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Forget the designer boutiques lining via Monte Napoleone - the real place to shop in Milan is at the markets. On the last Sunday of every month, for example, the Naviglio Grande (23) turns into a vast antiques market. For food, browse the stalls vie Crema (24) every Friday morning.
The city's most expensive hotel is newcomer Park Hyatt Milan at via Tommaso Grossi 1 (25) (00 39 02 8821 1234, www.milan.park.hyatt.com) where doubles cost from €530 (£380) a room only. Located just off the Galleria Vittorio Emanueule, its style is contemporary luxury crossed with imperial granduer. The main lounge, for example, features snazzy aubergine-and-yellow silk loungers and a series of Roman-style columns supporting a vast glass cupola.
Just as well located, but much cheaper, Hotel Straf (26) at via Raffaele 3 (00 39 02 805 081, www.straf.it) offers doubles from €130 (£93) including breakfast. It is another new arrival making a big noise. The approach here is total minimalism which translates into 64 rooms with bare concrete walls and floors, untreated iron desks and bright white beds. Fortunately, the bathrooms are more forgiving with sexy black stone baths and copper panelling.
For something small, sweet and ego-free, you couldn't do much better than the Antica Locanda dei Mercanti B&B (27) (00 39 02 805 4080, www.locanda.it), at via San Tomaso 6, with doubles from €130 (£93). Situated just off via Dante, the property has 14 individually decorated rooms featuring light, summery decor and the occasional terrace.