Discount Hotels Milan
Historical interest: Milan
    
Ancient Mediolanum (this was the Roman name for Milan) is believed to have
been founded by a Celtic people. Captured by the Romans in 222 BC, it flourished
under the Roman Empire and became the residence of the emperors of the west
in the 4th century AD.
In 1277 AD a noble family, the Visconti, succeeded in wresting control of the
city from the ruling Della Torre family; the Visconti ruled until 1447. The
Viscontis, through their wealth and marriages with the royalty of England and
France, made Milan into Italy's strongest city. During that time Milan initiated
a continuing campaign of drainage and irrigation of the Po Valley that helped
to make it one of the world's most fertile regions.
In 1450 the Italian soldier Francesco Sforza seized power and founded a line
that remained firmly in control of Milan until 1500, when the city was conquered
by France. In the 1700s, Milan was dominated by the Habsburgs, a legacy that
left it with scores of neoclassical buildings in its inner core and an abiding
appreciation for music and work.
In the course of the wars that followed the French Revolution of 1789, Milan
came under French control. Restored to Austria in 1815, Milan became a centre
of Italian patriotic resistance, and in 1848 it briefly expelled the Austrians.
In 1859, the Italians, aided by the French, freed Milan from Austrian control.
The Austrians returned to Milan after Napoleon's defeat in 1815, but they were
no longer enlightened reformers. In 1848 the city rebelled against the Austro-Hungarians,
and in 1859 it became part of the Savoy Kingdom, which was to become Italy in
1861. In fact the Risorgimento (unification movement) began, and gathered momentum
in this region when the rebel leader Garibaldi landed his supporters on the
northwest coast.
With the unification of Italy, Milan could broaden its reach for new markets
and it rapidly became a financial and industrial centre. The city attracted
workers from other Italian regions. Milan's city centre was soon taken over
by banks and insurance companies, causing great changes in the urban landscape.
The Fascist party was founded in Milan in 1919. Milan headed the national reconstruction
after WWII, since it had been devastated by Allied bombardments. The city has
emerged as Italy's major centre for commerce, finance, and publishing; and,
recently the centre for media, design, fashion and advanced service sectors.
Today, Milan is a commercial powerhouse and, partly because of its 400 banks
and major industrial companies, Italy's most influential city. However, even
today the obvious gap in prosperity and work ethic between Italy's north and
south is particularly evident in Milan.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Excelsior Hotel Gallia | | Holiday Inn Milan | | Ibis Hotel Milano Centro | | Mercure Milano Corso Genova Hotel | | Milan Marriott Hotel | | Quality Hotel Mediolanum | | Starhotel Rosa | | Starhotel Splendido | | Hotel Alexander | | Holiday Inn Milan Assago | | Jolly Hotel Machiavelli | | Jolly Hotel Touring | | Baviera Hotel | | Comfort Hotel Amadeus | | The Westin Palace Milan | | Sheraton Diana Majestic Milan | | Holiday Inn Milan Linate Airport | | Hotel Principe di Savoia | | Starhotel Business Palace | | Crowne Plaza Milan Linate | | Starhotel Ritz | | Hotel Galles Milan | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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