Day 0 to 1 - Chicago to Milan


We were supposed to head off to Italy on a 9pm Easter evening flight from Chicago to Milan. At 9pm. No plane. Gate attendants said the plane would be there shortly. Luckily for us it did show up and we are off.

We arrived about 1:30pm Monday in Milan, got our rental car and headed into central Milan where our hotel is located. After checking in at our hotel, in Randy Tour fashion, we headed out for a few sites. The Milano Castello, Basilica of St. Ambrose, and the Plaza around the Milan Duomo. 


Monday is a post Easter holiday in Italy. So the sites and streets were all filled with people out celebrating, but many restaurants were closed. 


The Castello is a 16th century castle that was part of many battles in Milan over the centuries. It's now a set of museums and public parks where people congregate.  




St. Ambrose built his name sake church in the late 4th century. Ambrose was a local Roman leader who when helping the local Milan Christians pick their next bishop, got picked himself. However he wasn't a priest or even been baptized. So he was baptized, ordained as a priest, and then selected as a bishop over a 3 day span.   Eventually sainted, his body now lies in the Basilica crypt. Among other things Ambrose is known for baptizing St. Augustine.








We then walked over to view the Duomo or Cathedral. Most Cathedrals in Italy are called duomos from the Latin word duomos, or house/ home.



We finished up with dinner and the first of many gelatos.





Tomorrow we have a guided tour of Milan before heading to Cinque Terre.

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