“A brief introduction to Milano” was a phrase that I heard a lot these first two weeks of my stay in the city. All of the locals kept saying how small the city is, although I could not imagine we were getting a complete look into Milan in such a short amount of time. Being from a small town in Kansas, every other city naturally looks giant to me. I was intimidated, yet intrigued by the thought of living in the fashion hub of the world and in a large city of which I had no experience in navigating.

On the rooftop of the Duomo di Milano

The best advice I received in order to get a full introduction of Milan was to get lost. Luckily, we live in an age of smart phones and technology, so in case I got desperate, I could use Google Maps. I have already gotten lost a few times and am starting to learn my way back to my apartment! Believe me, it is a refreshing feeling. My instructors have told me that Milan is the city of hidden treasures and you cannot find those if you do not wander around and get lost.

A replica of the Madonnina statue

I have already visited the top sites of Milano including the Duomo, the Galleria, Sforza Castle, and even window shopping on Via Montenapoleone. I learned about how Milan was under the control of the Romans, Huns, and Franks throughout history. Because of that, there are so many different types of architecture including Roman columns and Gothic cathedrals. I feel as though at this point, I have successfully gotten a full introduction of Milan, but I know our relationship will grow as the weeks go by! We also got to witness a Dolce & Gabbana photoshoot, which just made me get this feeling that I am going to like it here.

The Dolce & Gabbana photoshoot in Piazza del Duomo