Milan, Italy

6 APR 2013 - Milan is Italy's second largest city and the center of Italian fashion. Built between 1386-1577, the Milan Cathedral, seen here, is the fifth largest in the world. It's an amazing structure to view the intricacies of the workmanship. Quite a site to behold. One of the other interesting/strange things about it is to actually see the 20-year-old dead priest's lying in clear tombs inside the main hall. 

Nearby the cathedral lies the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the oldest mall in the world. Completed in 1877, the structure and grandeur of the exterior of the building is simply remarkable. Every high end Italian shop you can imagine is located inside.

 The inside of the building is pretty impressive too! So to is the awesome family posing inside. ;)

The entire mall open area of the mall is covered with a glass roof and the floor is a series of giant mosaics.

Giuseppe Mengoni, the architect of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II plummeted to his death from the scaffolding of the building just weeks before the 14-year project was completed. To avoid similar bad luck, tourists and Milanese alike head for the mosaic of the dancing bull (said to mark the spot where he fell) to grind their heels firmly into its testicles. The proper way to do it is to place your heel firmly in the bull’s groin and turn backwards three times. Many people get it wrong, twirling forwards instead, but Big Time got it right and managed to ward off the bad spirits. If you've ever wondered what the embodiment of grace, power, and skill look like, look no further than this picture.

 After walking through the shopping district (we actually made it through without losing Cheryl), we arrived at the Sforza Castle. This impressive structure was built in the 15th century, but remains a vibrant and dominant part of the city.

Directly in front of the castle is a massive fountain with a sweet grandma and two cute kids!