Ahhhh, Milan. A romantic city rich in expansive history and Italian culture. Out of all the major cities in Italy, Milan is one I happened to have spent the least amount of time in. Previously, I had only spent one day/one night in Milan as a stopover on my way to Portofino. That was over 8 years ago, so I was overdue for a visit to Italy’s fashion capital.
After a long flight in from Hong Kong, we spent our first day in Milan taking it easy by finding delicious Italian sandwiches, researching award winning wine bars, sipping warm drinks at local cafés, and indulging in a necessary bowl of divine pasta. Milan is also easily walkable, so we were able to explore quaint streets on foot.
Shop My Outfit
Faithfull top (also in purple here, similar in orange here) // Tove skirt (old, similar here and here) // Castaner wedges
But what I was really excited for was practically having the iconic Duomo to ourselves early the next morning. The beauty about traveling in from Hong Kong meant our body clocks essentially had us awake before the sun even came up, so after a 5 am wakeup, we found ourselves in a taxi to the Duomo at 6 am. At this point, the sun was relatively low on the horizon, and the big square in front of the Duomo that is normally packed with tourists and pigeons – was empty. This is the best time to take pics at the Duomo di Milano.
It almost felt eerie and apocalyptic having the Duomo to ourselves. When we walked by the Duomo the day before, it was completely filled with people from top to bottom, side to side. Tour groups, families, and wandering tourists like ourselves made up the majority. But at 6 am, there was no one. It was quiet. The Duomo doors were shut. There were no people. You could certainly describe it as the calm before the storm.
I know an early visit to the Duomo might sound like a not-so-good idea if you want to sleep in, but trust me, use the jet lag to your advantage and take the opportunity to have one of Italy’s most breathtakingly beautiful monuments all to yourself. You won’t regret it. And don’t forget to bring your camera. This is the moment to get some of the best shots of the Duomo before the crowds (and pigeons) flock to the piazza.
