<< Lombardy
Milan (Milano) is the capital of Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy. Located at the center of one of the largest metropolitan areas in Europe, it is also among the most important economic, industrial, and financial centers in the continent. Founded in ancient times by the Celtic Insubres, Milan was later a Roman city with the name Mediolanum. The town briefly served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire, and here in 313 Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, that granted tolerance to all religions in the empire. Over the 5th and 6th century, Milan was besieged and sacked multiple times, but it remained one of the main centers in the region. Since the 11th century, Milan began expanding its domain over Lombardy, fighting numerous wars against other local powers and the Holy Roman Empire. In the Late Middle Ages, the city was once again one of the main trade centers in Europe, and ruled over various territories in Northern Italy. Between the 15th and 18th century, the Duchy of Milan was mostly ruled by France, Spain, and Austria, and the city was hit by a devastating plague in 1630. During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, Milan was the capital of various client states of France, but it later returned under Austrian rule, as part of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. Milan was at the center of the Italian Risorgimento and, after the failed revolution of 1848, it was taken by the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1859, leading to the Italian unification in 1861. Milan quickly became one of the most important economic centers of the country, expanding rapidly. During the 20th century, Milan was damaged by the World Wars, it became a symbol of the Italian resistance, and lived decades of political turmoil. Now Milan is not only a leading center of industry and commerce, but also one of the most visited tourist destinations in Italy, famous all over the world as a hub for entertainment, fashion, finance, culture, education, sports, and design.
Subdivisions of Milan
- Centro Storico (inner portion of Municipio 1)
- North Central Milan (Municipio 1, north of Centro Storico)
- East Central Milan (Municipio 1, east and southeast of Centro Storico)
- West Central Milan (Municipio 1, west and southwest of Centro Storico)
- North Milan (Municipi 2, 3, 7, 8, 9)
- South Milan (Municipi 4, 5, 6)
Map of Milan
