More Milan

Milan.  Like so many european cities a contrast of the anicent and the modern.  Above is the entry to Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle, home to the exclusive brands like Prada, Luis Vuitton, Svaroski.  And MacDonalds. 

Around every corner is another ancient site, jostling with street art,










 some appearing to be made out of unusual materials,

tramtracks in amongst the old stone,

shop windows filled with exquisite fabrics that resemble works of art by themselves,   very moder sculptures,  ancient statues of the Milanese who have contributed to the city,                              

inside the Duomo are rows of candles lit for someones needs,                      


the Castella Szforscoza, owned by very wealthy important family and who sponsored Leonardo da Vinci when he was painting the last supper, so that around the outside of the painting area he has included the family's coat of arms.

 Pastry shop windows lined with the delicacies.  The jury is out on whether or not they are as good as the french ones.  Perhaps just different.  They do score a top ten for the gelato!!

The ancient mingled in with the everyday of modern life is a constant fascination for me.  The italians look at you taking a photo, then they look at what they see every day, then they look back at you as if to say ????

Coming from such a young country makes it hard to imagine living with things that are still standing so many years after being built with such passion, hope, fervour, optimism and surety that it was right.  Particularly without modern building methods and particularly spanning 600 years or more.


Oldest bell tower in Milan somewhere around the 1400's

O

Constant refurbishment of buildings



one of many staiined glass windows in il Duomo, many of which have been replaced

Ciao

Jo