Friday
Dear Elsie
Today was the day we spent the afternoon in Milan. We started off by catching a bus from Arona to Malpensa Airport, Milan.
We arrived at the airport and checked into the Moxy which is a 3 minute walk from where we have to check in at sparrows tomorrow.
Moxy allowed us an early check in which was great. We then walked across to departures and found where we had to be. Then we found a station that would take us into the centre of Milan.
This particular train happened to end at a station very close to a massive park (Sempione Park) in the centre of the historic area of Milan. It’s 38 hectares in size.
I had seen somewhere online there was a very high tower in the park, so when we were there, we looked out for it and it didn’t take long for us to spot it.
We discovered it only opened at 3pm, so we wandered around the park and found some other amazing sites. This place is known as Arco della Pace. While it was completed in 1838, inscribed at the top is 1859 which was when a victorious Napoleon rode through the arch.
As we turned away, we spotted something on the opposite side of the park, so off we went to investigate. It’s the Sforzesco Castle built in the 15th Century.
We had to get a closer look. We discovered it’s free to wander about. There is a fee for the museums.
We went over the bridge and inside the walls.
If walls could talk, these would have some things to say.
By then, it was getting closer to 3pm, so we walked back to the Branca Tower and found it was already open. We paid our 6 Euros and took a seat to wait for the lift to come down. This tower is 100+ metres high and was commissioned in 1933 at the request of Mussolini.
The lift takes a minute to get to the top, where the views are spectacular. The arch from the top…
Milan skyline… 
The castle in the foreground with the amazing Duomo behind.
While we were up there we saw a stadium with some historic features.
And so when we came down, we went to look at it.
We went inside to have a look. The chandeliers were destroyed during WW2 so this is a replica…
The balcony where Napoleon stood and celebrated with his people is off this amazing room.
Once we had seen this amphitheatre, we set off back to the train station. I had to stop and take this photo….
When we started out, we felt we were scampering around Milan like teenagers. By the time we got back on the train, we felt like old crocks! 18148 steps! We have sucked the marrow out of this day. Tonight Julian is on a plane and tomorrow, all going well, we will meet him in Copenhagen.
We’ll be in bed early tonight.
Psalm 104:33
I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
It’s not about now – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Gran xx 🙂