MILAN: SERVICES, CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT, ART, CINEMA, TELEVISION, FASHION, SPORT, RESEARCH, STUDY AND INFORMATION
The Romans called it Mediolanum because of its position in the heart of the Po Valley, in the center of the great roads of communication. Throughout the centuries, the city has shown itself to be capable of maintaining and taking advantage of its privileged position. From the post WWII period to date, Milan has grown at a breakneck pace to become Italy's economic and moral capital and to become the heart of a productive system, the Lombard one, which has no equal in Europe.
Modern Milan is, today, at the wheel of a powerful locomotive that drives the whole Italian economy. This is a giant system that doesnt just comprise production and turnover, but which also includes services, culture, entertainment, art, cinema, television, voluntary work, fashion, sport, research, study and information.
All of this, too, is located in the center of an area rich in enviable tourist and natural attractions, because Lombardy - as few know - is the region with the largest portion of surface area covered by parks, with large splendid lakes. Our province is crossed by important rivers and surrounded by valleys; its mountains are the delight of skiers and trekkers and it is dotted with enchanting cities of art, as well as being filled with the fragrance and flavours of its notable agricultural products and its traditional cuisine and wines, which are internationally renowned.
An enviable location that makes our city an ideal starting point for travellers - whether they are tourists or businessman because of our transport network: six highways meet Milan's ring road, thousands of trains enter and leave Milans stations daily, three airports connect Milan to the rest of Italy and the world. Moreover, beginning in 2012, Milan will also be at the center of the High Speed - High Capacity railway, crossed by the strategic Corridor V (Lisbon Kiev) and the departure station for northern Italy's TAV.
This is why we need to inform the millions of people arriving in Milan, even if they are only passing through or just staying for a day or so, of the enormous potential this great city offers in terms of culture, art, social activities, recreation and sports not to mention business and trade. This reasoning is what led to the setting up of Meeting Milano Info Points, a new service offered to travellers who arrive at Malpensa or Linate airport and who, at these points, can book hotels, transfer services, restaurants, cultural and local events as well as getting information about the many possibilities the city offers.
3.241.642 visitors were welcomed by hotels or residential facilities in Milan in 2004.
1.351.457 of these visitors were Italian and 1,890,185 were foreigners.
6.977.215 night bookings in Milan's hotels or residential facilities in 2004, of these 2,965, 884 were Italian and 4.011.331 foreign visitors.
USEFUL ADDRESSES:
Milan Municipality Tourist Board, Via Silvio Pellico 6 - Ph. +39 02.88464524/5.
Information Office to Welcome Tourists, Via Marconi 1 (in the process of moving to new headquarters in Piazza del Duomo on the corner of Via Silvio Pellico) - Ph. +39 02.72524301.
Hospitality Services - Meeting Milano e/o Promotion and Internationalization Area Fiera Milano SpA, Strada Statale del Sempione 28, 20017 Rho (MI) - Ph.+3902.49977610.
Unione del Commercio del Turismo dei Servizi delle Professioni del Comune di Milano, Corso Venezia 47/49 - Ph. +39 02.77501.
AIAS Milano Onlus - Sportello Vacanze, Via Paolo Mantegazza 10 - Ph. +39 02.3302021.
APAM - Associazione Provinciale Albergatori di Milano, Via Vivaio 11 - Ph. +39 02.7788401.
Associazione MeglioMilano, Corso Venezia 43 - Ph. +39 02.76020589.
