelling with a Eurail pass was that that didn’t matter too much. I arrived in Bern, Switzerland in the morning, but after walking around for a bit, I decided that it was too cold and decided to go to Milano instead. This trip also did not go as planned. A transportation issue in Domodossola meant that I didn’t get to Milano until later in the day. Nonetheless, my time in Milano was well spent and enjoyed. I unfortunately didn’t see all I would have liked to, but I enjoyed what I did see.

One of the first things I saw upon arriving in Milano was the Sforzesco Castle. It was still a bit light out, so I was able to see it well and walk around for a bit. The grounds surrounding the castle and the nearby area was huge, so I explored this area for a while. The Arco dela Pace is a cool archway found opposite the castle across a field. I also enjoyed seeing the historical buildings and monuments scattered seemingly everywhere I walked. Throughout my travels, being so close to so much history everywhere was a huge part of my enjoyment, and something I dislike about being based in North America. Unfortunately, I didn’t get very far in my walk around Milano, as it was starting to get dark. I know there are many things that I didn’t get to see in my short visit, including the Duomo di Milano (which I’m angry at myself for missing). This trip requires a longer stay to fully enjoy all of its wonders that I just unfortunately didn’t have time for in my expansive travel plans. I hope to visit again soon!

Highlight

I really don’t think I saw enough of Milano to highlight anything in particular. The castle was very cool, and I do recommend visiting if you find yourself there. That being said, I wouldn’t say it’s the most impressive thing to see in Milano. I actually didn’t know about the existence of the Duomo di Milano before my trip there, and only discovered it afterwards when seeing pictures on Instagram. The pictures were enough to convince me that I have to return to Milano. And apparently it’s one of the biggest cathedrals in the world? I can’t believe I missed it, and I look forward to being able to return. If I had to recommend anything, I would recommend adding the Duomo di Milano to your itinerary, unlike me who stupidly did zero research before visiting.

Cost

I spent $11.46 CAD (€7.50) in Milano on a small Italian flag for my collection and some street pasta. I really wanted to get pasta in Italy, but would have felt awkward ordering at a nice restaurant as a solo traveller. Maybe next time.

Concluding Thoughts

Milano, like so many of the cities that I visited, is a place that I only explored for a brief time, but came away feeling like I would need to revisit it. The city is so big and offers so much to those living in and staying in the city. Even on the ride into the city, we passed by so many buildings that caught my eye that I was unable to see up close because they were too far from the central station where I stopped. Though I enjoyed my afternoon and evening there, I really feel like I don’t know the city really well. I will definitely revisit Milano, and I recommend you all visit it as well.