Charming, stylish apartment with a superb location and wonderful hospitality! What we loved:
- Great neighborhood! Walking distance (<5-10 min) from Castello Sforzesco (museums, etc), Sempione Park, aquarium, theaters, shopping, market, fruit stand, restaurants, La Prosciutteria (for lunch or late night snack), flower stand, cafes/bars and metro stop
- 20 min walk to Duomo (Milan Cathedral) and shopping at Galleria Vittoria Emanuele
- Super comfortable beds
- Master bedroom private and spacious with decor that gave it a very luxurious feel
- Kids ADORED having their own private kingdom in the upstairs loft
- Cozy rooftop balcony to enjoy a late-night cigar or a morning coffee (watch out for damp seat cushions - Milan gets very foggy)
- Magnificent views of Castello Sforzesco and Milan rooftops from our windows
- Fresh air, circulation and comfortable temperature in the winter (with thermostat)
- Espresso machine in kitchen
- Spacious step-up bathtub/shower with windows overlooking city and very hot water (even on the third floor!)
- Host allowed us to drop our luggage before check in on arrival, so we could enjoy an unencumbered lunch with our children while waiting for housecleaning to finish
- Host available via text for any question, and we ran into him nearly daily, comforting in a foreign country to see a familiar face; always friendly
- Wonderful, big-hearted doorman who can help call a taxi (essential in Milan, especially in the rain) or just keep you company while you’re waiting for the rest of your party
Be aware and know yourselves! We are an older family of four, experienced travelers, children 13 and 9.
- If you’re looking for new, modern and shiny, this may not be the place for you. Come if you understand and appreciate the quirks of an old building.
- European apartment kitchen = pretty small and somewhat limited. Espresso machine and a fridge to store leftovers were all we needed; there is no microwave. Colorful espresso cups a pleasurable touch. Easy to foam milk on the stovetop for a cappuccino. Perfect kitchen for creating a plate of cheese and meats for my kids to snack while my husband napped. Just don’t plan to cook an Italian dinner here - and why would you need to?!
- No laundry in apartment itself. There may be some in building - we did not investigate and I don’t remember details of the listing.
- You MUST be able to manage luggage for one flight of stairs. Pack light. (For those with disabilities: be aware that nearly every Italian restaurant bathroom requires stairs as well. I managed a very bad, pre-surgery knee just fine, with the help of a leg brace and cane.)
- Just a few amenities not up to the standard of the rest of the place (e.g. a place to hang towels). If this sort of thing irritates you, well, you will miss out on an otherwise amazing stay.