Page 43 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Milan & The Lakes

MILAN THROUGH THE Y EAR  41

Average monthly temperature Temperature
Milan is inland and
C° F° there are big differences
25 80 in temperature between
winter and summer.
20 70 The winters can be very
cold, particularly in
15 60
December and January,
10 50 typical of continental
Europe, while there may
5 40 be torrid heat in summer.
0 32 The climate is always
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec very humid.
Winter
Characterized by severe
cold (heavy snowfall is not
rare), the Milanese winter is
“warmed up” by a rich and
fascinating programme of
cultural events, major holidays
and special occasions. The
city becomes especially lively
around the feast day of
Sant’Ambrogio (St Ambrose),
the local patron saint, and
then for Christmas, which
is preceded by the usual Typical antiques stalls at the Oh bej Oh bej fair
shopping sprees in the city-
centre shops. On the cultural well as other articles. It is held characters, such as Meneghin,
side, the theatres of Milan in the streets around the basilica take part in a parade to Piazza
present a high-quality theatre of Sant’Ambrogio (see pp86–9). del Duomo.
season, headed by the world- La Scala. The season at the BIT (mid-Feb). The Fiera (Milan’s
famous Piccolo Teatro. world-famous opera house Exhibition Centre) hosts an
(see pp54–5) starts on 7 international tourist trade show.
December. The opening Mi Milano Prêt-à-Porter
night is a major cultural event, (late Feb). The autumn-winter
and an important occasion in collections of the leading
the Milanese social calendar. international and Italian fashion
designers go on show.
January
Corteo dei Re Magi (6 Jan).
A traditional procession with
a tableau vivant of the Nativity
goes from the Duomo to
Sant’Eustorgio.
Fiera di Sinigaglia (every Sat
all year long). Along the Naviglio
Grande, where the canal meets
Christmas decorations in the Galleria Via Valenza, is a colourful market
Vittorio Emanuele II offering ethnic handicrafts,
records and bicycles.
December Mercato dell’Antiquariato
Festa di Sant’Ambrogio di Brera (third Sat of month,
(7 Dec). This is the feast day of all year). Stalls with antiques,
the patron saint of Milan, just books, postcards, jewellery.
before Immaculate Conception
(8 Dec). Sant’Ambrogio is February
celebrated with many events: Carnevale Ambrosiano
the jam-packed The longest carnival in the
Fiera degli Oh bej Oh bej, a vast world ends on the first Saturday Taking part in the Carnevale Ambrosiano
street fair featuring antiques as of Lent. Floats and Milanese in Piazza del Duomo
Panoramic view of the city of Milan

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