Arco della Pace

This is a very elegant, neat and rather characterless part of the city. It is northwest of the cathedral (Il Duomo) and overlooks Parco Sempione, Milan’s largest park. The streets are wide and lined with trees so there is a feeling of space. There are a few elegant clothes shops and restaurants along the side streets that run off Corso Sempione and the area is littered with various bars for Milan’s famous “aperitivo” happy hour. It is dominated by the Arco della Pace, the triumphal arch at the neglected entrance to Parco Sempione, but it is a far cry from either l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris or Marble Arch in London. Buildings here have grand façades, tall windows and balconies. The triumphal arch dominates the park, which is a central point for joggers and bikers, or for those just out for a stroll and families with young children. This elegant area is only a few streets away from a complete contrast in Milan’s Chinatown, which centres around Via Paolo Sarpi. Here it is sometimes possible to find a bargain of an apartment with all the services of Chinatown at your front door.