The Milan furniture fair the story

The International furniture fair is an annual meeting and it was founded back in 1961 in Milan, its first exhibition took place in 1953 at Palazzo del Mobile located in Lissone.

The first editions attracted the attention of a group of Italian entrepreneurs and starting from 1961 became the Salone del Mobile at the Milan fair with the participation of 328 companies in an exhibition area of 11,860 square meters.

Since the first edition, the feedback from the public was sensational and registered 12,100 visitors, of which 800 coming from other countries. The real turning point came in 1967 when the exhibition became totally international (initially was every other year and from 1991 it became yearly) this led to an exponential growth of foreign customers and companies up to today’s numbers: more than 1950 exhibitors from 35 different countries and 370,824 total attendees for the international furniture show, reportedly last year.

What is the Salone del Mobile?

Salone del Mobile is a design exhibitions showcasing the best luxury brands in the industry and it takes place in April.

Architects and interior designers gathers from all over the world, but it’s also opened to the public on Saturday and Sunday. Next year will take place from the 8th to the 13th of April 2025.

One of the most recent news is Satellite at Salone del Mobile where young and talented designers can showcase their products. Workshops, speeches and events of all kinds are scheduled and Grasch catering is one of the major player in the industry offering to foreign companies aperitifs and buffets throughout the province of Milan.

 We suggest you not to miss all the Fuori Salone events happening in Milan.

An Italian innovation example

During the last edition, well renowned architectural company Lombardini 22, through the analysis of neurological reactions , emotional and perceptive, of visitors, was now able to better understand the unconscious behaviors of the people who walked through the pavilions.

The evolution of such analysis will give to the next edition visitors a better experience and a better design experience through advanced technologies. Another example of events present during the Salone del Mobile are the many workshops that take place every year either in Italian or in English or in both languages.

All available on the official website of the Salone del Mobile. Not to mention the tastings within the fair thanks to the companies belonging to the food world industry. What to see in Milan during the furniture week We often receive requests for advice from foreign companies who visiting Milan during the fair, want to receive advice about the best locations and venues in the area.

Today we at Grasch catering wants to provide you with some ideas on where to go for a special evening during this international event.

5 cultural attractions

Visiting the fair can be tiring, here some ideas to chill out in Milan during your free time. Il Duomo di Milano Among the attractions we cannot fail to mention the Milan Cathedral, the undisputed symbol of Milan whose construction began in 1386 after the bell tower’s collapsed.

The new cathedral was built with the precise intention of increasing Milan’s prestige and for this reason its location was decided right in the center of the city, demolishing the previous churches of Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Tecla.

Currently, the Duomo is a tourist destination that can be admired externally but we strongly recommend you also to pay a visit to the interior and go to both the roof and the terraces to admire the sunset.

Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery

Literally next to the Duomo we find the Vittorio Emanuele II gallery, with its prestigious shops. Highly suggestive area thanks to its neo Renaissance appearance. Its construction started in 1865 with the intent to connect Piazza Duomo to Piazza Scala. In the past was a meeting point for the Milanese bourgeoisie, nicknamed the “living room of Milan” considered one of the first examples of a shopping center in the world.

Curiosity

It’s said that rotating yourself three times with the right heel over the genitals of the bull portrayed in the mosaic in the center of the gallery, brings good luck and this rumor is the reason why that the mosaic’s area is particularly worn.

Where does this funny story come from? Well, originally it was a gesture of mockery towards the nearby city of Turin represented by a bull.

La Scala Theatre

13 The Scala theater is the most important opera house in Milan and thanks to a wooden vault, the acoustics are amplified by a natural resonance box designed by the architect Piermarini. Furthermore, the architect designed the building by creating columns of significantly smaller dimensions; a measure always aimed at improving the acoustics of the room at every point.

Famous throughout as one of the most prestigious theaters in the world, it was built in 1776 to provide for the destruction caused by a fire of the Teatro Ducale. We therefore advise you to consult the La Scala theater website to view the works present during your stay.

Sforzesco Castle

We don’t move too far and its reachable by foot from the places mentioned above. The Sforzesco castle construction began in 1360 at the behest of Francesco Sforza, Milan’s duke at the time. The initial function of the castle was purely defensive.

 Today, you can access the main courtyard, the ducal courtyard, during daylight hours. We recommend that you access it using the main entrance, located in front of the fountain in Piazza Castello, in order to admire the Filarete tower: the largest highest of the castle towers, named in honor of its builder. If you are interested, you can also access the inside of the castle walls through guided tours and you can admire the preserved works.

Brera Art Gallery

So far, we have recommended places that are admirable even just from the outside, advising you on guided tours or entrance fees but without ever considering them fundamental. Well in this case entry to the museum is highly recommended.

In fact, the Pinacoteca di Brera with its over 24,000 square meters is one of the largest complexes in Milan and inside you will find internationally renowned works from the 14th to the 19th century by authors such as Piero della Francesca, Andrea Mantegna, Raphael; Bramante, Caravaggio and many others.

5 evening attractions

Milan is also famous for its nightlife: between aperitifs and discos of all kinds it offers tourists a wide choice of venues to meet the thousand needs of its visitors.

Branca Tower

 Inside Parco Sempione we find the Torre Branca: a steel construction built in 1933 for the Milan triennial, housed in the nearby art’s palace. It is 108.6 meters high, just under the well known “Madonnina” of the Duomo and this slight difference is no coincidence, in fact it was wanted by Benito Mussolini because: “you cannot overcome the divine with the human”.

The shape of the tower is truncated pyramidal with a hexagonal section. It is possible to climb the tower even at night by making a reservation.

The ticket includes a drink and it will also give you the opportunity to access one of the two nightclubs at the foot of the tower.


Casabenessere

Casabenessere è una rivista fondata nel 2005 da Giulia Berruti e rilanciata nel 2021 in versione digitale. Parliamo di immobili, accessori per la casa, decor, sostenibilità.