Many of us might have saved all year to buy our love ones that special gift for Christmas or we want to treat ourselves for the hard work we have doing all year. This year why not treat yourself and fill those stockings from the shopping mecca of Milan. I am sure those gifts will not find themselves in the charity shops or being passed on as gift the following year.
Milan might not have the charm of Florence or Venice but it is famous as a destination for designer shopping, it is also a treasure trove of quirky boutiques, tucked away down bohemian side streets. Whether they are selling fashion, food or furniture they are mouth wateringly chic. A trip to this austere Lombardy city for your Christmas shopping is worth every penny spent on a plate of pasta, designer handbag or clothes or even just taking in the atmosphere of the city.
To get the most if not all of the items on your Christmas shopping list, I would recommend you start your shopping odyssey in the Quadrilatero della moda; it a square mile of fashion in the city centre. Here the big local names – Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Versace, Fendi, Marni and Gucci – have their best and biggest shops spread around via della Spiga, via Montenapoleone, via Sant’Andrea and corso Venezia.
For those who like department stores the La Rinascente is in corso Vittorio Emanuele. It has an all you can have beauty and fragrance department and its 7th floor food hall offers a fantastic delicatessen and wine selection from all the region of Italy; from the La Rinascente you get the best view of the Duomo. 10 corso como is worth a visit as well.
The above destinations should take care of the easy to please on your shopping list. The next set will take more time to find the right gift, and I know just where to send you. Daad Dantone in the city centre is a less conservative fashion outlet, with names such as John Galliano, Junya, Undercover among many others.
The Brera area is known for its bohemian charm with narrow street and small boutiques and shops, and items for those looking for the classic look. Antonia has the sleekest selection of designers – made of tree shops next to each other; it is the best multi-branded corner in the area. Brera is also the home of as a chill out area.
For the young ones on your shopping list the Corso di Porta Ticinese area is a good area to do their shopping. Here is where you find trendy shops like B-Fly.com, Purple Shop and Slam Jam, where the selection of quirky accessories, trendy clothes and colourful trainers mix well with gadgets and music.
By now you should have all the items on our shopping list, feet tired, you need somewhere to unwind and the spa Terme di Milano is just to place for you. Located in a Art Deco building and surrounded by gardens inside the 16th century city walls, it’s a beautiful spot for a massage.
Staying overnight why not checked yourself into the Hotel Principe Di Savoia, you would be walking in the footstep of stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Hudson, David Beckham among others have all stayed here. The 401 rooms are decorated in the Venetian, Florentine or neoclassical style, but all feature wood panelling and precious damasks. The top-floor swimming pool is mosaic-tiled and looks out over the endless rooftops.