A city of business, fashion and design, an industrial and administrative centre, a magnet for generations of Italian immigrants, a daily destination for thousands of commuters, home to publishing houses, newspapers and television networks, rich in theatres, museums, galleries and universities, 21st-century Milan is a metropolis that preserves the symbols of an illustrious and millennial past and, at the same time, shows itself capable of renewal and change. Within a heterogeneous urban fabric, but certainly rich and stimulating, the documents of an illustrious history emerge: from the late Roman era to the age of the communes, from the Visconti and Sforza lordships to the Spanish age, from the Habsburg 18th century to the splendours of Napoleon, from the age of early industrialisation to Art Nouveau and Art Deco, up to the post-war period and the most recent contemporary era. The guide is divided into six itineraries, which radiate out from Piazza del Duomo, the heart of the city, towards the ancient gates, and then on to the modern suburbs where innovative urban projects are taking shape. The volume is accompanied by a wealth of images to guide visitors in their choices, an introduction dedicated to the history of the city, a map illustrating the recommended routes and a practical index of places.