Day 1 in Italy: Milan 🇮🇹

Starting from Zurich, we took the train 🚆 to Milan. Following a tip from , we rode to the last Swiss stop—Chiasso—then bought a ticket from there to Milan for only 6 CHF. The whole journey took a little over four hours. Duomo di Milano 🏛️ The afternoon light was perfect—shining directly on the cathedral’s facade. We used Alipay to get discounted tickets 🎫—just tell the staff “Alipay” at the counter. A ticket cost ¥62 per person and included access to the cathedral and the museum. The square is filled with pigeons 🕊️, a lion statue, and a bronze king statue. The front view showcases breathtaking Gothic art—forests of spires, and if you look closely, you can spot the golden Madonna statue glittering atop the central spire. Every spire is crowned with a marble sculpture. We followed a Bilibili tour guide 🎥 to explore the exterior. The bronze doors depict scenes from Mary’s life—from welcoming Jesus to the Pietà. Many parts have been worn smooth from being touched over time. Unfortunately, it was getting late ⌛, and the interior was closing—we missed seeing the statue of St. Bartholomew. But the stained glass windows were stunning with light shining through ✨. There are two huge painted shrine doors (?) that can be opened, covered with large artworks commissioned by patrons—so cool when you know the backstory! A small red light in the center marks where the Holy Nail is kept. It’s said even Leonardo da Vinci designed a lift for it! Escaping Switzerland (lol 😂) → Hello, Real Food! Finally had amazing Chinese food in Milan! Zhou Zhenzhen’s Nanchang Mixed Rice Noodles got me totally hooked 🍜❤️. After coming back, I tried others, but nothing beats that authentic taste. The restaurant is located in Milan’s old Chinese quarter (Chinatown? Not sure how to describe it)—lots of great Chinese eats there. So satisfying! #MilanDayTrip #MilanTravel #MilanGuide #Milan #MilanTravelTips