I found a cool clothing store in Korea, and the colors and shapes were rare, so I asked where they got them, and they said Milan. So I decided to visit Milan at the end of my trip to Europe. Actually, I didn't know much about Milan except for the design week, so I didn't have high expectations. I just hoped to find some cool vintage clothes.
But Milan was a much more wonderful city than I thought. The sight of them always smiling brightly and kindly explaining the menu was an experience that I couldn't find anywhere else. When the waiter broke the glass, instead of apologizing, he made a light kicking motion and everyone laughed. At night, people gathered in the square to drink and dance, and next to them, they played ping-pong passionately.
Beautiful marble texture, heartfelt interiors on the floor and entrance, colorful food. Milan is a place that is not only filled with luxury fashion or sophisticated design, but also with rich natural textures. It was a city that made me think a lot about attitudes toward life and the beauty of nature.
Milan is rich in color and curves. Not to mention the famous fashion, many products and buildings are overflowing with color. As I explored the area, I felt that Milan displayed materials in their natural form. I was amazed by the beauty of the lobby and courtyard of every building. In particular, the marble was so beautiful that I thought that the marble I had seen so far was nothing. Northern Italy is rich in high-quality marble, and the Carrara region in particular is said to be a world-famous production site. It still accounts for 20% of the world's marble production, and the 'Bianco Carrara' marble, which Michelangelo also loved, is famous for its light gray tone and patterns. I was amazed by the beauty of the lobby and courtyard of every building.
Beautiful building
The Duomo Cathedral made of marble was shocking. I thought European cathedrals were similar, but I was surprised by the texture of the surface that made me want to touch it and the rich sculptures that were all the same. The Duomo Cathedral was built starting in 1386 and is said to have taken 600 years to complete. It is said that it was built in a rare Gothic style in Italy and was not built purely for archaic purposes. It had a strong secular aspect of compensating the nobility and working class for the tyranny of Barnabas Visconti.
In 1571, the newly appointed Archbishop of Milan, Carlo Borromeo, rebuilt the façade of the cathedral in the Renaissance style. Later, during the Napoleonic era, neo-Gothic details were added, and the cathedral was influenced by various architectural styles over the years. This story shows that the Milan Duomo is a complex symbol of Italian and European history, politics, and culture.
Craftsmanship
In Europe, whenever I found something pretty in a clothing or accessory store, it was always 'Made in Italy'. I thought Italy was a place full of the passion of craftsmen who wanted to make beautiful things. Among them, Milan was a representative city where many artists created various products centered on beauty. There was no area that was lacking, whether it was fashion, architecture, or industry.
Milan has been home to many legendary designers who have had a major impact on the history of design. The spirit inherited from Leonardo da Vinci during the Renaissance continues to this day. From Gio Ponti, who founded the magazine Domus, to Castiglioni, who made chairs out of tractor seats, to Alessi Mendini, who is famous for his humorous Alessi kitchenware, to Ettore Sottsass, who founded the Memphis Group, a symbol of post-modernism, their influence has spread beyond Italy and into the world.
Art & Design
shopping
