The “Oasi Verdi” and the Navigli are city corners where the city of Milan still preserves the aspect of other times. A secret corner of Milan is the Guastella garden, where centuries-old trees form the backdrop to the stone balustrades of the fishpond, a baroque jewel. While I Idro Mondanelli public gardens they are the first city park designed for public use built at the end of the eighteenth century, but revisited over time. The park includes some significant buildings, including Palazzo Dugnani, and the Museum of Natural History, which holds the most important relics of finds from our country. One of the earliest examples of English gardens is the garden of the Villa Belgiojoso, characterized by a waterfall that flows from some rocks and crosses the whole garden. The water, after having crossed the park, reaches a small lake with a small island in the center adorned with a circular temple. Parco Sempione instead it is the largest English park in Milan, completely fenced and with many services inside. At the edge of the park are the Castle, the Arena, the Arco della Pace, the Triennale and the Civic Aquarium, one of the oldest aquariums in the world.
Far from rivers and the sea, Milan was a navigable city, thanks to an ingenious system of canals. The city had a circular port, the circle of Navigli and three small ports connected to it. Today, the Naviglio Grande it partly retains the low period houses and is enlivened by the many clubs in the area and every last Sunday of the month on its banks there is an antiques market. Along the towpath of the Naviglio Grande you meet the alley of the laundry, with the old stone wash houses. Different is the Naviglio Pavese, where along its bank there are barges transformed into bars and night clubs. In this area it is absolutely worth visiting the Red Church, which takes its name from the color of its bricks.
When you are talking about shopping in Milan we think above all of fashion. From luxurious shops to the many outdoor local markets where you can buy all kinds of goods. Corso Buenos Aires has more than 350 shops and caters for all needs, while Corso di Porta Ticinese is the ideal place for those looking for boutiques and alternative shops, vintage garments and ethnic products. The real walk in the city center starts from Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, here you will find all kinds of shops and warehouses. The quadrilateral of fashion winds instead between via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni, Corso Venezia and via della Spiga, streets where shops and ateliers of international brands are concentrated. Like the most important European cities, Milan also has its own Chinatown, more precisely in the famous Via Sarpi, while via Savona and via Tortona are characterized by temporary stores. The last street that deserves a mention is via Torino, once the street of shops and artisan workshops, today one of the major Milanese shopping centers suitable for all types of customers and tastes, from low cost to luxury.
