Words Marwan Naaman
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MILAN’S EPICENTER OF COOL TAKE A SPIN THROUGH THE CITY’S NAVIGLI NEIGHBORHOOD Is Milan the leisure destination of the future? Long described as Italy’s industrial center, and the nation’s undisputed fashion and design hub, Milan has recently become a draw for visitors who appreciate style, creativity, terrific cuisine and culture riches in a cosmopolitan setting. The Navigli neighborhood in particular, anchored by the sensually stylish Nhow Milan hotel (see page 250), has emerged as the city’s epicenter of cool, with boutiques, restaurants and bars that are as hip as they come. The Navigli were once a series of navigable canals in and around Milan, with historical links to Leonardo da Vinci, who back in the late 15th century ambitiously thought of using the canals (originally built between the years 1177 and 1257) to ferry goods and people to the city. While most of the canals have since been entirely covered, the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese are still in use, most notably by visitors
wishing to experience Milan while on a scenic boat tour. The twin canals branch out of the Darsena (the dock of Milan) and are dotted with attractions along each of their banks.
In terms of culture, you’ve got the breathtaking Museo delle Culture di Milano (MUDEC) on Via Tortona, set inside the magnificently renovated and repurposed old Ansaldo industrial plant and now featuring permanent and changing exhibits about world culture. Walking along the canals, you’ll also spot dozens of small art galleries, either on the main streets or hidden in narrow alleyways and secret gardens, offering works by both established and up-andcoming artists. Monuments in Navigli include the fourth-century Basilica di Sant’Eustorgio, one of Milan’s most ancient churches and once home to the relics of the Three
