Rome was built on seven hills Capitolino (commonly known as Campidoglio)， Palatino， Esquilino， Viminale， Celio， Quirinale， and Aventino. Two of these historic hills， formed the hub of ancient Rome， the centre of the civilized world (thus the true meaning of the words “All roads lead to Rome”).
This is one city that will glut your senses. Be it the architecture， the food， the timelessness of the place， its monuments or the people. Simply put， Rome， as it has always been， is a monument to time， to history and to eternity.
If you only have time to visit one city in Italy， Rome is certainly a good choice. Come and discover it further via these pages before you go and be charmed by the place.
Milan
迷醉米兰
米兰这座主导意大利经济、工业的现代都市，现今已是欧洲最受瞩目的城市之一；全市以14世纪意大利建筑精华的主座大教堂为中心，充满着世纪末的凄美婉约和对新世纪的憧憬和迷蒙幻想，表现出人类浪漫柔情和对未来向往的奔驰。米兰位于欧洲的东西及南北交结之处，又在伦巴第肥沃的平原上具备了作为经济都市大力发展的要素。
西罗马帝国，由于日耳曼民族的大迁徙而产生巨大混乱，米兰一时作为帝国的首府、西方基督教的中心地而繁荣，以后，又因哥特人等的迁移而造成混乱。12世纪因社会意识的萌芽而引起的公社时代，使得米兰再次繁荣。
使得意大利北部飞跃发展的是十字军的东方远征，各城市为了财富、势力、征服其他城市而展开了斗争。米兰也不例外，1395年以来，作为米兰维斯孔蒂家和斯福尔查家的统治。这个小国都市的发达，产生了富裕的市民，由他们开展的保护、奖励学术和艺术活动最终开花结果，诞生了文艺复兴文化。
15世纪末贸易体系发生了很大变化，米兰等意大利各城市开始停滞，意大利半岛，受到德、法、西班牙等国的侵略，到1870年意大利统一，经历了漫长的不幸时代。
米兰是欧洲的大都市、商业和流行的中心。这里有达·芬奇的画作《最后的晚餐》以及名闻遐迩的史卡拉歌剧院。米兰人富裕、和善，保守的性格是由于北欧风情使然，姑且不论其现代化和效率，米兰仍是有诗意在的。
巡礼米兰最好的出发点便是大教堂（Duomo，1386~1813），这座哥特式主教堂是欧洲第三大教堂，内部有135座尖塔和由各个时代收集来超过2 245座大理石雕像。4公尺高的镀金《圣母像》用以装饰教堂最高的尖塔。大教堂的屋顶展现了米兰人戏谑的一面。这个没有屋顶的洞穴别有一番洞天。装饰的尖塔如石笋般矗立着，而雕刻的玫瑰花形饰物如珠宝般散布在地板上。
教堂的景观极其壮观，天气晴朗时还可以看见阿尔卑斯山。往正下方看，广场上充满着生气，鸽子群聚哺食面包屑。拥挤的电车在广场上交叉成十字形，行人行色匆匆，比起其他城市，米兰人要匆忙多了。
由大教堂下来便来到米兰的中心大教堂广场。其一端的大型骑马者是意大利第一位国王维克手托·伊曼纽尔二世（Victor Emmanuel II）的雕像。广场两侧林立的柱廊就是世界上最古老和优雅的商店街，维克托伊曼纽尔走廊（Galleeria Vittorio Emenuele）。 走廊另一头是着名的斯卡拉歌剧院（La Scala opera house）所在地的斯卡拉广场（Piazza dell Scala）。
米兰是国际时装之都，也是意大利时装界最为繁荣的地方，各地着名的设计师以在米兰有一间时装专卖店为荣。米兰因为奢华品太过丰富，而被称为“败家之城”，但血拼一族无法不迷失在这里。
Milan (Italian： Milano； Milanese dialect： Milán) is the main city in northern Italy， and is located in the plains of LombardyLombardy n.意大利北部州名， the most populated and developed Italian region. The city proper has about 1.3 million inhabitants (2004)， but counts more than 4.5 million when including the surrounding conurbation. The metropolitan area of Milan contains around 6.5 million people. Milan is the capital of Lombardy and the financial capital of Italy，though supersededsupersede vt.代替， 取代， 接替， 紧接着……而到来， ［律］延期 vi.推迟行动 by Rome for share of national GDP at the municipal level (6.5% for Rome vs. 4.8% for Milan)， and is at roughly at the same level at the provincial metropolitan level (104 billion vs. 126 billion).
Milan，s name has for many centuries been recorded as Mailand， which is still the German name of the city today. It comes from the Celtic Midlan (meaning “in the middle of the plain”) and was known as Mediolanum by the Romans.
Its province lies in the western part of Lombardy； it covers an area of 1，982 km2 and has a population of 3，707，210 (2001 census)； in 1991， the population was 3，738，685. The province comprises 188 communescommune n.公社 vi.密切联系， 谈心， ranging in population (2001) from Milan Municipality (1，256，211) to Nosate (638)； the city of Milan has lost 113，084 inhabitants (8.3 percent)， from 1991 to 2001. The current mayor of Milan is Gabriele Albertini.
The town is famous for fashion firms and shops (via Montenapoleone) and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele on the Piazza Duomo， reputed to be the world，s oldest shopping mall. Milan is one of the world capitals of fashion， like New York City， Paris， London and Rome. Another famed product of the city is the traditional Christmas sweet cake called Panettone.
Once a capital of the Roman Empire， Milan today is the commercialcommercial adj.商业的， 贸易的 and financial center of contemporary Italy. In the Piazza Duomo， the heart of Milan， the architecture of past centuries blends with the neon lights of a modern metropolis. Here Leonardo da Vinci painted “The Last Supper”， and Verdi and Puccini composed music that is still performed at Milan，s opera house， La Scala.
Milan is now a center for business， the fashion industry， and domestic and industrial design. As the only American program in Milan， IES offers students the opportunityopportunity n.机会， 时机 to integrate fully into the life of this modern Italian city through living， studying， and interacting daily with the local population and university students. Milan，s central location provides students easy access to all major Italian as well as European cities.
Milan is a good choice for a visit in this country. If you are a newcomer to the area or haven，t visited for a while， the information provided on this and related pages will prove invaluable in assisting you to make your holiday or business venture here， as simple as a stroll down your local street back home.
Milan is a city of materialismmaterialism n.唯物主义 and modernisation. It is the country，s economic engine room， home to Italy，s stock market and business centres. It is here that you，ll find your true Italian shopping paradiseparadise n.天堂， but not the true Italy. For this you need to venture to the likes of Venice or Rome.
This is a modern 21st century hub， where nightlife， theatre， dining out， dancing， clubbing and fashion shows occupy the free hours of the locals and of course it，s visitors. There are literally tons of things to do on these fronts； but the tourist will also be pleased to know that there is plenty to see on a sightseeing level too.
History is achingly prominentprominent adj.卓越的， 显着的， 突出的 here. The breathtaking Duomo is one of the world，s largest， most striking cathedrals， while Milan，s art galleries， many housed in former palaces； are home to significant works that include da Vinci，s Last Supper.
Apart from the city centre， another area deserving your attention is the Brera， immediately north of the Duomo， with its posh galleries and fashionable shopping streets. Also check out Navigli to the south.
