Come meraviglioso, Milano!

Last weekend we took a couple of days to visit Milan, Italy. Two of the must-visits for our trip were the cathedral, Il Duomo di Milano, and Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" at Santa Maria delle Grazie church.

The Duomo is the second largest gothic cathedral in the world, and it's design and size sure do impress. My favorite part of the church was actually the rooftop. This view is unlike any other church view, and we have been on plenty of bell towers and domes over the last 18 months. It's great to get an upclose look at all the statues and spires that make the Duomo such a spectacular sight.

Saturday night also was an opportunity for us to partake in a Milan tradition of aperitivo. During the cocktail hours of roughly 6 to 8 the bars open up snack buffets that are complementary to guests who have purchased a drink. Our cocktails were 10 Euros a piece, which is a steep price, but as long as you drink slowly you are welcome to eat as much as you'd like. I wish this was the tradition everywhere!

Bright and early Sunday morning we were off to the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. I made reservations during the first part of October for us to visit "The Last Supper" painted by Leonardo da Vinci in 1494. The reason to book so far in advance is that weekends are a busy time to go and entry is limited. They work very hard to keep this delicate painting preserved, so to keep a steady climate only small groups are allowed in one at a time for a 15 minute viewing. We heard "The Last Supper" was in bad shape, between the natural deterioration of tempera mix Leonardo experimented with and the building being bombed during WWII. But what was most surprising to both Matt and me was the rather large (now sealed) doorway cut right underneath Jesus, where his feet should be! Apparently it was the monk's idea to put a doorway there in 1652.

The trip to Milan was a fun weekend getaway and a reminder to us that when living in Zürich, Europe truly is at your doorstep.

Visiting "The Last Supper" at Santa Maria delle Grazie was a trip highlight

Il Duomo di Milano rooftop view over the bustling piazza

The lights of Il Duomo at night stirred the imagination

In the shopping arcade of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the contrasts of the city shine through (Notice the Louis Vuitton is right across from the McD's)

A taster plate at the filled with delicious vegetarian casseroles at Alla Vecchia Latteria

More great (free!) eats during happy hour at Obika Mozzarella Bar