Milano has a milky white quality to the air that perpetually hangs over the city in a sick hazy pall. It is basically an industrialized megalopolis occupying a valley that traps the smog over the city for days. Prices in Milano for just about anything are tres cher. For the first time visitor to Italy, try to avoid Malpensa Airport at all costs, and definitely avoid Alitalia at any cost. A better way to see Italy is to fly into Roma and then depart for Tuscany as soon as possible. Rent a local home in Tuscany thru The Parker Co where four people can find wonderful and even remarkable accommodations for as little as USD $250 pp per week. Rent a car in USA b4 u leave for Italy for the best rate. Get the car insurance! Find one of the beautiful mountain villages, rent a house in it and day trip to other cities like Firenze, Sienna, Arrezzo, Luca, Pisa, Monte Castelli, Montepulciano, Cortona, Perugia, Ovieto or travel around Lake Trasimeno. Many of these little Mountain villages will take your breath away. Stop in any one of them for lunch or dinner and drink the wine from the local vintner. Tuscany is friendly and formidable, cultural and historical, but never, ever boring.