Milan ( mil-AN, US also mil-AHN, Milanese: [miˈlãː] ; Italian: Milano [miˈlaːno] ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nearly 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city has 3.2 million residents. Within Europe, Milan is the fourth-most-populous urban area of the EU with 6.17 million inhabitants. According to national sources, the population within the wider Milan metropolitan area (also known as Greater Milan) is estimated between 7.5 million and 8.2 million, making it by far the largest metropolitan area in Italy and one of the largest in the EU. Milan is the economic capital of Italy, one of the economic capitals of Europe and a global centre for business, fashion and finance.
Milan is recognized as a leading alpha global city, with strengths in the fields of art, chemicals, commerce, design, education, entertainment, finance, healthcare, media (communication), services, research, and tourism and has been described as the fashion capital of the world. Its business district hosts Italy's stock exchange (Italian: Borsa Italiana), and the headquarters of national and international banks and companies. In terms of GDP, Milan is the wealthiest city in Italy, having also one of the largest economies among EU cities. Milan is viewed along with Turin as the southernmost part of the Blue Banana urban development corridor (also known as the "European Megalopolis"), and one of the Four Motors for Europe. Milan is the 3rd city in Europe and the 11th city in the world by number of millionaires, with 115,000. Milan is a major international tourist destination, appearing among the most visited cities in the world, ranking second in Italy after Rome, fifth in Europe and sixteenth in the world. Milan is a major cultural centre, with museums and art galleries that include some of the most important collections in the world, such as major works by Leonardo da Vinci. It also hosts numerous educational institutions, academies and universities, with 11% of the national total of enrolled students.
Founded around 590 BC under the name Medhelanon by a Celtic tribe belonging to the Insubres group and belonging to the Golasecca culture, it was conquered by the ancient Romans in 222 BC, who Latinized the name of the city into Mediolanum. The city's role as a major political centre dates back to the late antiquity, when it served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire. From the 12th century until the 16th century, Milan was one of the largest European cities and a major trade and commercial centre, as the capital of the Duchy of Milan, one of the greatest political, artistic and fashion forces in the Renaissance. Having become one of the main centres of the Italian Enlightenment during the early modern period, it then became one of the most active centres during the Restoration, until its entry into the unified Kingdom of Italy. From the 20th century onwards Milan became the industrial and financial capital of Italy. According to a 2024 study published in Nature and reported by The Economist, Milan was ranked as the most walkable city in the world.
Milan has been recognized as one of the world's four fashion capitals. Many of the most famous luxury fashion brands in the world have their headquarters in the city, including: Armani, Prada, Versace, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Bottega Veneta, Dsquared², Moschino, Loro Piana and Zegna. It also hosts several international events and fairs, including Milan Fashion Week and the Milan Furniture Fair, which are among the world's biggest in terms of revenue, visitors and growth. The city is served by many luxury hotels and is the fifth most starred in the world by Michelin Guide. It hosted the Universal Exposition in 1906 and 2015. In the field of sports, Milan is home to two of Europe's most successful football teams, AC Milan and Inter Milan, and one of Europe's main basketball teams, Olimpia Milano. Milan will host the Winter Olympic and Paralympic games for the first time in 2026, together with Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Places to Explore
Curated experiences in Milano
Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie al Naviglio
Villa Imperiale
Palazzo Citterio - Grande Brera
Circo Romano
Museo della Permanente
Museo storico dei vigili del fuoco di Milano
Museo San fedele
Museo del Profumo
Museo delle Arti Decorative
The Applied Arts Collection of Milan (Raccolte d’Arte Applicata di Milano in Italian) is located in the Sforza Castle museum …
Museo d'arte e scienza
Civico museo archeologico di Milano
The Archaeological Museum of Milan (Civico Museo Archeologico di Milano in Italian) is located in the ex-convent of the Monastero …
Casa Manzoni
Casa Manzoni ("Manzoni House") is a historical palace sited in via Morone 1 near the quadrilateral of fashion in the …
Museo di Storia Naturale
The Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano (Milan Natural History Museum) is a museum in Milan, Italy. It was …
Antiquarium Alda Levi
ADI Design Museum
The ADI Design Museum is a museum in Milan, Italy, which houses the historical collection of the ADI Compasso d'Oro …
Museo Mondo Milan
Galleria d'Arte Moderna
The Galleria d'Arte Moderna is a modern art museum in Milan, in Lombardy in northern Italy. It is housed in …
Fonderia Napoleonica Eugenia
Zambon
Leonardo3 Museum - Il Mondo di Leonardo
Leonardo3 is an interactive museum and exhibition center at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Piazza della Scala, Milano, Italy. The museum …