Sophistication reaches new levels in Milan. The financial and commercial centre of Italy, Milan attracts fashion fundis, opera lovers, the young, the beautiful and the bold. Shopping, eating and clubbing is serious business here - and it is no surprise that the city boasts the world's 'most beautiful shopping mall', the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Equally vying for admiration are the Milanese icons of La Scala Theatre (Teatro della Scala) and the Gothic Duomo, one of the world's largest churches. Milan's frenetic pace surges ahead in its drive towards progress, forsaking the lengthy siestas enjoyed in other parts of the country. The city's urban tentacles stretch for miles, although the significant historical attractions are contained between the two landmark sites - the Duomo and the Sforzesco Castle. These reside within the inner loop of the city's concentric design, which is split into four squares: Piazza Duomo, Piazza Cairoli, Piazza Cordusio and Piazza San Babila. The modern civic centre lies to the northwest, around Mussolini's colossal train station built in 1931. The skyline around here is dominated by skyscrapersm from which the sleek Pirelli Tower emerges. The Fiera district that stretches around Porta Genova station is the hub for trade and fashion fairs.

Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral)

Address: Piazza del Duomo 18 Milan

Admission: Cathedral: Free; Roof: EUR4 by stairs, EUR6 with elevator; Crypt: EUR1.50; Baptistery: EUR1.50 Cathedral open daily from 6.50am to 7pm; Roof from 7am to 7pm; Crypt from 9am to 12pm and 2.30pm to 6pm; Baptistery open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 12pm and 3pm to 5pm; Museo del Duomo open Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30am to 12.30pm and 3pm to 6pm

Telephone: +39 02 8646 3456 and +39 02 860 358

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Address: Piazza del Duomo Milan

Theatre Museum at La Scala (Museo Teatrale alla Scala)

Address: Largo Ghiringhelli 1, Piazza della Scala Milan

Admission: EUR5. Concessions are available Open daily from 9am to 12.30pm, and 1.30pm to 5.30pm. Closed on public holidays

Telephone: +39 02 8879 7473

Santa Maria delle Grazie

Address: Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie 2, Corso Magenta Milan

Admission: Entry to the Church is Free; to see the Painting is EUR6.50, plus a EUR1.50 reservation fee Open Tuesday to Sunday from 8.15am to 7.30pm. Reservations are essential, and visitors must arrive 15 minutes before their allocated time of visit

Telephone: +39 02 8942 1146

Museo Poldi-Pezzoli

Address: Via Manzoni 12 Milan

Admission: EUR8. Concessions are available. Free audioguides in English, Italian and Japanese available Open Mondays, and Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm; closed on Tuesdays and public holidays.

Telephone: +39 02 796 334

Museum of Historic Art of the Sforzesco Castle

Address: Piazza Castello Milan

Admission: Castle: Free. Museums: EUR3, with concessions available. Free admittance daily from 4.30pm to 5pm, and on Fridays from 2pm to 5.30pm Castle: Open daily from 7am to 6pm (winter), closing at 7pm in summer. Closed on 25 December, 1 January, 1 May and Easter Monday. Museums are closed on Mondays

Telephone: +39 02 8846 3700

Leonardo da Vinci National Science & Technology Museum

Address: Via San Vittore 21 Milan

Admission: EUR10 (adults), EUR7 (concessions) Open Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am to 5pm. Open on holidays and weekends from 9.30am to 6.30pm

Telephone: +39 02 485 551

The Gallery of Modern Art

Address: Villa Reale, Via Palestro 16 Milan

Admission: Free Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30am to 5pm

Telephone: +39 02 7600 2819

Portofino

Address: Milan

Telephone: +39 01 85 269 024 (Tourist Office)

Cinque Terre

Address: Milan

Pinacoteca di Brera

Address: Via Brera 28 Milan

Admission: Adults: EUR5, Concessions: EUR2.50 Open Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30am to 7.15pm. Closed Mondays, New Years Day, 1 May and Christmas Day.

Telephone: +39 02 92 800 361

Milan Aquarium

Address: 2 Viale Gadio 20121 Milan

Admission: Free Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 1pm, and 2pm to 5.30pm. Closed on Mondays

Telephone: +39 02 8844 5392 or +39 0288 5750

Orto Botanico di Brera

Address: Brera Palace, Via Brera Milan

Admission: Free Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm, and 3pm to 5pm

Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio

Address: Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, 15 Milan

Admission: Open Monday to Saturday from 7am to 12pm, and 3pm to 7pm. Open on Sundays from 7am to 1pm, and 3pm to 8pm

Telephone: +39 02 8645 0895

Antiques Market

Where: On the banks of the Naviglio Grande between Viale Gorizia and Via Valenza,Milan

When: Last Sunday of every month (except July)

Milan Fashion Weeks

Where: Fiera Milano Exhibition Centre and various historical venues throughout Milan,Milan

When: 14 - 18 January 2012

Oh Bej! Oh Bej! Fair

Where: Around the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio,Milan

When: 7 December 2011

Italian F1 Grand Prix

Where: Monza,Milan

When: 9 - 11 September 2011

Da Claudio

Address: Via Cusani Milan

Food Type: Seafood

Ponte Rosso

Address: Ripa di Porta Ticinese 23 Milan

Food Type: Italian

Il Verdi

Address: Piazza Mirabello 5 Milan

Food Type: Italian

Premiata Pizzeria

Address: Via E. De Amicis Milan

Food Type: Pizzeria

Da Giacomo

Address: Via Pascale Sottocorno, 6 Milan

Food Type: Italian

Trattoria Milanese

Address: Via le Gorizia Milan

Food Type: Local

Cracco Peck

Address: Via Victor Hugo 4 Milan

Food Type: International

Armani/Nobu

Address: Armani World, Via Manzoni 31 (restaurant entrance at Via Pisoni 1) Milan

Food Type: Asian

Anema e Cozze

Address: Via Palermo, 15 Milan

Food Type: Italian

Al Pont de Ferr

Address: Ripa di Porta Ticinese 55 Milan

Food Type: Italian