Milan

After two years of multiple postponement and rebooking due to COVID, our long-awaited Mediterranean cruise finally happened, but not without some changes. Originally planned as a 7-day cruise from Barcelona with just us and my parents, the itinerary eventually shifted to start from Rome, and our travel group expanded to include Dora’s mom and our friend Spyros.

The plan was ambitious: fly to Milan, then embark on a multi-city train journey through Italy before boarding the cruise ship in Rome. After the cruise, we’d spend a few days exploring Rome.

We kicked off our adventure in Milan. Knowing that the city is more about fashion and business we had no time to explore deeper especially with the size of our group and kids, so we decided to keep our stay here brief and focus on just a couple of highlights.

Our day started at the Piazza del Duomo, where we marvelled at the grandeur of the Milan Cathedral. The iconic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was our next stop—a must-visit for anyone who loves architecture or just enjoys a good stroll in a beautiful setting. We continued our walk towards Sforza Castle and the adjoining Sempione Park (Castello Park).

We ended the day with a dinner at Trippa, one of the best trattorias in Milan. The food was incredible, and it was the perfect way to wrap up our first day in Italy. While Milan was just a quick stop on our journey, it set the stage for the amazing experiences to come as we continued our Italian adventure.