Milan

Lore & Background

Founded around 590 BC by a Celtic tribe, Milan was conquered by the Romans in 222 BC, who Latinized the name of the city into Mediolanum. From AD 284 to 402, it served as capital of the western part of the Roman Empire. In the Late Medieval period, the wealthy Duchy of Milan was one of the greatest forces behind the Renaissance. As a major center of the Italian Enlightenment during the Early modern period, Milan's cultural and political struggle against Austrian domination was crucial in the reunification of the Kingdom of Italy. From the 19th century onwards, Milan led the industrial and financial development of Italy.

In Their Own Story

The autumn fog rolls off the Po and settles over the cobbled streets of the city. In the Palazzo, the Doge unrolls a ledger of silk shipments bound for the Levant, his quill scratching against vellum as the council of patricians murmurs behind him. Outside, a Venetian envoy waits in the rain, bearing a proposal that smells of alliance and a knife. The Doge sets down his pen, straightens his collar, and says nothing. In Milan, silence is the most expensive currency of all.

Reader's Guide

Milan is a major international center of industry, finance, science, communications, fashion, art and tourism. Milan was classified as an 'Alpha' city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Milan's business district hosts Borsa Italiana, Italy's main stock exchange (part of the Euronext consortium, the world's sixth-largest by market capitalization) and the headquarters of numerous national corporations, including eight Fortune 500 Europe companies. Milan and its special metropolitan authority have the largest GDP and the highest per-capita GDP of any Italian province.

Did You Know?

• Milan was founded around 590 BC by a Celtic tribe.
• Milan served as capital of the western part of the Roman Empire from AD 284 to 402.
• Milan hosted the Universal Exposition in 1906 and 2015.
• Milan co-hosted the Winter Olympic and Paralympic games in 2026.