Milan EXPO & Venice Biennale: 2015 the year to Visit Italy

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Turkish Pavilion at the Milan ExpoAny time is a good time to visit Italy! But this year there are two huge events on in Northern Italy, EXPO Milano 2015 (the Milan EXPO in English) and the Venice Biennale. Both provide additional incentives to visit in 2015!

If you have dreamed of visiting Italy, Expo Milano 2015 (the Milan EXPO) may be the reason to do it NOW. When I think of Italy, thinking of food is not far behind! Italy has some of the best food in the world.

So what could be more fitting than having an Expo in Milan with a food theme? “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”, is the theme for the Milan EXPO. With over 140 countries participating and showcasing all things food from around the world, it is a food lover’s delight. The Milan EXPO runs from May 1, 2015 to 31 October 2015. It is huge event with over 20 million visitors expected to attend.

Milan EXPO 2015 : a Brief History of the Expo

The Milan EXPO 2015 is the Universal Exhibition (EXPO), once known as the “World Fair”. The first exhibition was held in London in 1851. One usually takes place every 3-5 years. There are many iconic legacies from past exhibitions including:

  • The Eiffel Tower in Paris (1889, entrance to the World Fair).
  • The Space Needle in Seattle.
  • The Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne.
  • IMAX debuted at EXPO ’70 in Osaka Japan.Free MIlan EXPO Guide www.compassandfork.com

The history of universal exhibitions, world’s fairs or expo for short, can be found on Wikipedia. There is also a complete list of past expo locations and themes. It is interesting to see the countries and how often they have hosted an exhibition. Milan hosted a previous exhibition in 1906!

 

If you would like to learn more about the Milan EXPO or are planning a visit, please download our Free Milan EXPO Guide. The guide provides everything you need to know to have a great visit (and save some $$$).

The Venice Biennale

If the Milan EXPO isn’t enough! There is extra incentive to visit Italy in 2015, the Venice Biennale. Venice is only 2 hours by high-speed train from Milan. The Biennale runs concurrently with the Milan EXPO,  May through the end of October. The Venice Biennale is a huge exhibition of all things contemporary art. The theme is “All the World’s Futures”. There are country specific exhibits as well as various other events depending on when you visit. (It is closed on Mondays.)

 Late afternoon on The Grand Canal Venice www.compassandfork.com

Things to Do after the Milan EXPO

TCastle in Marosticahe Emilia Romagna region is near Milan and is a perennial favorite for food related tourism. The towns of Parma, Modena, Reggio Emilia, and Bologna are all within its borders. It is home to the highest concentration of artisan products within Italy. Emila Romagna is home to such iconic products as Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Prosciutto from Parma (and other meat based small goods), Modena Traditional Balsamic Vinegar, Porcini Mushrooms and many more.

Venice is located in the Veneto region, an area known for its Prosecco wine and the home of Grappa.

Over the coming weeks, our Italy posts will focus on the Emilia Romagna and Veneto regions. Highlighting the food, drink and history of the area. Everything you need to have a great trip to Italy or a great month of Northern Italian Food at home.

So start by downloading a copy of the Free Milan EXPO Guide, subscribe to the newsletter so you don’t miss anything, and grab a glass a wine and keep reading!

 

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This post also appears on the #Weekend Wanderlust, a great source for travel writing from around the world.

 

Expo Milano 2015 www.compassandfork.com

2 Responses

  1. Victoria@celebratetheweekend
    | Reply

    Northern Italy is on my current travel radar right now, I am making plans to visit next summer (not in time for these festivals though:) My plan is to roadtrip- visiting Lake Garda region, Verona,…also looking for a nice sandy beach nearby…any recommendations?

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