:: MILAN ::

We spent 24 hours in Milan on the last day of our European adventure and it was lovely to say the least.We arrived in Milan after spending a few days in Cinque Terre. What we found was a vast, labyrinthine city of contrasts where even the most mundane detail has a touch of Italian elegance. Leaving Liguria by train, we watched the countryside shift from coastal hills to rolling wheat and rice fields. Eventually arriving in a rail yard the scale of which reminded us of Los Angeles. We were in the big city.The first thing we noticed when departing the train was that the streets and shops were full of people on their way, busily taking care of business, but looking implausibly chic and sophisticated while doing it.We filled our day with pizza, coffee, more pizza, then more coffee, and of course, lots of walking and exploring...The pizza in Milan was soooooo delicious. We had pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.One of our favorite spots was Il Forno. Their pizza was absolutely divine and we will always compare all pizzas with their pizza. It was that good.Another must-stop on our list was Bar Luce at Fondazione Prada.Designed by Wes Anderson, this charming little bar had decadent treats, cocktails, and delicious coffee. Every detail was perfect from the floors to the wallpaper to the uniforms...even the sugar packets were chic.The Milanese are friendly and helpful to the traveler in need. Exhausted from our efforts at speaking French during the previous week’s travels, we found that the people of Milan were very patient when we labored to communicate in our broken Italian.We stopped at Pasticceria Marchesi in the afternoon for a little treat...it was classic and GORGEOUS! It opened in 1824 and is known for its chocolates. We left with a bag full of course...The Navigli district was recommended by our Airbnb host and we also had it on our list of sights to see so we made sure to journey over to check it out. The restaurant-lined canals were a great way to explore the area. We stopped at a cafe and ordered shakeratos (espresso + milk shaken with ice in a cocktail shaker...super yummy!) and sat outside people watching. It was such a beautiful area...we wish we had had more time to explore but there was so much to see in only 24 hours...Marghe also had incredible pizza. We went there for dinner and ordered the Kalamata Olive + Stewed Tomato as well as the Mint + Zucchini Flower + Fresh Mozzarella Pizza. Both were excellent!Our Airbnb was right down the street so it was also super convenient. The night energy in Milan is so much fun. Everyone is so kind and friendly. We noticed most restaurants don't open for dinner until after 7:30pm so planned accordingly. Also, lots of restaurants and cafes are closed in the afternoon...Milan is at once modern and ancient. Clean lines and right angles, smooth surfaces and primary colors blend with the soft hues of worn stone and the drama of gothic sculpture. Even in it’s most modern buildings one can find evidence of the Italian enthusiasm for adornment. Strolling the streets during the siesta we were struck by how tranquil this big city could be.The Duamo was one of the most incredible sights not only in Milan yet from our entire trip. Yes, it was super touristy but definitely worth a peek. There were also lots of shops around and one must shop a little while in Milan, yes?To see more of our European adventures, check out our posts on London {Part 1} {Part 2}, Paris {Part 1} {Part 2}, Menton, and Riomaggiore...Shop: {Look 1} Dress: Claudie Pierlot from last season...similar here, here and here, Oxfords: Everlane, Shoulder Bag: J.Crew c/o, Sunglasses: Karen Walker {Look 2} Sneakers: Converse, Trousers: SplendidPhotography by Cassie Winslow + Nicholas Winslow