little honeymoon adventures in Italy...........

I was recently in contact with the lovely and ever so sweet, Anne, creator of the blog, Perfect Bound, about her upcoming honeymoon travels to Italy. She has a great trip planned, and Milano being one of her stops, I thought I'd share a little list of my favorite places from the city I am now happy to call home.
Also, since Italy tends to be a very popular honeymoon spot, I plan to dedicate every Wednesday's post to a new location. So hold tight, there's more to come........

MILAN

"torta con fragoline di bosco" from, Pasticceria Ronchi, Via Sacco, 5
photographed by deirdre quinn

(note click on the highlighted bold names below for more information)

PLACES
Duomo, take in the view of milan with the gargoyles on the roof terrace of the duomo.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, just a few steps away from the duomo is the grand entry to the galleria, where you can join in the hustle and bustle for some shopping....
and a few steps away, is the Italian department store, La Rinascente
Santa Maria delle Grazia, is the home of Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper", make your reservations a month in advance, for a quick and I mean quick glimpse,(they literally shuffle you thru like cattle) of the fading masterpiece.......
Basilicia di sant'ambrogio
Castello Sforzesco
Teatro alla Scalla
Parco Sempione
Giardini Pubblici


SPA
After a long morning of sight seeing and shopping, take the afternoon off, for a little spa treatment, roman bath style at Terme Milano.
My girlfriends took me here for my bachelorette day, it was so much fun and truly relaxing.
And if your looking for the ultimate high end, luxury spa treatments, and have room in your budget, check out Habits Culti or The Bulgari Hotel

ART
Pinacoteca di brera
PAC
Triennale di milano
Galleria Carla Sozzani at Corso Como 10
Gio Marconi
Go Gallery

off the beaten track hip art scene in Lambrate
galleria zero
francesca minini
galleria klerkx
prometeo gallery
and cross over to Isola for an aperitivo at Frida Cafe

EATS
Rita, located in Navigli neighborhood, is the place for weekend brunch. Typically, an Italian style breakfast is a light fare of cafe and brioche, so if your craving a little, American style brunch, this is definetly your place. For all my fellow new yorker readers, they even serve bagels!
L'Incoronate, is one of my favorite little hip lunch spots. It's a great place to recharge after a morning of shopping at Corso Como 10 and High Tech
Consolare ristorante, is one of the best restaurants (aside from my mother in-law's kitchen) located in artsy neighborhood of Brera. My absolute favorite dishes primo piatto is pasta con le vongole
and for secondo piatto scampi alla griglia
I should inform my lovely readers, I am a HUGE foodie...the plates above will not disappoint.

APERITIVO (*my ultimate favorites)
a little bubbly at the end of your day is the italian way ( i can't believe i just made a silly rhyme)
why not try a Aperol Spritz? this is a typical aperitivo drink made with aperol, prosecco, splash of selzter and a slice of orange on the rocks.....it's DELISH!
you can practice saying this "Io prendo un aperol spritz per favore" I swear, after having a couple of these, you'll start to think your fluent in the language.......
below are of our regular low key hangouts
Cantine Isola
* this is one of the best hidden wine bars in milan, it mostly attracts musicians, artists and writer types
Pescheria da Claudia
* stop in here for an apertivo of fresh mix of fish and a glass of prosecco.
Cape Town
Mono
*if I'm homesick for Brooklyn this is a good replacement, vibe is an artsy crowd
Mom Cafe
Atomic Bar

SHOPPING

high end designer shops such as Prada and Dolce & Gabanna, can be found venturing down the little quaint cobblestone street, Via Spiga and just around the corner on Via Monte Napoleone, you will find the likes of Alberta Ferretti, Marni, Missoni, Valentino etc......
Here are some of my favorite shops scattered around Milan's city center
Aspesi
Lusia Beccaria
Pupi Solari via Piazza Tommaseo, 2
Laura Urbinati
Muji
Corso Como 10
Isola Show Room (everything you see here is handmade, jewellery, t-shirts, art work etc...)
Lingottino Gioielli, Coroso Magenta, 52
Camper
Maison Martin Margiela
Miu Miu
Sermoneta Gloves
Car Shoe, Via Della Spiga, 1
Frip, Corso Di Porta Ticinese, 16 * edgy 80's style store, its worth a look see

HOTELS
$$$$$
The Principe Di Savoia
Four Seasons
The Gray Hotel
$$$
Antica Locanda dei mercanti
Antica Locanda Solferino
$$
Del Sole Hotel
Hotel Speronari

FOODS & SWEETS
Wagner Market
Piazza Wagner 2
If your a foodie, then this is a must!
Here you will see the inner workings of an Italian market, from the fish guy to fresh produce, it's a true experience and testament to Italian's care for food in their everyday lives.

Chocolat Gelateria
For some delicious gelato, they even have such a flavors as dark chocolate with hot peppers! yikes or yum!

Pasticceria Ronchi Via Sacco, 5
This pasticceria is one of my neighborhood favorites, it has some of the best little cakes and treats. If you don't believe me, check out the opening photograph, hellooooo.....please scroll up to the top

Corregio Pasticceria
Via Correggio, 14
sugar covered violets or roses anyone? the most delicious handmade sweets see here