Parco Sempione (Sempione Park), Milan (must see)

Milan's largest park, situated behind the Castello Sforzesco, has undergone an impressive transformation. Once a haven for dubious characters and drug addicts, Sempione now boasts beautifully landscaped gardens, a vibrant design museum, a restaurant, and even complimentary Wi-Fi. The Sforza family's original hunting ground here was six times larger than the current park size. Napoleon envisioned a grandiose city centred on the park, but only completed the Arena and the Arco della Pace (Arch of Peace).

The Arena Civica, an ancient Roman-style amphitheatre, located on the park's eastern side, used to host chariot races, festivities, and even mock naval battles using water from the canals. With a seating capacity of 30,000, it now serves as a sports stadium, hosting concerts and civil weddings.

On the park's western side, the Triennale was initially opened in 1932 as a museum for exhibitions and decorative arts. It has been revived as the Triennale Design Museum, Italy's first museum dedicated exclusively to design. The museum boasts a playful space and a compact permanent collection spanning from the post-war era to the present day, making it an engaging experience even for those lukewarm about design. The Triennale café and restaurant serve interesting food to a critical arts crowd.

Near the Triennale is the metallic Torre Branca, Milan's version of the Eiffel Tower. Designed by Milanese architect Giò Ponti in 1933 as part of the Triennale exhibition, the tower has a lift that takes visitors up to 108m (354ft) for a panoramic view of the city. At the bottom, Justme Milano, owned by Roberto Cavalli, rock royalty's favourite fashion designer, offers cocktails and supper to suitably dressed visitors.