14 fun facts about Milan you should know

Angelina

Updated on Jan 11 • 4 minute read

Milan is one of the most forward-thinking cities and best destinations for expats in Italy. It’s both a financial hub, a design mecca and home to a number of presitigious universities. It’s a beautiful city of contrasts where new meets old ... There are just so many peculiarities and fun facts about Milan! So we decided to sum up the 14 of them we thought you should know!

Facts about Milan

1: You can spot pink flamingos in Milan

The park of Villa Invernizzi has long been one of the most interesting places in Milan. But did you know it’s also home to a colony of beautiful exotic birds? The owner of the mansion, the king of Italian cheese Romeo Invernizzi brought the pink flamingos there all the way from South Africa in the early 70s. And it seems like the birds adapted pretty well!

Unfortunately, the Liberty-style villa is closed to the public. And so is the park run by the Invernizzi Foundation, which funds research in economics, biology and medicine. But you can still peek inside the gate, just like everyone who walks by!

2: Milan has the tallest building in Italy

Thanks to the destruction of the city during the World War II bombing, Milan became a city of skyscrapers. The tallest one is the 231 metres-high UniCredit Tower bank headquarters rising in the Porta Garibaldi area. It’s actually the tallest building in Italy and the 8th tallest building in the European Union!

3: Milan has an incredible tram network

Apparently, Milan’s tram network is the most developed in Europe. Milan has no less than 17 tram lines, spreading over 181 km. This makes it the 6th largest tram network in the entire world!

4: Milan has the largest stadium in Italy

The Stiadio Giuseppe Meazza or San Siro Stadium can seat 80 018 individuals. It’s the biggest stadium in Italy and the 9th biggest stadium in Europe. The stadium houses two famous local teams, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

5: Milan is a fashion capital

Since 1958, Milan has been hosting fashion week twice a year. Together with Paris, New York and London, the fashion capital of Italy makes up the "Big Four."

Milan is also one of the world’s best destinations for studying fashion and, of course, luxury shopping!

6: Milan is the wealthiest city in Italy

Milan, the capital of the Lombardy region in Northern Italy, is the wealthiest and most expensive city in Italy to live in. In fact, the Porta Nuova District of Milan is the richest district in Europe with a GDP of € 400 billion.

In Milan city centre, you’ll also find one of Europe's most expensive streets, Via Monte Napoleone and the National Stock Exchange, Borsa Italiana.

In terms of rent, Milan ranked as the 8th most expensive city in Europe.

7: Milan is the most international city in Italy

Milan has a population of 1,300,725. Foreigners make up around 15% of that amount. That’s why Milan is a great destination for expats and international students looking to move to Italy!

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Are you looking for ways to move to Italy from outside of the EU? Check out our visa guide for the US citizens!

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8: Milan has a bull that brings you luck

When you walk into the Galleria of Vittorio Emanuele II, you might find the curious crowds surrounding a mosaic of a bull depicted on the ground. Legend has it that if you spin three times with your heel on the bull’s private parts, it will bring you good fortune.

Oh, and how could we forget? The Galleria of Vittorio Emanuele II is the world’s oldest shopping mall. That’s another fun fact for you!

9: Milan is famous for aperitivo

Milan is definitely the number one destination for aperitivo in Italy.

Between 19:00 and 21:00, most of Milan's cafes and bars fill up with people enjoying a drink and a snack ahead of dinner. Some of the classic drinks to order are Campari, Negroni Sbagliato or Spritz!

10: The canals of Milan were designed by Leonardo da Vinci

Ludovico il Moro commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to build a canal network connecting Milan with Como. They were meant for transporting the marble for the construction of the Duomo Cathedral.

11: It took over 500 years to build The Duomo Cathedral of Milan

The construction began in 1386 and the last details were only completed in 1965. So, to be precise, it took 579 years to finish the cathedral. Seems like the efforts paid off as you can now walk to Piazza del Duomo and gaze at the world’s fifth-largest church!

And here is another striking figure; no less than 3,400 statues are resting inside the cathedral!

12: Have you ever thought you could adopt a gargoyle?

We wouldn’t be surprised if this never crossed your mind. But the gargoyles of Milan cathedral are indeed up for adoption.

The initiative started in order to raise money for the renovation of the Milan cathedral. A total of 135 gargoyles were adopted, raising a whopping €100,000. You can find the names of the donors engraved under the gargoyles as a thank you.

13: More Milan cathedral facts!

It’s the last one, we promise!

As you enter the Duomo, you might notice some tiles with twelve zodiac signs on them. That’s actually a solar calendar made back in 1786 by astronomers of the Astronomical Observatory of Brera. It’s located so that a light ray can enter through a small hole in the ceiling and light up a tile according to the time of the year.

14: Milan has a church decorated with bones

Yep, actual human bones...

This somewhat creepy Milanese church is called Basilica San Bernardino alle Ossa. It was first built in 1210 as an ossuary to accommodate the growing pile of bones from the nearby hospital and cemetery. And, in 1268, a small chapel was added. Human bones decorate everything from chandeliers to walls in Basilica San Bernardino alle Ossa.

When visiting, John V, King of Portugal was so impressed that he ordered his people to create an identical sanctuary. The la Capela dos Ossos is housed near Lisbon and resembles its Milanese original in great detail.