Workshop Location Workshop sessions will be held in the Sala Napoleonica of Palazzo Greppi Via S. Antonio, 10 20100 Milan, Italy .   Palazzo Greppi is a big building erected by the family of the Conti Greppi, who received a large area of land by the Estensi. The architectural model of the palace recalls to some extent that of the great Venetian villas, but the Palazzo is basically a country-house with elements of a luxury residence.   About Milan   Historical Informations   The ancient Mediolanum, as it has been called by the Romans since the third century B.C. (a name of Celtic origin meaning "in the middle of the plains"), rose up around 400 B.C., the work of the Insubri Galles. The Romans, led by Gneo Scipio, conquered it in 222 B.C. From the fourth to the fifth century it was the capital of the Western Roman Empire, and thanks especially to Saint Ambrose, it became one of the most active centers of the new Christian world. Around the year 1000 it was already the most heavily populated city of Italy and became the most active center of the Padana Plain because of its manufacturing of wool, silk, metals and armaments. The period between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries coincides with the consolidation of the free Commune, subsequently defeated by Frederick Barbarossa, who wanted to re-establish imperial dominion. From the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries the city came under the Signoria of the Visconti and then of the Sforza, to finally become capital of the Dukedom of Milan. At the end of the fifteenth century Louis XII, king of France, took over the Dukedom. The French in 1535 gave way to the Spanish, who governed until the beginning of the eighteenth century. In 1707 Austrian control began. With the exception of the Napoleonic interlude, the Austrians ruled until the celebrated "Five Days of Milan" (1848), a revolutionary independence movement that chased them out permanently. During the Second World War Milan was one of the cities most heavily hit by aerial bombardment. Damages to historical monuments were especially serious; some were partially destroyed forever, but most were later restored. Since 1946 the recovery of industrial, economic and commercial activity has occurred rapidly, so that once more Milan has become the center of Italy's productive and economic life.   Art and culture From the Roman period, only the Basilica of San Lorenzo and sixteen Corinthian columns from a third-century building remain. Inscriptions, sculptures, architectural fragments and mosaics are conserved in the Archaeological Museum. The Middle Ages was a period marked by fervent construction, which shows Milan's important role at the time, along with Rome, Ravenna and Naples. Evidence of that period is seen in the basilicas of Sant' Ambrogio and Sant' Eustorgio and the palace of La Ragione. The paintings of this period are mostly documented in miniatures such as the codicils in Sant' Ambrogio and in the Ambrosian Library. During the Renaissance, due mostly to the influence of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Francesco Sforza and Ludovico the Moor, the major monuments of the city were built: the Duomo, the Maggiore Hospital, the Sforza Castle, Santa Maria delle Grazie and San Satiro. Bramante and Leonardo were only two of the great artists at work at the time. In the Baroque period the two most important masters were Fabio Mangone (the Ambrosian Palace and the Senate) and Francesco Maria Richini (San Giuseppe Church, many palaces, the courtyard of the Brera Palace). The most important paintings were the frescoes of Tiepolo in the Clerici and Archinti palaces and the canvasses of A. Magnasco. During the Neoclassical period, the architecture gave the city its characteristic outline: in this period the Villa Reale of Monza, La Scala Theater and the Belgioioso Palace, all by Giuseppe Piermarini, were built, as well as the Peace Arch by L. Cagnola and the Arena by L. Canonica. In the present period, we are witnessing a complete renovation of the architectural image of the city. Rapid industrial development and increasing demands of traffic have brought about a radical transformation in urban construction.   Shops and Markets Opening Hours Large stores and many downtown shops are open continuously. Others observe the following hours: 9:30 to 13:00 and 15:30 to 19:30. They are closed Monday mornings and Sundays. Sales take place twice a year: winters, from the 7th of January; summers, from the 10th of July. Groceries shops are closed Monday afternoons and Sundays. Included among the addresses we would like to offer you as a help for your shopping are the open markets. Markets Included among the addresses we would like to offer you as a help for your shopping are the open markets. Following are the largest and most interesting for each day of the week: Mondays: via Zamagna, via Kramer, piazza Mirabello; Tuesdays: viale Papiniano and via B.Marcello; Wednesdays: via Aicardo, piazzale Martini and via Zuretti; Thursdays: via Osoppo, via Ampère, piazza Mirabello, via P. Calvi; Fridays: via Crema, via M. Aurelio, l.go V Alpini; Saturdays: viale Papiniano, via B. Marcello, piazzale Lagosta, via Fauchè. Among the smaller markets, the most famous of Milan is the Flea Market, called "Fair of Senigallia" in viale G. D'Annunzio. Open Saturdays from 8:30 to 17:00. The following are the main clothing stores that sell famous name brands: Armani, via Durini 24, via Sant' Andrea 9; Basile, via Monteleone 27; Chanel, via S. Andrea 10/A; Dolce & Gabbana, via della Spiga 2; Enrico Coveri, corso Matteotti 12; Fendi, via Sant' Andrea 16; Fiorucci Store, galleria Passerella 1; Gianfranco Ferrè, via della Spiga 11; Gucci, via Monleone 5; Kenzo, via Sant' Andrea 11; Krizia, via della Spiga 23; Laura Ashley, via Brera 4; Laura Biagiotti, via Borgospesso 19; Les Copains, via Montenapoleone 2; Max Mara, corso Emanuele; Mila Schon, via Montenapoleone 2; Missoni, via Sant' Andrea 9, piazza Duomo 21; Moschino, via Sant' Andrea 12; Pierre Cardin, via Verri 6; Romeo Gigli, corso Venezia 11; Ungaro, via Montenapoleone 27; Valentino, via Santo Spirito 3; Versace, via Montenapoleone 11; Yves Saint Laurent, via Verri 8. The best shoe stores of Milan are the following: Bally, via Montenapoleone 8; Diego Della Valle, via della Spiga 22; Salvatore Ferragamo , v. Montenapoleone ang. v. Borgospesso; Fratelli Rossetti, via Montenapoleone 1; La Vetrina di Baryl, via Statuto 4; Magli, corso V. Emanuele ang. v. S. Paolo; Marilena, via Tornio 13; Pollini, corso V. Emanuele II 30; Sergio Rossi, via della Spiga 15; Teras, via Torino ang. v. Lupetta; Timberland Store, corso Venezia 9; Vergelio, corso Vittorio Emanuele 10; Vierre, via Montenapoleone 27. The most exclusive jewelry shops of the city are the following: Agalma, via S. Tommaso 8; Bernasconi, galleria V. Emanuele II, 33/35; Buccellati, via Montenapoleone 4; Bulgari, via della Spiga 6; Cartier, via Montenapoleone 16; Cusi, via Montenapoleone 21/A; Faraone Tiffany, via Montenapoleone 7/A; Pomellato, via San Pietro all' Orto; Romani Adami, via Bagutta 3; Scav, via della Spiga 9; Schreiber, via Manzoni 40.   Food Talking about this style of cooking, we expect the usual diatribe about the origin of saffron rice (risotto) or about who invented cutlets alla Milanese, but these are issues discussed a thousand times and already worn out. Of the cutlet, the most interesting thing to say is that it isn't breaded but rather fried with patience at its natural thickness; of risotto, that wine is not necessary because the acidity of the latter conflicts with the natural but delicate aroma of the saffron. The wine goes well in other risottos, such as in the white rice of Piedmont origin. Though this rice is unrelated to Parma, parmesan cheese is used, as in preparing the bell eggplant known everywhere as eggplant alla parmigiana. These days, Milan is flooded with fish. It has the largest fish market in Italy, but for all this fishy culture, not a trace is seen in Milanese cuisine. On the other hand, one finds excellent recipes for fresh-water fish, for example anchovy patè (although the people of Lodi claim it as their own) and pike braised in red wine. Not so famous but also very good are some Milanese soups like minestrone, naturally. Even better are the soups made from rice and parsley with liver, from rice and leeks, or frogs. The base for each of these is an excellent broth: try it with sbrofadei, a kind of Emiliana passatelli. Ordinary everyday broths, on the other hand, are made from capon, for the "non-Milanese" ravioli or tortellini. The busecca, now considered a second dish although originally it was a soup, is a symphony of three types of tripe (chiappa, foiolo and riccia or francese). One makes one's way through the meats, which are fundamentally veal (of which we have already spoken) and beef. Speaking of veal, we must not overlook oven-baked tongue and the sublime roast kidneys. Pastries are few but interesting, aside from the universal panettone (a kind of sweet brioche). Borrowings from Austria are interesting: for example, the creams, the cavollatt with its mysterious name, cream of mascarpone (a type of cream cheese), or certain puddings made from cedar, rice, or even aged panettone. Milanese drinks are very original. The barbarjada (chocolate and coffee) in first place, the rossumada (egg shake, sugar and white or red wine), the sapajean (zabaione, the same but with red wine and lemon juice) or the various bavarois (to suit the female taste, made with tea and liquore). As far as wines are concerned, at present the Milan region has only one zone DOC (name and origin controlled), San Colombano at Lambro, where with an early grape called verdea they make a pleasant white and with a grape similar to that of the Rossi Oltrepo', a red not profound but nevertheless agreeable. The common wine in Milan now is naturally that of the Oltrepo', either Bonarda, Croatina or Barbera; among whites the Riesling and Pinot are excellent. But in Milan today, for wines as for fish, one finds all the best.