The farthest I traveled this week was to my classes in Segrate, a suburb of Milan. One difference I’ve noticed is how spread out university buildings can be here. Rather than having everything on one central campus, the University of Milan has buildings in different parts of the city and surrounding areas.
So far, I’ve traveled roughly 4,000 miles from Philadelphia to Milan on a direct flight that took about eight hours, plus some extra miles getting around the city and exploring different neighborhoods!
This week, I got around using Milan’s metro system. It’s operated by ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi, or Milan Transport Company) and is a popular way to commute and explore the city.
The most interesting place I visited this week was Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle), a historic fortress that also served as a residence for Milan’s rulers. It takes its name from the Sforza family, a powerful dynasty that ruled Milan during the Renaissance. Francesco Sforza had the castle rebuilt in the 1400s, and today it houses museums with collections of art and historical objects.