Shopping in Milan

 


Admiral Hotel

ClassHotel 4 star

Area Fiera Milano City

HotelThe Admiral Hotel was created in 1972 by the carburetor genius: cav. Luigi Dell'Orto...

Where to shop in Milan

From Piazza San Babila to Largo Cairoli, in a lively and colourful multiethnic atmosphere, at any time of the day you will be able to buy a record or hire a video from the constant succession of souvenir and newsagents booths. For those in search of something special and difficult to praise, the weekly market in the harbour offers eccentric clothes, second-hand records, and ethnic, military and modern items. In Piazza Sant'Eustorgio, a sophisticated grocery sells different types of tea by weight, and pulses, rice and organic products from all over the world. All along the road you will find shops selling clothes, curiosities (for example, a shop specialising in gear for motorbike aficionados) and antiques, as well as excellent second-hand shops.

Spacci aziendali

Shopping does not get any thicker on the ground than in the quadrilatero d'oro, the quadrangle formed by via Montenapoleone, via della Spiga, via SantAndrea and via Manzoni. To enter this hallowed precinct, follow Via Manzoni a few blocks north from Piazza della Scala. The closest metro stop is San Babila. The main artery of this shopping heartland is Via Montenapoleone, lined with the chi-chi'est boutiques and most elegant fashion outlets, with parallel Via della Spiga running a close second. The designer-dense streets are a gold-card paean to high fashion. The Giorgio Armani Superstore (via Manzoni 31, 02 7231 8600), Gucci (via Montenapoleone 5-7, 02 771 271) and Moschino (via della Spiga 30, 02 7600 4320) are all favourites. South of the Duomo, the avant-garde swoon over creations by up-and-coming designers on corso di Porta Ticinese. For budget buying, stock houses sell last years surplus products try Salvagente (via Fratelli Bronzetti 16, 02 7611 0328). Mid-price fashion is found on corso Buenos Aires, via Torino, Porta Vittoria and via Paolo Sarpi, in Milans newly formed Chinatown.

Milan's Fortissimo occurs twice a year, at the end of February and October (for women) and June and January (for men), when the world's fashion elite descend on the city for the famous ready-to-wear designer shows that invariably set next season's international styles. Bargain-hunting seasons are in mid-January and again in mid-July, when everything, steeply discounted, flies off the shelves.

Milan's most comprehensive antiques market is the Mercatone dell'Antiquario, held on the last Sunday of each month along the Naviglio Grande.

For more down-home shopping with the Milanese, cruise wide Corso Buenos Aires (northeast of the center and just east of Stazione Centrale -- follow Via Vitruvio from Piazza Duca d'Aosta in front of the station; Metro stops Lima and Loreto are the gateways to this bargain stretch), home to a little bit of everything from shops that hand-sew men's dress shirts to CD megastores. As it crosses Piazza Oberdan/Piazza Venezia heading south, it becomes Corso Venezia and the stores start moving up the scale.

High Fashion Clothing, Accessories & Shoes

Milan is home to the flagship stores of a litany of designers: Armani, Krizia, Versace, Ermenegildo Zenga, Missoni, Moschino, Mila Schvn, and Trussardi.

With high fashion, chillingly expensive boutiques, and designer labels, it all comes down to personal taste, so I'll just let you know where to find the top names in town (but largely only Italian names -- who comes to Milan to shop for Calvin Klein?) and you can steer your shopping cravings whither you will.

One store, though, deserves a visit : The Grand Central of Italian fashion is the new flagship Armani Megastore nearby La Scala Theatre (31, Via Manzoni - tel. 02-7231-8630; www.armani-viamanzoni31.com; Metro: Montenapoleone). To celebrate his 25 years in business, in the summer 2000 Giorgio Armani opened a new flagship store covering 8,000 square feet with outlets for his high-fashion creations, the Emporio Armani and Armani Jeans lines, plus the new Armani Casa selection of home furnishings as well as flower, book, and art shops; a high-tech Sony electronics boutique/play center in the basement; and an Emporio Caf and branch of New York's Nobu sushi bar.

Other major and popular labels are:

Designer Discounts

Don't worry if your fashion sense is greater than your credit line. Even the most expensive clothing of the Armani ilk is usually less expensive in Italy than abroad, and citywide saldi (sales) run from early January to early February and again in late June and July.

Milan is scattered with shops selling designer seconds, last year's fashions, imitations, and other goods at bargain prices, inspired by the window displays of the Quadrilatero. The best place to begin with is Il Salvagente, in Via Fratelli Bronzetti, just off Corso XXII Marzo, several blocks east of the Quadrilatero (tel. 02-7611-0328; Metro: San Babila). There you can browse through an enormous collection of designer clothing for men, women, and children (mostly smaller sizes) at wholesale prices. DMagazine, in Via Montenapoleone, offers pure discount overstocks from big labels such as Armani, Prada or Fendi (tel. 02-7600-6027; Metro: Montenapoleone).

Another haven for bargain hunters is the Navigli area. Among the several shops you will find:

Another hunting ground for discount fashions is Corso Buenos Aires, northeast of the City Centre and just east of the Central Railway Station (follow Via Vitruvio from Piazza Duca d'Aosta in front of the station; Metro stops Lima and Loreto are the gateways to this bargain stretch). Here you are a list of the best known hotels of the area:

Housewares

Linens

For Milanese linens don't miss the following shops:

Bargains

Books

Children

Fashion

Flowers

Food

Home

Cutting-edge furniture and homeware showrooms cluster in three main areas: the top end of via Manzoni; the parallel streets of via Durini and the via Cerva just south of San Babila church.

Gifts for men