Milan

Our first night in Milan the weather was pretty miserable.  We were all covered in snow and freezing rain by the time we arrived at the Cenacolo Lorenziano.

This humble church is not as well known as the Duomo, but inside the courtyard it houses one of the most famous frescos ever painted.  One of the highlights of the trip to northern Italy was seeing Leonardo Da Vinci's "The Last Supper."  This painting has been the topic of discussion over the past few years for theologians, historians, and even the media.  Seeing it in person I was shocked at how large it was, and also the amazing history of the piece.  It was hit by a bomb in WWII and left outside for three years!  Parts of it has been restored and it is now protected under a very intense security system.

We had the night free, and after exploring Milan for a short while, Ryan, John, Sarah and I went to the restaurant next door to our Hotel (Hotel Pavone).  I ordered one of the most delicious pasta dishes I have ever had and we also had bruschetta. We slept well that night and work up bright and early to take the metro to see Renzo Piano's "Il Sole 24 ore Headquarters"

We had the opportunity to go to the Piazza del Duomo and even to go into the Duomo. This is one of the first gothic cathedrals I have been to in Italy, and it's detailed ornamentation was overwhelming. 

In the Piazza del Duomo is a huge indoor shopping center shown below