48 Hours in Milano
I went to Milan for a night.
Why, might you ask? For a quick, whistle-stop tour of a cultural phenomenon for only £10 a flight. This was my last chance to see the Guiseppe Meazza in person and, was I going to turn that down because it was only one night? Fuck. No.
In a conversation between the other half and me about wanting to get away somewhere, we threw around a load of destinations. “Where’s cheap?!” we said in excitement. Travelling on a budget is a key skill that takes care and attention to detail to master. Either that or you wait for Ryanair to put an obscene sale on and you pick a destination as quick as possible. Among those destinations we threw about, Milan cropped up. And of course, the football fan buried deep inside me shouted back a resounding “YES.” There and then, we booked a flight to Milan for £10 each. One night, two days. Loads and loads of cultura.
As a person who loves Italian culture and history, I felt somewhat fraudulent for never actually having visited the place. I still do. But the little espresso shot of time I had in Milan was enough to whet the appetite and a big extravagant plan to return to the Boot next year is already being masterminded. I’m a Napoli follower. A Neapolitan culture advocate. So, Milan was never top of the list for places to go to in Italy, but the opportunity to see the San Siro in person before it is to be devastatingly, tragically knocked down, was a must-do.
Flying to Milan is an extraordinarily beautiful sight. As you glide over The Alps, you can’t help but feel in awe of what you’re witnessing from such a wonderful angle; you suddenly don’t feel as if you are as high off the ground as you are. This only increases expectations for my foray into Milanese culture.
Milan has a lot to offer. From the glitzy, tourist spot of the Duomo and the Galleria, where you see people covered in pigeons having their picture taken - to the cool, canal-side area of Navigli. My style has a more gritty focus. I want character. A bit of substance. The typical spots to see in Milan don’t offer that. It’s the glamorous North of Italy, after all. I still enjoyed Milan. I drank nice coffee. I ate nice (Neapolitan) pizza and lots of cheese. But, as I was keen to clarify from the outset of this little monologue, it was only a small introduction to the country and left me longing for the cultural aspects of Italy I had been desperately longing for.
On the first day of us being there, we took the trip to the San Siro area to bask in the historical phenomenon that is the Guiseppe Meazza. Think about the matches, the players, the moments. A true great and one that will leave a huge hole in the footballing world once knocked down.
We took a tour around the stadium, gazing at the iconic spiral pillars and the multicoloured seats. We listened to the guide tell us the history of the stadium and both Milan clubs. I stood next to a match-worn Diego Maradona shirt in the museum. I bought a scarf as a memento, as I do every stadium I visit. There’s nothing like ticking off a footballing bucket list item in full knowledge that, on this occasion, you weren’t too late.
Milan is a city I’d return to. For a longer period, next time. A city I got a brief taste of and one I left needing further exploration. As first impressions go, Milan charmed me. David Brent style. But to truly capture my heart, I’d need a second go. Grazie, Milan, for the aperitivo; until next time - where I’ll be back for all three courses. Caio.