Milan captured my heart.

We flew super early Friday morning in late April and we arrived at the Palazzo Parigi Hotel in Milan by 11am.

Check in wasn’t until 2pm so the plan was to drop off the little luggage we had and head straight out to wander around the nearby streets. We were delighted on arrival by the offer of a complimentary tea or coffee in the sumptuous bistro lounge and just fifteen minutes later the receptionist came to inform us that our room was ready.

Our room was newly decorated in calming hues of beige and cream. The bathroom was luxurious and spacious and white marble covered the walls and floor. No expense has been spared. Wrapped in my dressing gown and with slippers on, I laid upon the bed surveying the map of Milan to see where our afternoon of adventures might begin.

On the way out, our wonderfully helpful concierge helped to point out some places of interest and gave us a couple of bottles of water and some hand wipes to take on our travels. He also made us a reservation at IYO for dinner that evening.

First we headed to The Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele for some window shopping, spotting sights such as the Opera house along the way. Then we stopped to take photos of Duomo Square before climbing the tiny spiral staircase all the way to the cathedral rooftop. To see the intricate nature of this wonderful building up close is definitely worth the steep climb. Plus it may have helped to burn off some of the calories I had consumed from the chocolate torte that I had eaten at the Gucci café moments earlier.

We strolled around the nearby streets of shops and department stores, bought a couple of scoops of gelato to eat in the sun and continued our journey down to the museums of Castello Sforzesco.

Later back at the hotel we were ready for dinner at little early and chose to have a glass of wine in the bar before we left. It was a great decision! We are shown to a table for 2 and served wine along with a small plate of complimentary sandwiches and canapés to sample.

The food at IYO was delicious and considering it’s a Michelin star restaurant it was very reasonable. The kitchen is open so you can see the chefs hard at work and the dining room has a nice lively vibe. Yet our table for two was tucked into a corner and so felt quite intimate.

After the early start and the busy day we were ready to retire to our bed by 11:30pm.
On the second day we woke up and had a lovely breakfast in the garden room as it was slightly too chilly early in the morning to sit outside. Once again the service was faultless.

Today was the day we would see Leonardo da Vinci’s last supper. Unfortunately I can’t show you any photos of that as photography is banned. However the story of how the painting was saved from disaster many times over the years is incredible.

Afterward we had lunch in a casual pizza restaurant and took a walk through Sempione Park. On a sunny day the park is full of local people eating their lunch, wandering through with their families.

On the way back to our hotel we took a detour through the glamorous streets of designer shops, resisting the temptation to splurge on luxurious items. I must confess to making a small purchase in Chanel but hey, we are in the fashion capital of Milan!  Then it was a quick pit stop in the Armani hotel for a white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake in the top floor bar before we returned to our own hotel.

That evening dressed in our best clothes we headed to the Cavalli restaurant. Food here was great again and at dessert the waiter bought us a complimentary box of Roberto Cavalli chocolates. Around midnight the tables are rearranged and this restaurant is transformed into a nightclub. With a great dj, fun atmosphere and drinks flowing we danced all night until 4am.

Sunday morning came. My head was cloudy from the cocktails and champagne the previous night. My body ached from dancing and my feet from the amount of walking that had been done over the last 2 days. But the Bvlgari Spa came to my rescue and after one of the best full body massages I have ever experience followed by steam, sauna, Jacuzzi and a swim I felt as good as new.

A late lunch/early supper in a nice traditional Italian restaurant was the last indulgence prior to leaving for the airport and catching the plane home.

I was treated like a princess the entire weekend, Milan is wonderful city and I hope to go back some day. In my opinion it had a perfect mixture of sightseeing, shopping, nightlife and relaxation.  The Palazzo Parigi hotel was not a huge hotel but it certainly was beautiful and the service definitely 5 star and very personal.