How to make the most of Milan during the Eurovision Song Contest 2022

The battle for hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 in Italy began the minute MĂĄneskin won the ESC 2021, in Rotterdam. Earlier this summer, we told you how to make the most of Rome and we told you everything you need to know about Pesaro. These two cities are still in the race to become a hosting city, as well as Milan. 

Milan is a city in the north of Italy. The city has the most habitants of Italy, after Rome. Milan is considered a leading global city, with strengths in many fields, like art, commerce, design, education, entertainment finance, healthcare, and tourism. Of course we all know Milan for being one of the fashion capitals of the world. Let’s take a look at what Milan has to offer!

Milan Cathedral

Cathedral of Milan

The cathedral, also called the Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary (Italian: Basilica cattedrale metropolitana di Santa Maria Nascente), is the most famous cathedral church in Milan.

The construction of the cathedral took about 6 centuries. Simone da Orsenigo started the construction in 1386. Benigno Mörlin Visconti Castiglione was the last architect to work on the property, in 1965. It is the largest church in Italy, even bigger than St. Peter’s Basilica is in the State of Vatican City

The view from the roof is breathtaking. Please note that the elevator does not reach the top floor. Prepare for a lot of stairs. Believe us, it’s definitely worth it! Definitely book a (private) tour if you’re interested in the history of the cathedral. This gives a visit to the church an extra dimension through the beautiful stories of the tour guide.

Brera District

Brera is a district (“quartiere”) in Milan. The district has an artistic and bohemian atmosphere and is located in zone 1, (the historic core of the city). Brera is also called “the Milanese Montmartre”. Sounds promising, right? The neighborhood is filled with bars and restaurants. It is less suitable if you want to shop.

The main historical building is Palazzo Brera. Brera houses the Brera Academy of Fine Arts and the Brera Art Gallery are located here, as well as Milan’s botanical garden as well as an astronomical observatory and the Braidense National Library. Other features that contribute to the character of Brera include restaurants, bars, night clubs, antique and art shops, colorful street markets, as well as fortune tellers’ booths. Especially this last feature might be interesting if you want to place a bet on the Eurovision Song Contest.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Do you prefer to go to a place where you can shop (in the most exclusive stores)? Then you should pay the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II a visit. This is Italy’s oldest active shopping arcade and a landmark of Milan. The inspiration for the name of the building is the first king of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II.

The building was designed in 1861 and built between 1865 and 1877. The architect who completed this job is Guiseppe Mengoni. A common nickname is Il Salotto di Milano (Salon of Milan), because of its many shops and importance as a common meeting and dining place in Milan.

The shopping center is located in ”Centro Storico”, in the center of the city. Some of the oldest shops reside in the Galleria. Several of the stores and restaurants have been there since the 19th century. The entrance to the building is particularly impressive.

Fun fact: Mac Donalds was the first to being denied a renewal of their contract, after housing in the Galleria for 20 years. Mac Donalds sued the landlord – the city of Milan – for 24 million in damages. The fast food chain renounced the suit after receiving the opportunity to open a new restaurant nearby. Prada opened their second store in the Galleria, replacing the fast food restaurant.

Tram Ristorante ATMosfera

If you have a night off of the Eurovision craziness, you could choose to have an exclusive dinner at Tram Ristorante ATMosfera. The restaurant is located at Sforzesco Castle. It’s a fine dining experience combined with round trip in the city of Milan. ATMosfera offers two historic trams and thus the first itinerant trams in Italy.

The menus offer options for meat lovers, fish eaters and vegetarians. The chef is responsible for putting together the menu. Updates on the menu are regular and in tune with the seasons.

You can visit the restaurant 7 days a week. However, it is necessary to book in advance. You can book your table on the ATMosfera website.

”Gaying” in Milan

As we’ve mentioned before, Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world. Milan is a big city and offers plenty of accommodations. From hotels to home rentals, you are sure to find something that fits your needs. Be sure to visit websites like Tripadvisor to read the most recent reviews.

There is also a gay scene in Milan. Signs of affection like holding hands, hugging in the street, and kissing cheek to cheek are perfectly accepted in the city. The gay scene used to be around the area that’s called Via Sammartini. We do not advise that you visit this area, as it’s considered unsafe. The gay scene has moved to the Porta Venezia district, on Via Lecco. In town, you need a club card to access most gay clubs. You can purchase this card at the participating locations.

Milan

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Weekly Update

It’s time for another weekly Eurovision update. Belgium has officially joined the list of 2026 participants, and Israel intends to take part. The EBU shared a statement after recent discussions. Luxembourg, Austria, and Denmark opened their national selection processes. Meanwhile, two Austrian cities exited the host city race, while two others moved forward with formal bids. Belgium Confirms, Israel Plans to Participate Belgium confirmed its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Broadcaster RTBF announced the decision and will later decide how it will choose its entry. The Flemish broadcaster VRT will not be in charge this time, following the usual alternation. source: escspot 📷 EBU/Sarah Bennett Israel also intends to take part. Public broadcaster KAN said preparations are underway for next year’s contest in Austria. Although discussions about Israel’s role in Eurovision have drawn attention recently, KAN made its stance clear. Israel joins over a dozen broadcasters that have already declared their intention to participate.  EBU Responds with Statement after Assembly The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) addressed recent concerns about Eurovision’s direction. During the General Assembly in London, members shared their views on the contest’s growing challenges in a complex global climate. The EBU released a statement afterward, recognizing that participation questions have become more sensitive and complicated. Broadcasters voiced many opinions and expressed support for KAN’s independence, especially under political pressure. To move forward, the EBU brought in a former senior television executive to lead a structured dialogue with its members. This process will include further discussions and a report with recommendations, expected in the autumn. Countries Start Their Search for 2026 Entries In this weekly update we also look at national selections. Several countries have now launched their search for Eurovision 2026 songs. Luxembourg opened its submission platform on 4 July. Songwriters and performers can submit entries online. The national final will take place on 24 January 2026 at the Rockhal Arena. source: RTL Austria also began preparing for next year. Broadcaster ORF opened submissions for artists and songwriters. The submission deadline is 15 September. Last month, ORF hosted a songwriting camp in Vienna. Artists and producers worked together, creating 18 new songs. Some of these songs could be selected internally to represent Austria. source: Merci,Cherie In Denmark, broadcaster DR opened submissions for Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2026. Composers can send in their songs until 2 November. A professional jury will select eight finalists. The national final is set for 14 February 2026 in Frederikshavn. The winner will represent Denmark at Eurovision 2026. source: DR 📷 EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Vienna and Innsbruck Submit Host Bids The list of potential host cities is getting shorter. Wels and Linz, who planned a joint bid, decided not to move forward. Technical issues and high costs led them to withdraw. Their venue, the TipsArena, didn’t meet key Eurovision requirements. source: OTS At the same time, Vienna and Innsbruck submitted official bids to host the contest. Vienna proposed the Wiener Stadthalle, the same venue it used in 2015. Innsbruck chose the Olympiaworld complex. Both cities confirmed their bids with detailed proposals. ORF, the Austrian broadcaster, will now review the applications. A decision on the 2026 host city is expected by 8 August. That’s all for this weekly update. Stay tuned for another weekly roundup next week as the road to Eurovision 2026 continues! Share

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Martijn

Weekly Update

It’s time for another weekly Eurovision update. Belgium has officially joined the list of 2026 participants, and Israel intends to take part. The EBU shared a statement after recent discussions. Luxembourg, Austria, and Denmark opened their national selection processes. Meanwhile, two Austrian cities exited the host city race, while two others moved forward with formal bids. Belgium Confirms, Israel Plans to Participate Belgium confirmed its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Broadcaster RTBF announced the decision and will later decide how it will choose its entry. The Flemish broadcaster VRT will not be in charge this time, following the usual alternation. source: escspot 📷 EBU/Sarah Bennett Israel also intends to take part. Public broadcaster KAN said preparations are underway for next year’s contest in Austria. Although discussions about Israel’s role in Eurovision have drawn attention recently, KAN made its stance clear. Israel joins over a dozen broadcasters that have already declared their intention to participate.  EBU Responds with Statement after Assembly The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) addressed recent concerns about Eurovision’s direction. During the General Assembly in London, members shared their views on the contest’s growing challenges in a complex global climate. The EBU released a statement afterward, recognizing that participation questions have become more sensitive and complicated. Broadcasters voiced many opinions and expressed support for KAN’s independence, especially under political pressure. To move forward, the EBU brought in a former senior television executive to lead a structured dialogue with its members. This process will include further discussions and a report with recommendations, expected in the autumn. Countries Start Their Search for 2026 Entries In this weekly update we also look at national selections. Several countries have now launched their search for Eurovision 2026 songs. Luxembourg opened its submission platform on 4 July. Songwriters and performers can submit entries online. The national final will take place on 24 January 2026 at the Rockhal Arena. source: RTL Austria also began preparing for next year. Broadcaster ORF opened submissions for artists and songwriters. The submission deadline is 15 September. Last month, ORF hosted a songwriting camp in Vienna. Artists and producers worked together, creating 18 new songs. Some of these songs could be selected internally to represent Austria. source: Merci,Cherie In Denmark, broadcaster DR opened submissions for Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2026. Composers can send in their songs until 2 November. A professional jury will select eight finalists. The national final is set for 14 February 2026 in Frederikshavn. The winner will represent Denmark at Eurovision 2026. source: DR 📷 EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Vienna and Innsbruck Submit Host Bids The list of potential host cities is getting shorter. Wels and Linz, who planned a joint bid, decided not to move forward. Technical issues and high costs led them to withdraw. Their venue, the TipsArena, didn’t meet key Eurovision requirements. source: OTS At the same time, Vienna and Innsbruck submitted official bids to host the contest. Vienna proposed the Wiener Stadthalle, the same venue it used in 2015. Innsbruck chose the Olympiaworld complex. Both cities confirmed their bids with detailed proposals. ORF, the Austrian broadcaster, will now review the applications. A decision on the 2026 host city is expected by 8 August. That’s all for this weekly update. Stay tuned for another weekly roundup next week as the road to Eurovision 2026 continues! Share

Share
Read More »