Back to Milan as we make our way to Sardinia

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Milan castle entrance

My first time in Milan was 2004. I remember going into the cathedral and not being able to see a thing; it was so dark and gloomy. The facade, of course, was as glorious as ever with its magnificent spires and sculptural decorative features. But the inside of the duomo was really a disappointment.

Jeanne Brown among the roses outside Milan’s castle

Fastward to 2018. Yesterday, I stepped inside the cathedral again and this time it was a vastly different experience. In 2016, the city installed new lighting and it has completely transformed the interior, making everything visible and turning the place into something worth visiting.

 We have come back to Milan to catch a plane to Sardinia, but while in the city we took time to explore the cathedral as well as take a close look at the castle and La Scala, one of the greatest opera houses in the world.

Blue child-devouring dragon was defeated when Milan was founded

At the castle, we were entertained by stories of the blue snake that ate children. What a story to have as one of the founding tales of your city. Still, it shows what an imagination people had in the past. As we walked to the castle, we past large bushes of pungent pittosporum tobira.

Pittosporum tobira

After touring the cathedral and La Scala, I took a few friends to my favourite pizza spot, Piz, where the host, Michael, greeted us like old friends. He again gave us all free prosecco while we waited for our table to be made ready. And then he brought some small pizza pockets to keep us happy while we waited.

Today, we are off to Sardinia, a place we have never been before.

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Statue of Mary inside Milan cathedral. It is a copy of the one on the top of the spire.
Jeanne Brown and Cathy Abrossimoff at Piz
Michael, our friendly maitre d at Piz
Inside Milan cathedral with the new lighting
At La Scala, Milan’s great opera house
Inside La Scala
Chandelier at La Scala