Flights to Milan with Air France from ZAR 10,685*

Milan - travel to the ancient city that represents the new face of Italy

Milan, like many Italian towns and cities, has been a settlement since before the birth of Christ. In the course of its 2,400 year existence, it has frequently been a centre of political and economic power, and it remains so to this day. This city of over five million inhabitants is served by frequent flights from Cape Town or Johannesburg, with the journey taking potentially as little as 13 to 14 hours, depending on flight connections. Milan boasts two airports, Malpensa and Linate which is only around 5 miles from the city centre. The climate is marked by relatively cold winters, hottish summers and pleasant autumn and springtime weather. There's plenty to do in the city all year round, so you can probably afford to be flexible about when you go - Air France offers promotional deals to many different European destinations, so it's worth keeping an eye out for any bargains.

Milan has its own distinctive architectural style and projects a more modern image than many Italian towns, in part due to the heavy damage it sustained during World War II and the subsequent reconstruction of the city. Milan's economic post-war boom also contributed to the changing cityscape, perhaps best epitomized by the Pirelli Tower. The city is home to a tremendous number of churches, of which the Duomo is merely the most famous. This enormous cathedral is the fifth largest in the world and took almost six centuries to complete!

Milan is also something of a temple to consumerism: Fashion houses like Armani, Versace, Gucci, Prada and Valentino all have their headquarters here. Moreover, the city has its own fashion district, the 'quadrilatero della moda', which houses numerous high-end fashion retail outlets, not to mention the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, considered by many to be the world's first modern shopping mall.

Milan - a treasure trove of art that's worth the journey in itself!

One very good reason to holiday in Milan is its tremendously rich collection of Western art. People travel from far and wide to see the marvels of the Pinacoteca di Brera, which displays iconic works by Caravaggio, Raphael and Mantegna. The city was also the cradle of the highly-influential Futurist movement and many seminal works from this movement are exhibited at the Museo del Novecento. Paintings and sculptures by Modigliani, de Chirico, Boccioni, Kandinsky, Matisse and Picasso are all on view here.

No stay in Milan would be complete without a trip to the opera, namely, the La Scala opera house. Many tourists wrongly assume a seat at a performance will cost them about the same as their airline ticket. In fact, you can see world-class opera for as little as 20 euros or even less…

A feast of a different kind awaits food-lovers in Milan. Northern Italian cuisine is quite different to its Southern cousin in many ways. Veal and pork dishes abound, notably Cotoletta alla Milanesa (a Wienerschnitzel-like dish), Cassoeula and Ossobuco. The region is also renowned for its pastries and cheeses, the best known of which have to be Gorgonzola and Mascarpone.

The stunning views of the Alps from many vantage points in the city are a reminder of the natural wonders that are within easy reach. Lakes Maggiore, Lugano and Como all make for great day trips from the city. A hire car offers an excellent way of getting out of town to explore the wider Lombardy region.