Milan

Milan is the capital of the Lombardy region in northern Italy and with a population of 1.3 million people the second largest city in Italy. Milan and the region around it are a major economic centre in Italy. With a 2004 GDP of 241 billion Euro the Milan metropolitan area, were it a country, would rank as the 28th largest economy in the world, almost as large as the Austrian economy. Milan is renowned as one of the world centres of design and fashion. It is famous for its fashion houses and shops and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, reputed to be the world's oldest shopping mall. From a tourist perspective the city has a few interesting spots, but lacks impressive architecture.