Weather
Thanks to its inland location and proximity to the lakes, summer is hot and sticky in Milan, and on top of that, as in the rest of Italy, many stores and restaurants are closed for a few weeks in August. The driest and most comfortable months are from March to June, and while the rains are heaviest in the fall, it is virtually room temperature in September and October. Winters are dry, while the temperatures usually hover just above freezing.
Milan Calendar
Milan is one of Europe’s fashion capitals and in late February designers debut their women's fall/winter fashion looks for the upcoming season at Milano Moda Donna (www.milanomodadonna.it/it). The spring/summer women's collection shows on designers' catwalks in October.
Though it's overshadowed by the goings-on in Venice, Milan's pre-Lenten Carnevale is becoming increasingly popular, with costumed parades and an easygoing good time, much of it focusing around Piazza del Duomo beginning a week or so before Ash Wednesday.
You will discover that you’ve never cared so much about interior design until you've seen the hot lines at the Fiera convention center during the Salone del Mobile (www.salonemilano.it/en/) in mid-April. At the Pittori del Naviglio Grande (www.navigliogrande.mi.it/arte-sul-naviglio-grande/) in mid-May, artists display their oils and watercolors in an open-air expo in the canal district. Later in May, the Giro d'Italia (www.giroditalia.it/eng/), Italy's renowned cycling race, finishes on Milan's streets and squares.
Just before the city shuts down in August, the city council stages a series of June and July dance, theater, and music events in theaters and open-air venues around the city; visit their tourism website or tel. 02-7740-4343 for more information.
Milan's biggest holiday, however, is December 7, the feast of its patron saint, Sant'Ambrogio (St. Ambrose). Those who don't leave the city for their sacrosanct day off generally spend the afternoon wrapping their mittens around a hot vin brule at an outdoor fair in Piazza Sant'Ambrogio.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
