Boutique hotels are rare in Milan, but the city just gained another with the opening of a stylishly modern concept housed in a neoclassical palazzo.
Milan is the commercial and financial center of Italy, and additionally boasts one of Europe's most spectacular Gothic cathedrals and more.
Though Milan is Italy's largest city and its business capital, it remains surprisingly little known. Many American travelers use it as a gateway and swiftly move on to the Italian Lakes, Venice or Florence without giving the place a second look.
Despite a rather dour facade, Milan's great opera house is one of the most impressive in the world. Its gilded interior contains 2,800 seats and no fewer than six tiers of boxes, surmounted by the infamous loggione, a gallery favored by aficionados who terrorize performers they deem inadequate.
If the luxurious grocery stores in many European cities have become tourist haunts -- Fauchon and Hediard in Paris, and Fortnum & Mason in London come to mind -- Peck in Milan is still frequented by discriminating Milanese.
The Milanese tend to be proudly traditional when it comes to food, prizing Lombardian specialties such as risotto alla Milanese (made with saffron) and cotoletta alla Milanese, flattened breaded veal chop on the bone, often served with a garnish of arugula and cherry tomatoes.
If the luxurious grocery stores in many European cities have become tourist haunts -- Fauchon and Hediard in Paris, and Fortnum & Mason in London come to mind -- Peck in Milan is still frequented by discriminating Milanese.
I recently decided to spend a week in Milan, staying at the two new hotels and checking up on an old favorite. Here are the three hotel reviews from my time in Milan.
Now through December 24: Ambling through a festive Christmas market while sipping a mug of piping hot Gluehwein is one of the great joys of the season. Typ
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