Nice MXP layover (40 hrs) just before X-Mas...never been there

Any suggestions?...sights, sounds, food, bars...etc

Thanks

The train station is directly across the street from the hotel. If the weather is nice (maybe not in December?) take the train to Lake Como. Lots of US celebrities have places there. Nice places by the water to have lunch outdoors ...

Northern Italian food heavily influenced by German and French cuisines. White sauces as opposed to Marinara's. Alps w/in sight, Cortina a short train ride (2.5 hrs?). Have fun.

Take the subway down to the Domo and plaza. Good place to people watch. Not far from there to the buidling housing Da Vinci's painting "The last supper". Hopefuly by now the Da Vinci code mobs have cooled a bit. enjoy, sounds fun.

Also, not too far from the Duomo is the actual site of the last supper painting. It's quite breathtaking to be standing there looking at it in person. I always thought it was painted on canvas, but when I went to view it I realized it was actually painted on the wall inside a building. It's worth the trip. There is also a great restuarant near there called La Sassino. Translation...I assasinate you with food!

The food is INCREDIBLE---best in the world! Downtown there are a lot of wine-bars that have awesome appetizer samplings included in the price of a glass of wine, so that's a good way to work up an appetite and then just about every restaurant I've eaten at there has been great; fresh and brilliant.

Heads up on the 'Last Supper'. Don't wear your AC/DC rock T-shirt to go see the painting. It's in a working convent and I was denied access (damn Americans)--it probably doesn't apply this time of year, but no shorts either; (lines can be long; try to get a reservation through your concierge.)

If you're like the majority of FedEx pilots, well, the McDonalds is about two blocks from the hotel.

Seriously, Milan is a fantastic city, but one that needs to be enjoyed in mild weather. However, there's lots of indoor stuff to do there as well. You can walk or take the train to the Duomo, which is the third largest church in the world. The plaza surrounding the Duomo is filled with lots of places to eat and people watch. Then there's Lake Como, which has to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. I'd recommend going there and buying a day pass on one of the boats that's used to take folks from one lakefront town to the next. The boats depart about every half hour and proceed all around the lake, stopping at all these different towns, where you can get off the boat, have lunch and a glass of wine, maybe a little ice cream for dessert, a little after-lunch walk, then back to the dock for the next boat. You'll get a fantastic view of lots of multi-million dollar mansions and wonderful, picturesque towns as the boat makes it's rounds.

Then, for the adventurous, there's always Venice. However, you'll have to get up around 5:30 A.M. as the 6:00 A.M. train leaves right on time. It's perhaps a 2 or 2&1/2 hour train ride (be sure to sit in first class) to Venice, but then you're in Venice. Wonderful architecture, great restaurants, great beer gardens, lots of tiny little back streets, winding their way throughout the city. Just Fantastic!

For Lake Como or Venice, I'd want to make sure that your other crewmember is going too, because otherwise it would be a very long day, being all by yourself, unless of course, you're a non-member, in which case I'm sure you're used to being alone. Just kidding.

As well, I just checked the weather for Christmas week, and it's going to be in the high 30's to low 40's. Cold for Connecticut and even colder for Italy. Bring warm stuff. If you do Lake Como, you'll freeze your butt off if you stay outside on the boat.

Have fun. Be safe. Don't pick up any of those girly-men, of which there are many in Milan. Look for adam's apples. By the way, check out this site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan

Thanks for the great ideas !

I'll try to off set EWR and DEL layoffs with some fun!

I know a little late, but in the future one can go down to Florence. Great city!