Having been ruled by several countries over the centuries, Milanese culture is eclectic and borrows elements from many other countries, including Austria, Spain and France. Similarities between these places and Milan can be noticed through the language, architecture, cuisine and general culture of these countries.
In the 18th century, Austrian rule stimulated much of the city's cultural, political, social and economic life, resulting in the founding of numerous important artistic institutions, as well as contributing to the city's architecture. After the unification of Italy in 1861, Milan became a major industrial and cultural centre in the new Kingdom; in the late 19th century onwards, the city held the position of the country's economic capital, whilst Rome was the seat of the government, making it the country's main political and administrative hub. In the fin-de-siècle period and the early 20th century, the city became an important architectural centre (highly influenced by Art Nouveau, additionally highlighted by the 1906 World Exposition, which was held in the city), and remained a prominent city with regard to a major intellectual scene.
After World War II, Milan was highly affected by the Italian economic miracle, or il boom, and attracted a wave of immigrants from Southern Italy, who sought work in the prosperous city. By then an important centre for finance and design, the metropolis grew into a major fashion capital in the 1980s. In the 2000s Milan still remains one of the country's most important cultural, media and economic centres; its prominence is extended worldwide, and it is recognised as an Alpha global city. The city additionally hosted the Expo 2015. Milan is traditionally referred to as the moral capital of Italy, especially due to the city's perceived work ethic.
Milan today is an international city, with numerous museums and cultural icons. Such include the Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral), the Castello Sforzesco, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Teatro alla Scala, to name but a few. The city has been home to numerous renowned people in history, such as Giuseppe Verdi, Mario Prada, Caravaggio, Enzo Biagi and Bramante.
Language
In addition to Italian, approximately a third of the population of western Lombardy can speak the Western Lombard language, also known as Insubric. In Milan, some natives of the city can speak the traditional Milanese language—that is to say the urban variety of Western Lombard, which is not to be confused with the Milanese-influenced regional variety of the Italian language.
In Italian-speaking contexts, Milanese is (like the other non-Italian language varieties spoken within the borders of the Italian Republic) generically called a "dialect". This is often incorrectly understood to mean a dialect of Italian, which actually is not the case. Milanese and Italian are distinct Romance languages and are not mutually intelligible. Milanese is Western Lombard variety and is intelligible to speakers of other neighbouring Western Lombard varieties. It should not be confused with the Milanese dialect of Italian, or with Western Lombard as a whole, which is sometimes referred to as "Milanese".
Like other dialects of Western Lombard, Milanese is a Romance language, related to French, Romansh, and Italian.
Dictionaries, grammar books, literature and a recent translation of the Gospels are available in Milanese.
People
Throughout history, Milan has boasted numerous people of great influence who came from or resided in the city. Renowned Milanese artists include Caravaggio, Bramante, Bramantino and Francesco Hayez. Well-known historical figures include Saint Charles Borromeo, Saint Ambrose, Saint Augustine, Beatrice d'Este and Ludovico Sforza. Milanese politicians include Silvio Berlusconi, Letizia Moratti and Bettino Craxi. The major composers, musicians and literary figures from Milan are people such as Alessandro Manzoni, Mina and Giuseppe Verdi, and fashion designers and people of the media include Giorgio Armani, Mario Prada and Mike Bongiorno.
Architecture
Roman and early Christian monuments
Few significant works of art have survived from the Roman era in Lombardy and the adjacent areas. Though the Roman Empire played an important role in the city's administration, artifacts of the Great Migrations and the Roman Germanic invasions were largely destroyed. Archaeological research in recent decades has uncovered a number of ancient structures, such as city walls, the ruins of the public bath, and the ruins of the amphitheatre.
More remains of the culture of late Roman Empire, but they have actually been considered the products of early Christian art. This is the age in which Ambrose was bishop of Milan. While large parts of his Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, as it stands today, come from later periods of use, it is still fundamentally a prototype for early Christian churches. The same is true of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the architecture of which also shows Byzantine influence.
Romanesque and Gothic
Over the centuries, when the Romanesque and the Gothic style spread throughout Europe and Italy, Lombardy was a leading location of the style. Thus, the Lombard style of Romanesque art was created. The style was mainly diffused in Milan, Pavia, Cremona and other major cities. Milan introduced the cross-shaped basilica, in which two stems form an integral unit as in the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio.
Further development of the Lombard style placed an ever greater emphasis on the role of the vault in the building structure, and with it that of pillars and columns. This trend strongly influenced the development of Romanesque architecture in the rest of Europe. Very typical of this style is the square bell-tower, such as in the San Satiro. Town halls and civic residences were also built in the spirit of the Lombard style. Common features of these are the highlighting and decoration of the structural elements, and ornaments with a rich abundance of plant and animal motifs.
In addition to architecture, Lombard sculpting and fresco painting also gained importance in the Romanesque and Gothic era. This style can be observed on a number of altar and other decorations, particularly in the Milan Cathedral and its museum.
The Gothic style of architecture was established in Normandy towards the end of the 12th century by French Cistercian monks. A notable example is the Chiaravalle Abbey. Unlike in many other parts of Europe, however, it supplemented the deeply rooted Romanesque style here instead of replacing it. The basic structure and architectural elements remained, but they became more stretched out, with wider openings.
Renaissance
One of the first of the early Renaissance works in the city is the Portinari Chapel at the Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio. Sculptural works of this era, which are still ornaments of the city today, are not only from Milan's artists, but also from those of Tuscany, Venice, Burgundy, Austria and Germany. They were invited to the city by the local princes and nobles. This is how, among others, Leonardo da Vinci and Bramante arrived in Milan. Bramante' works include the apse and dome of the Santa Maria delle Grazie church. His students helped spread the Renaissance style in Milan, Bergamo and Como, as well as the rest of the country.
Baroque
Lombard art has attained high standards in the Baroque age as well, particularly in architecture. The Baroque era in Italy is considered to have begun in 1573 with the Council of Trent. Alessi, Tibaldi, Giuseppe Meda and many others created religious and secular buildings of artistic value in Milan (Palazzo Marino, Palazzo dell'Ambrosiana, Ospedale Maggiore); but the architectural style of the era reached its true height with the craftsmanship of Francesco Maria Richini. His finest work is the Palazzo Brera.
18th and 19th century 18th-century architecture in Milan was very different from architecture in other Italian cities, such as Tuscany and Venice. This style can be observed primarily in private residences around the countryside surrounding the city. Works by Giuseppe Piermarini however, such as the Palazzo Belgioioso or La Scala opera house belong to the Neoclassical period.
20th century In the early 20th century, Milan was one of the main centres of Italian futurism, with some major artists such as Gino Severini, Giacomo Balla and Umberto Boccioni. Like in several other cities across Italy, Mussolini also launched grandiose architectural projects in Milan, one example being the central railway station building. After World War II, a period of disorganized reconstruction followed that drastically altered the cityscape, with modern office buildings being raised adjacent to the medieval cathedrals. Among the most characteristic buildings in Milan is the Pirelli Tower, one of Europe's oldest skyscrapers.
San Siro Stables San Siro Stables, also known as Scuderie De Montel were built between 1914 and 1924 by De Montel, a Jewish Milanese aristocrat. In 1938 following the application of racial laws in Italy the government took possession of the buildings. In 2006 there was a proposal to build a thermal bath over the area, but the City Council of Milan canceled the project due to lack of funds.
Main sights
Milan is one of the major artistic centres of northern Italy. Its chief landmarks include: The Duomo, the world's largest collection of marble statues with the widely visible golden Madonna statue on top of the spire, la Madunina (little Madonna), the symbol of Milan. Teatro alla Scala. Milan is also one of the most important centres in the world for Opera lirica, with its famous Teatro alla Scala (La Scala). The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a large, covered arcade linking the Duomo's piazza with the Teatro alla Scala. The Castello Sforzesco and the Parco Sempione. The Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio The Palaeo-Christian Basilica of San Lorenzo The Biblioteca Ambrosiana, containing drawings and notebooks by Leonardo da Vinci among its vast holdings of books, manuscripts, and drawings, and is one of the main repositories of European culture. The city is also the home of the Brera Academy of Fine Arts. The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which houses one of the most famous paintings of Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper (L'ultima cena or Il cenacolo). The church of Santa Maria presso San Satiro, with a famous trompe-l'œil traditionally ascribed to Bramante The Cimitero Monumentale di Milano. The Pinacoteca di Brera, Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Poldi Pezzoli, the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum and the Musei del Castello galleries, which host a great number of pictorial masterpieces.
Education
Milan is home to numerous universities and other institutions of higher learning:
State universities Università degli Studi di Milano Faculties: Agriculture, Arts and Philosophy, Law, Mathematical-Physical-Natural Sciences, Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Political Science, Sport and Exercise Science, Veterinary Medicine University of Milan Bicocca Faculties: Economics; Educational Science; Law; Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences; Medicine and Surgery; Psychology; Sociology; Statistical Sciences
Science and medical Vita-Salute San Raffaele University Tethys Research Institute
Architecture and engineering Politecnico di Milano Statal University - 17 Departments
Business, economic and social Bocconi University Scuola Superiore di Direzione Aziendale–Bocconi Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Language, art and music Accademia d’Arti e Mestieri dello Spettacolo alla Scala Brera Academy Academy of Fine Arts of Brera Università I.U.L.M. Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti Milano - NABA Conservatorio Superiore "G. Verdi" di Milano Civica Scuola di Musica (Municipal Music School) Scuola Beato Angelico
Actor and theatre schools Scuole Civiche di Milano Politecnico della Cultura, delle Arti e delle Lingue Piccolo Teatro di Milano