When to visit Rome and Milan - climate
Rome enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, which characterizes the Mediterranean coasts of Italy. Recommended months are April to June, and mid-September to October. June to August are the hottest months and can be uncomfortable.
On the contrary, Milan experiences colder winters and reasonably high humidity for most of the year, along with hot summers too.

Cuisine in Rome and Milan
Rome and Milan have a huge variety of international cuisine to offer, but as the old adage goes, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Eating is a very social get-together with several courses. Lunchtime is often between noon and mid-afternoon, and dinner not until after 9.00pm.

Carbonara is the traditional Roman pasta sauce, and contains pork, whipped egg yolk and plenty of Parmesan and black pepper. A common Milanese dish is cotoletta alla Milanese, which is a fried veal fillet in breadcrumbs.
Whilst Naples is the home of pizza, Rome and Milan both have plentiful selections.
Gelato is one thing not to be missed when in Italy. You will find every flavour, all hand-made to perfection.

A significant difference between cuisines in the north versus the south, is that the north contains more butter and creams, while the south tends to add more tomato and olive oil.

Traditional menu structure:
- Antipasto: Hot or cold appetizers
- Primo: First course, often pasta, risotto, gnocchi, polenta or soup
- Secondo: Second course, usually fish or meat
- Contorno: Side dish, usually a salad or cooked vegetables
- Formaggio & frutta: Cheese and fruits
- Dolce: Sweet dessert for example cakes
- Caffè: Espresso
- Digestivo: Liquors/liqueurs (grappa, amaro, limoncello)

Italian style coffee is usually served in a demitasse in relatively small quantity.
- Caffè macchiato: topped with a bit of steamed milk or foam
- Caffè ristretto: made with less water, and is stronger
- Cappuccino: is mixed or topped with steamed, frothy milk.
- Caffelatte is generally equal parts espresso and steamed milk.
- Latte macchiato (spotted milk) is a glass of warm milk with a bit of coffee.

Highlights
Roman Forum, Pantheon, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Villa Borghese, Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II, Vatican City (St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican Museum), Piazza Navona

Shopping
High fashion shopping in Rome is concentrated to two streets running parallel to each other from the Spanish Steps. Via Condotti is home to Prada, Valentino, Gucci, Armani, and Max-Mara. On Via Borgognona, one can find the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Gianfranco Ferré, Laura Biagiotti, and Gai Mattiolo.

Campo de´Fiori is the site of a daily food market. It is recommended to arrive early. Another good food market is Mercato di Testaccio.

Antiques can be found on Via dei Coronari, jewellers on Via dell’Orso and Via dei Pianellari. Via del Corso, the long shipping street, has shops to suit most budgets.

Rome does not have the department store culture that some other large cities do. However, if a one-stop shop is what you’re after, you will probably find it at Coin or Rinascente. Galleria Alberto Sordi is another good choice.

Nightlife
The Romans enjoy meeting around 7.30pm for an evening drink. After 11.00pm, the Testaccio area is popular for nightlife and caters to all music tastes.

Highlights
The Duomo, Teatro alla Scala. The Castello Sforzesco, The Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, The Palaeo-Christian Basilica of San Lorenzo, The Biblioteca Ambrosiana, “The Last Supper” at the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Poldi Pezzoli

Between the Duomo and La Scala is the 130-year-old Galleria, an enclosed four-story glass-roofed arcade that contains shops and eateries and is a popular gathering place. The city also has three universities and a polytechnic institute.

Shopping
Via Montenapoleone is the heart of Milan’s shopping area. Here you will find the showrooms of many famous designers, including Gucci, Versace and Cartier. Via Sant'Andrea crosses Via Montenapoleone and is home to Chanel, Fendi, Armani and many more. In fact, there are several streets in this area that are swarming with world-renowned names!

For more affordable purchases, these four streets are the place to be: Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Corso Buenos Aires, Via Torino and Corso di Porta Ticinese.

Milan also has some interesting markets. One of the most fascinating is Fiera di Senigallia, held every Saturday morning.

Nightlife
Nightlife in Milan is vibrant, with most bars and restaurants open until 1.00am and clubs until 4.00am. Large nightclubs include Propaganda and Alcatraz. In Milan, dress to impress!

Did you know?
- Most Italian wines of great renown are produced in three main Italian regions: Piedmont (Barolo), Venetia (Amarone, Pinot Grigio, etc.) and Tuscany (Chianti, Brunello).

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