County town of the region and province and the largest metropolis of Northern Italy, Milan is situated at the centre of the Lombardy plain. After Rome, it is the political and cultural seat of Italian life and the engine room of industrial, commercial and banking activities.
The origin of Milan dates back to the beginning of the IV century BC with the settlement of the Celts, who gave the city its name, in Latin "Mediolanum", halfway place.

The capital of the Western Roman empire, with Sant'Ambrogio it became one of the most lively centres of Christianity. After the seignory of the Viscontis and the Sforzas, in the XIV and XV centuries, it saw the dominion alternately of the main European powers, France, Germany, Spain and Austria up to 1859 with entry into the Italian Republic.

The limitless art heritage accumulated by the city over the centuries represents a strong element of identity and prestige. Nevertheless, the vitality of Milan is due to the fact of being culturally looking towards the future, of knowing how to welcome the new without renouncing the old. Without nostalgia and ostentation the city turns to new artistic forms, new styles, and the needs of industry. Milan attracts ever greater numbers of tourists from all over the world because it follows the desires of its population and offers unmissable events at the international level: fashion shows, shopping, fairs and sporting and cultural events.

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