It is practically an unwritten rule: shopping in Milan is the most elegant fashion experience in the world. The Milanese are fervent fashion lovers, but with all the discretion and elegance of Central Europe. It would be unthinkable for them to go outdoors without showing off their knowledge and style as regards clothing. And they make a real success of it. The very look of the people riding their bikes and scooters through the streets makes shopping in the city a unique, beautiful experience.

Via della Spiga, Via Montenapoleone, Via Sant’ Andrea and Via A. Manzoni make up what is known as “Il Quadrilatero della Moda” (the square of fashion), where exclusive stores by the world’s leading designers gather. Of course, the majority are Italian: Fendi, Costume National, Sergio Rossi, Philosophy, Valentino and Moschino, among many others, have stores in architecturally beautiful buildings filled with history. They are accompanied by other names such as Iceberg, Etro, Roberto Cavalli, Versace, Missoni y Ermenegildo Zegna.

On Via Manzoni outstanding buildings include the impressive, multi functional Armani building and Paul Smith’s Palazzo Gallarati Scotti.

The range of interesting stores continues in the adjacent streets. Corso Venecia boasts Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel and Miu Miu. Beside the beautiful Duomo stands the Vittorio Emanuele II mall, which is outstanding for its architecture as well as the luxury brands to be found there: Prada, Tod’s, Gucci and Louis Vuitton all have stores in this extraordinary arcade.

A little further west, it is also well worth visiting multi-brand store Antonia on Via Ponte Vetero and Via Cusani, which offers an extraordinary selection, as well as Biffi on Corso Genova. And you should not leave the city without visiting 10 Corso Como, a worldwide benchmark concept store named after the building and street in which is based.