A country of culture, art, fashion and of course… pizza. Italy is always an irresistible prospect for a holiday. This year however Italy was more than just a holiday destination, it was a cultural assault on the senses. For this summer, Italy’s famous city of Milan hosted Expo.
My friends and I arrived in Milan in the evening, and we headed straight out. Seeing any city under moonlight is a great idea and in Italy it emphasises the beautiful architecture, towering over candlelit pizzeria’s. Everyone eats outside on a warm evening, but don’t be fooled into leaving your jacket behind… it’s no fun if you get cold!
And as a traveller it would be unforgivable not to try the local lingo. Don’t be shy! A ‘grazie’ never goes amiss and we even received a complimentary glass of prosecco from a friendly waiter!
Now obviously the idea of Italian cuisine had us salivating, (pasta arrabbiata has never tasted so good!), but a break from this world never goes amiss. So I was excited the following morning, to find the metro station, and go to the Expo Milano 2015.
‘What exactly is an Expo?’ I hear you cry. Well imagine you have a massive pizza that is cut into 145 portions (I did say massive). Expo Milano is that pizza – a massive exhibition centre where 145 different countries can present their take on a theme, which this year was about food sustainability: ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’.
Starting in the information tent is the best way to begin: get a map and decide your route. Every part of an Expo is profoundly unique, so cram as much as you can into the day, no matter how much your feet are aching. If you need a sit down why not head to one of the country’s restaurants? The scent of vibrant Qatari flavours drew us to their pavilion to try lamb mashkool, followed by crepes in ‘France’.
Weaving our way through the crowds, we began to go in and out of the pavilions, seeing each country’s take on this year’s theme of food sustainability and visiting some slightly more eccentric displays. Joining the queue for ‘Brazil’ was a priority, to climb on the nets over the rainforest below. Expos have a different theme each year they are hosted, and every country presents ingenious ways of capturing your attention. To get into ‘Brazil’ most of us choose to scale the nets over the exhibits and Britain’s journey of a bee-themed pavilion meant climbing inside the hive.
The Expo was packed, but it was nothing to the hustle of the Milan and Rome city centres. Be prepared to say no to the boisterous sellers, especially on the Spanish Steps. And if you need a break from the heat and crowds, take a walk in the gardens of Villa Borghese in Rome, and find the stunning view of the capital above the Spanish Steps.
Italy is a country teeming with life. The cities are buzzing and the countryside is blissful, so the Expo Milano this summer was the icing on the cake. The next Expo is in 2017 in Astana, Kazakstan, so until then why not give the cobbled streets of Italy a go?