Get beyond the Duomo cathedral and you'll discover Milan offers an experience of Italy that sometimes feels very un-Italian.
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It has an intense rivalry with Rome —
Romans like to joke that the best thing about Milan is the train back to Rome, but that doesn't stop them staying to party.
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Navigli rules the night —
The canal-side bars and restaurants of Milan's Navigli district are the places to go at night. This is the city's most stylish district, the heart of Milan's party scene, where the young and effortlessly cool hang out.
Navigli Lombardi
It's not just fashion and finance —
As well as lending its name to a formidable looking orthopedic brace back in the 15th century, Sforza Castle stands as a potent symbol of Milanese grandeur.
Silvia Marchetti
History is always underfoot —
Deep beneath the Duomo cathedral lies a maze of underground galleries, some dating to the 4th century. Milan's secret underworld also houses aqueducts (pictured) that date back centuries.
Neiade
Quadrilatero del Silenzio is quirky —
The Quardrilatero del Silenzio features architectural oddities such as a giant doorbell in the shape of an ear. The "silent" neighborhood also has mosaics, weird statues and secret gardens swarming with flamingos.
