Modern art in Milan took an interesting turn with Italy’s economic capital overrun by gigantic snails. The snails are on display in Milan’s city centre, from the Vittorio Emmanuele Gallery, to the piazza at the front of La Scala opera house, and Piazza San Fedele. The bright purple snails will move in January to Piazzetta Reale, before stopping out the front of Milan’s central train station.

The idea, called “Regenation” comes from the Cracking Art Group of six designers, and is a message that speed, especially in the frenetic city of Milan, is not always the best way to live. The snails reflect the shape of an ear, inviting people to listen to those around them, and also take up an environmental theme.

“The snail is an animal that takes his house with him on his back, and we want Milan to move together with the environment,” said Finazzer Flory, who helped sponsor the exhibition. The snails measure more than two metres high and are three metres long.

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According to Forbes, Milan’s Bulgari Hotel is one of the best hotels in Italy. The hotel is situated in one of Milan’s most beautiful areas, between via Montenapoleone, famous for its shopping, and via della Spiga.

It’s an area which takes in La Scala opera house, and the accademia di Brera. The Bulgari hotel itself has the luxury of a large private garden, which provides a quiet oasis in a busy city, combined with contemporary Italian design and comfort.

The Bulgari hotel design is based on the use of rare and precious materials, including black marble from Zimbabwe, stone from Vicenza, Aphyon stone from Turkey for the spas, and teak and oak wood used in the rooms. ‘Special Rooms’ include meditation spaces complete with tatami flooring.

The Hotel Bulgari is offering two packages for business visitors or shoppers to Milan, with the Shopping Package at 710 euros, and the Business Package at 680 euros a room, a night, for a minimum of two nights. The packages include a 25 percent discount on limousine services, 50 percent discount for the third night, breakfast, Deluxe room upgrade and a Bulgari gift.

Continue reading: Luxury Italian design: the Bulgari Hotel in Milan

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One of the most awaited events of the year in Milan is the gala premiere of La Scala, one of the most famous Opera Houses in the world. The premiere invariably takes place on 7th December, Saint Ambrogio’s day, the patron saint of Milan.

Here’s a roster of who showed up at the gala premiere: minister Sandro Bondi, fashion designer Renato Balestra and wife, Italian show girl Valeria Marini, ballet dancer Roberto Bolle, Stefano Dolce, Domenico Gabbana, banker Corrado Passera and former European Commissioner Mario Monti. Also among the guests were Milan mayor Letizia Moratti and Silvio Berluscon’s wife, Veronica Lario who wore a gorgeous evening dress by Roberto Cavalli.

Continue reading: Milan: celebrities thronged La Scala premiere

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It has snowed plenty in Italy over the last few days, and despite some disastrous weather, it is definitely time to book your skiing holiday to Italy. In this gallery, we show you the snow in Milan, which created an Italian winter wonderland for a couple of days.

These shots are taken from the top of Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which was commissioned in 1859 by the city council to link the Piazza della Scala with that of the Duomo. Italian engineer Giuseppe Mengoni won the design competition for the gallery.

The view of the Duomo and Milan’s skyline is impressive, with the surreal touch of snow on the city. For other shots of Milan views and skyline, check out Picasa: Hidden Milano.

Continue reading: Milan views: from the roof of the Vittorio Emanuele Gallery, Milan under snow

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Milan’s seven star Town House Hotel has been given approval from Milan’s city council to expand its structure, using space previously used by staff from the La Scala opera house. This would take the surface area from 1,540 sqaure metres to 2,200.

This means that the Town House hotel near La Galleria, will be able to open an entrance directly into the gallery, with a reception area. To sweeten the deal, the city council will be able to use the conference room of the Town House hotel 10 times a year for free, and another 15 times at a “favourable price”, for meetings of international and national importance.

In addition, 50 council guests will be able to stay for free in the hotel, whose luxury has been fabled across the internet for a few months. It appears that the Town House has also played a part in gaining Milan the title of Expo 2015. The Bie inspectors stayed here when the competition had got down to the two competitors of Milan and Smirne.

Source | Il Giornale.
Photo|Flickr.

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My mother is visiting me in Italy over the next two weeks, and I had planned on taking her to the opera at Milan’s La Scala. I thought a nice evening out after work on a Friday would be just the thing, except that there was a little surprise for me on the website.

The Scala reports that due to a union strike, the performances of Puccini’s La Boheme planned for Monday 7th, Wednesday 9th and Friday 11th July will not take place. I’ve never heard of this happening before, but had to devise a plan B quickly.

So we’ve decided to see Tosca at Verona’s Arena instead. I’ve been once before but will give you some more detailed information on how to book tickets and what to look out for when you’re there - we’re sitting up in the stands dedicated to the plebs so I feel cushions are in order.

Both the Arena in Verona and La Scala in Milan have websites in English with information on bookings, how to get there and a map of the theatres.

Source | Teatro alla Scala

Photo | Flickr

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Is this a publicity move? The coup de theatre from this celebrated chef certainly seems so. Gualtiero Marchesi was the first chef in Italy, in 1984, to receive three stars from Michelin, and over the years has created a circle of ambitious chefs such as Davide Oldani, Carlo Cracco, Paolo Lopriore, Andrea Berton, Paola Budel and Vittorio Beltramelli.

Now the culinary genius wants to give back his stars - those embroidered on aprons and earned over years of hard work. After the success of the opening of Il Marchesino restaurant at Milan’s La Scala opera house, the maestro decided to gather the media together and give them the shocking news.

According to Affari Italiani “the chef no longer wants to accept points awarded in guides because he believes that at 80 years, the time has finished to be judged like a student”. It could all be sour grapes though, as the relegation from three stars to one in the latest Michelin guide was a bitter pill to swallow for the famous Italian chef.

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On Milano.arounder.com there are some Quick Time Virtual Reality panoramas of Milan’s La Scala opera house.

Above is an image from the Royal Box and on the site indicated you can also find shots of Da Vinci’s theLast Supper in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Duomo in high resolution with a view of the spires.

Photo | Flickr

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