Milan Italy information
[Click Here to View a Larger Map]The ancient Mediolanum, as it has been called by the Romans since the third century B.C. (a name of
Celtic origin meaning "in the middle of the plains"), rose up around 400 B.C.,
the work of the Insubri Galles. The Romans, led by Gneo Scipio, conquered it
in 222 B.C. From the fourth to the fifth century it was the capital of the
Western Roman Empire, and thanks especially to Saint Ambrose, it became one of the
most active centers of the new Christian world.
Around the year 1000 A.D., it was
already the most heavily populated city of Italy and became the most active
center of the Padana Plain because of its manufacturing of wool, silk, metals and
armaments. The period between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries coincides
with the consolidation of the free Commune, subsequently defeated by Frederick Barbarossa, who wanted to re-establish imperial dominion.
By Plane: Linate and Malpensa airports are the two that manage the intense international and domestic
traffic converging on the Ambrosian city.
By Train: A hub for Europe's major railway lines, Milan offers train travelers direct
connections with the rest of Italy and with Europe's most important cities: from
the central station in Piazza Duca d'Aosta, Intercity and Eurostar trains leave daily. Other smaller stations are: Porta Garibaldi, Milan North, Porta Genova and Porta Vittoria.
Public Transport: It is convenient and comfortable to use public transportation in Milan. Trams, buses, trolleys and three subway lines bring together even the remotest parts of the city. Prices for underground
and above ground transportation 
are the same. Tickets are sold at newstands, bars, tobacco shops and automatic
vending stations. Tickets cannot be obtained on-board.
The public transport
system operates from 6:00 in the morning until midnight, but during the night there is a bus line which substitutes for the number 1
subway line.
Tourist passes exist at a price of 6000 lire for 24 hours and 9000 lire for 48 hours. These
types of tickets are sold at the newstands inside the subway stations.
By Taxi: Milan's taxis are white. They park in special areas with telephones (the
numbers are found in the phonebook under the word "taxi"). When one enters a taxi,
the fixed tariff of 6000 lire clicks on; during holidays, at night and with
baggage, one pays a supplement.
Taxis can also be called by dialing the numbers 6767 - 8585 - 8388 - 5251 for the radiotaxi operators.