Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich is Switzerland's economic leader and known worldwide for its financial district. But other very innovative economic sectors flourish in the region. Zurich has established itself as an important center for ICT, life sciences, cleantech as well as creative industries and tourism.
We were only here for 2 days, and the weather was freezing, windy, and rainy. We had scheduled a food tour but canceled it with such poor weather. There was also a possibility of snow. I got a haircut (much needed) and paid dearly for it. We tried to go to a laundromat to catch up, but found you need to make an appointment, so no clean clothes for us. We did not do much walking due to weather, and we did not pack for freezing temps! Our hotel was lovely though. And prices here are very high! Most expensive city in Europe...
This is the new lobby, which opened the day we were leaving. Would have liked to do a cocktail here!
The Munsterhofli is located on the beautiful, wide open Munsterfof. And this has been the case since the Middle Ages. The tasteful restaurant is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the city of Zurich. In a historic ambience, there is Zurich rooted food with wonderful Service. When weather is right, the large terrace invites you to enjoy it with a view of Zurich's most beautiful old town square.
Our hotel concierge recommended this restaurant, and it was delightful, showcasing local art on its walls. A perfect way to end our stay in Zurich.
And off we go for our train to Milan, about a 3-hour journey. We purchased sandwiches, chips, and of course wine for our journey. Trains are a wonderful way to travel. Not 10 minutes out of Zurich, there was plenty of snow.
Milan, Italy
Milan, a metropolis in Italy's northern Lombardy region, is a global capital of fashion and design. Home to the national stock exchange, it’s a financial hub also known for its high-end restaurants and shops. The Gothic Duomo di Milano cathedral and the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent, housing Leonardo da Vinci’s mural “The Last Supper,” testify to centuries of art and culture. ― Google
We were only in Milan for 3 days, so we went to the Duomo and the Last Supper. We did get our laundry done on the first day, and had a relaxed lunch, and then cocktails on our hotels upper deck. Hotel was very contemporary and off the beaten path.
The love for perfumes, art and hospitality led the Martone family to found, in the former perfume factory, the first Hotel à Parfum. Distillate of Italian excellence, to live a unique experience through all the senses. This was the factory for the perfume converted to a hotel. Room was quite large and each room is dedicated to one of their perfumes. There is a museum showcasing the production of perfumes.
I ordered a flight of handcrafted cocktails, which are based on their perfumes. My favorite was the Jasmine. The other two were good but a bit strong for my taste. Mickey thought they were great.
The 2nd day we toured the Duomo and then the Last Supper, followed by a great dinner at the hotel. First time in Milan (except for a train transfer on our way to Lucerne back in 2005)
The Duomo di Milano is a massive Italian Gothic cathedral in Milan, Italy, with construction spanning nearly six centuries, from 1386 to 1965. Commissioned by Gian Galeazzo Visconti to mark a new era of power, it is the largest church in Italy—built with Candoglia marble—and features over 3,400 statues. Notable figures like Leonardo da Vinci influenced its design, while Napoleon Bonaparte accelerated its façade completion in the early 1800's.
Before we went to the Duomo, we visited the museum that highlights artifacts from the church and showcases the intricate carvings, tapestries and stained-glass windows.
Our tour included visiting the terraces (rooftop), and we had an elevator ride up, but got to walk down the 300+ steps to the church. Quite a view.
The exterior is under renovation and cleaning, probably a never-ending task. These pictures show the cleaned portions on the top and the to be cleaned portions on the bottom.
The church itself is massive and obviously quite magnificent. Glad we visited but not my favorite cathedral. I think the ones we saw in Spain were prettier.
Last Supper
Leonardo's Last Supper is located in its original place, on the wall of the dining room of the former Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, exactly in the refectory of the convent and is one of the most celebrated and well-known artworks in the world.
We came right after the Duomo and had a few hours until our tour. We had lunch and wine in the square, then went into the church to view it. Once we were there, we saw a painting of the Last Supper, and were surprised that we could view it, as we had paid quite a bit for the tour. We had no idea that the actual Last Supper was on the wall of the refectory and it was as large as it was. So much for our knowledge of art history!
Our guide pointed out that this was NOT a frescoe, it was a painting done over time. The lower portion of the painting (showing Christ's feet) has been destroyed, but one of his apprentices painted a picture of the original so it is known what the original painting looked like. Very fortunate that it did not get damaged in the war - part of the church did, not far from the refectory.
And so, we come to the end of our stay in Milan. Flight tomorrow to Bari, Italy and a drive to Monopoli Puglia. We are back on schedule for our planned journey.
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