Metro across town to San Amrogio church with relics of saints in crypt under the alter - at least they were whole skeletons in bishops robes and had the requisite number of limbs, digits etc.Then to the science museum where they have constructed models, some lifesize, from designs of Leonardo Da Vinci, including a sinister frogman who looked like a creature from Dr Who.
After a coffee in the somewhat deserted Navigli canalside area we got a tram back into the centre.
After looking round the Palazzo Bagetti-Valsecchi, where two 19th Century brothers transformed their home into a renaissance palace, we discovered the reason for the road closures. The Giro d'Italia 2007 was scheduled to finish in Milan that afternoon.
We had time for a look around the Villa Real museum of art, another ice cream and shopping at Zara before we took up our position to watch the climax of the Giro.
Owing to a slight miscalculation, we found ourselves trapped on the inside of the circuit and, unsure of the number of laps the riders were doing, we risked the wrath of the carabinieri and clambered over the barriers to escape across the track.Early night as we had to catch the bus back to Malpensa in time for the 5.15am check in for our flight home.
Breakfast in the airport - queue first to pay (even though the crowd ahead of you, clustered around the counter, blocks your view of what you might want to have), then join the melee at the counter to collect the food you've paid for but not yet seen, then join the queue at the separate bar to hand over your receipt and collect your drinks. Fantastic system - beyond me and my limited Italian at that hour.
