With just two weeks left of studying in Geneva, I knew I had to visit Italy since it was so close. Although a few people had told me Milan is the ‘worst’ city in Italy because it’s ‘too modern’, I still wanted to see it for myself. From my research and some recommendations from a Milanese girl I’d recently met, it seemed like there were several exciting places to explore. I’d never been to Ital so I suppose I didn’t have anything to compare it to, which could be either an advantage or a disadvantage. Besides, Milan is one of the closest major Italian cities to Geneva, so it made sense.
I wasn’t too fond of having to wake up at half 5 in the morning for my coach at 7:35, but I wanted to get the earliest one to maximise my time. The coach journey was six hours long, so I wouldn’t have had much time to explore on Friday had I chosen a later one. I had told my Couchsurfing host that I’d arrive at 1:40pm, but we ended up getting there at 2. This meant I’d missed my chance to put my bags at his place since he had to go back to work until 7:30pm. It wasn’t too bad because I pack light on short trips. My first stop in Milan was a gelato shop recommended by the girl I’d met. It was delicious, and less than 4 euros! I’d been warned that Milan was expensive, but after living in Geneva, everything seemed ridiculously cheap.
The gelato perked me up after my long journey, so I strolled through the Milanese streets to get my bearings. The architecture was gorgeous, and I imagined what it would be like to live in Italy. It made me ponder the question of, if I could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? While many assume that my degree means I want to live abroad in a Francophone or Germanophone country, that actually isn’t the case. Maybe it’s because I’m still young, but I can’t imagine permanently settling in another country. If I did, it would probably be somewhere that doesn’t speak French or German to give me an excuse to learn another language. The only country I’ve visited where I’ve thought I might enjoy living is The Netherlands – I love the sound of the Dutch language and the laid-back vibe of the people. I also like the idea of living in Ireland since it isn’t too far and it’s English-speaking, but I haven’t yet been to properly experience it.
I found myself at the Santa Maria delle Grazie, home to Da Vinci’s The Last Supper. It’s free to enter, but seeing the painting requires an extortionately-priced ticket so I decided against that. The UNESCO-listed building itself was lovely to admire. I walked again to Sempione Park, although it was dark by this time, so it probably wasn’t as picturesque as others have described. Still, it was relaxing to sit and rest for a while.
Sforza Castle was nearby, so I headed there next. I wanted tickets for a guided tour, but I left it too late and they were sadly sold out. Fortunately, tickets weren’t necessary to appreciate the impressive exterior, so I was still satisfied. Nearby, there was a lively market selling food, souvenirs, and artisan bits and bobs. I treated myself to a crystal bracelet, as I’ve largely neglected my spiritual side since being abroad. Not only that, but I bought my routine sticker to decorate my laptop and a badge for my rucksack – classic tourist purchases.
Could I visit Italy without trying its famous pizza? Of course not, so I was now on the hunt for a pizzeria. I was going to go to one recommended by the girl from Milan I met, but it was too far from the castle, and I didn’t want to get too hungry! I figured that since I was in Italy, they’d all be decent anyway. I found a cosy-looking spot, ordered a quattro formaggi, and quickly learned why they say Italy has the best pizza – the light, airy dough was a far cry from heavy takeaway pizzas. With that being said, I was too full to order tiramisu for dessert. By this time, my host had messaged me to say he was now home, so I took the tram to his place.
When I arrived, he greeted me with his adorable dog, who almost knocked me over with excitement! We walked the dog together and chatted. He was Turkish, and we discussed his background and how he had lived in Russia before moving to Milan. Later, we spent the evening relaxing and watching a Turkish TV series, though I couldn’t understand much. Exhausted from all the travelling and walking, I went to bed early, ready for the next day.
The next morning, my host recommended a fantastic breakfast spot, and he wasn’t wrong – the croissant with crema was divine, rivaling even French croissants. I had a ticket for the Duomo at 12:30pm, and I had left early, so I had time to take a leisurely walk around the city. One of the other places I wanted to see was the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest shopping gallery, filled with designer boutiques. While I had no intention of buying a Prada handbag, the building was breathtaking, though the swarms of people made it difficult to linger.
The Galleria
I didn’t have far to go after this as the Galleria is directly next to the Duomo. After climbing what must have been at least 100 steps, I reached the rooftop. The view of Milan was stunning and humbling, making me feel beautifully insignificant. On the highest terrace, I even witnessed a wedding proposal! Everyone applauded, and it brought tears to my eyes for some reason – it must be the hopeless romantic in me. In the square where the Duomo stands, there were some Christmas markets where I had a quick browse, but I found the crowds too overwhelming to stay long.
As with most of my trips, I wanted to visit a museum to learn something new. I read online about the Fondazione Prada, a museum of contemporary art and culture that sounded right up my street. It was a long walk from the Duomo, but I did it slowly, scattered with coffee breaks. I managed to get a free ticket, so I wandered around. I found it underwhelming because the exhibits were quite sparse, and the climb up the ten floors of the main building was more hassle than it was worth. I was still glad I checked it out.
I knew that as well as pizza, I had to try Italy’s other iconic food: pasta. I went to a restaurant called Miscusi, recommended by my Milanese friend. I ordered a sort of vegetable pasta that I enjoyed, although I prefer my pasta less al dente which seems to be the Italian norm. I had a similar plan to order tiramisu after my meal, but ended up too full again! When I told my host, he insisted I try it before leaving Milan. On my final day, I made a detour to another Miscusi branch for dessert (as I didn’t want the staff to see me there two days on the trot), and I’m so glad I did. I never thought I’d like tiramisu – I’m a coffee lover, but I generally don’t like it in desserts.
My long-awaited tiramisu
The journey home was less smooth. I saw my coach to Geneva at the station, so I showed the driver my ticket, to which he told me to wait for the next coach. I was horrified upon checking the Flixbus app to see it had already departed! I was probably less stressed than I should have been, but due to enough stress and anxiety to last me a lifetime over the past 3 months, I was surprisingly calm. I was confused as to how it had happened but I knew there was no point in trying to change it. I caught the next coach at 5:30pm, but the delay and dehydration made me feel unwell on the journey. I finally got home at about midnight, both exhausted and happy from my trip.
Besides my coach mishap, I had lots of fun in Milan. I think I chose well with all three of my solo trips – I got to experience three beautiful cities with three lovely Couchsurfing hosts. I’d definitely visit Italy again, although I would try to learn some Italian next time. This is the first time in a while that I’ve been in a country where I don’t speak the language, and I found it a bit intimidating. My A-Level Spanish knowledge somewhat helped, but I couldn’t produce any Italian beyond “ciao” and “grazie”. My next trip will be on a plane back to Manchester for Christmas – travelling is fun but there’s no place like home.
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