How to make the most of Milan during the Eurovision Song Contest 2022

The battle for hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 in Italy began the minute Måneskin won the ESC 2021, in Rotterdam. Earlier this summer, we told you how to make the most of Rome and we told you everything you need to know about Pesaro. These two cities are still in the race to become a hosting city, as well as Milan. 

Milan is a city in the north of Italy. The city has the most habitants of Italy, after Rome. Milan is considered a leading global city, with strengths in many fields, like art, commerce, design, education, entertainment finance, healthcare, and tourism. Of course we all know Milan for being one of the fashion capitals of the world. Let’s take a look at what Milan has to offer!

Milan Cathedral

Cathedral of Milan

The cathedral, also called the Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary (Italian: Basilica cattedrale metropolitana di Santa Maria Nascente), is the most famous cathedral church in Milan.

The construction of the cathedral took about 6 centuries. Simone da Orsenigo started the construction in 1386. Benigno Mörlin Visconti Castiglione was the last architect to work on the property, in 1965. It is the largest church in Italy, even bigger than St. Peter’s Basilica is in the State of Vatican City

The view from the roof is breathtaking. Please note that the elevator does not reach the top floor. Prepare for a lot of stairs. Believe us, it’s definitely worth it! Definitely book a (private) tour if you’re interested in the history of the cathedral. This gives a visit to the church an extra dimension through the beautiful stories of the tour guide.

Brera District

Brera is a district (“quartiere”) in Milan. The district has an artistic and bohemian atmosphere and is located in zone 1, (the historic core of the city). Brera is also called “the Milanese Montmartre”. Sounds promising, right? The neighborhood is filled with bars and restaurants. It is less suitable if you want to shop.

The main historical building is Palazzo Brera. Brera houses the Brera Academy of Fine Arts and the Brera Art Gallery are located here, as well as Milan’s botanical garden as well as an astronomical observatory and the Braidense National Library. Other features that contribute to the character of Brera include restaurants, bars, night clubs, antique and art shops, colorful street markets, as well as fortune tellers’ booths. Especially this last feature might be interesting if you want to place a bet on the Eurovision Song Contest.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Do you prefer to go to a place where you can shop (in the most exclusive stores)? Then you should pay the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II a visit. This is Italy’s oldest active shopping arcade and a landmark of Milan. The inspiration for the name of the building is the first king of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II.

The building was designed in 1861 and built between 1865 and 1877. The architect who completed this job is Guiseppe Mengoni. A common nickname is Il Salotto di Milano (Salon of Milan), because of its many shops and importance as a common meeting and dining place in Milan.

The shopping center is located in ”Centro Storico”, in the center of the city. Some of the oldest shops reside in the Galleria. Several of the stores and restaurants have been there since the 19th century. The entrance to the building is particularly impressive.

Fun fact: Mac Donalds was the first to being denied a renewal of their contract, after housing in the Galleria for 20 years. Mac Donalds sued the landlord – the city of Milan – for 24 million in damages. The fast food chain renounced the suit after receiving the opportunity to open a new restaurant nearby. Prada opened their second store in the Galleria, replacing the fast food restaurant.

Tram Ristorante ATMosfera

If you have a night off of the Eurovision craziness, you could choose to have an exclusive dinner at Tram Ristorante ATMosfera. The restaurant is located at Sforzesco Castle. It’s a fine dining experience combined with round trip in the city of Milan. ATMosfera offers two historic trams and thus the first itinerant trams in Italy.

The menus offer options for meat lovers, fish eaters and vegetarians. The chef is responsible for putting together the menu. Updates on the menu are regular and in tune with the seasons.

You can visit the restaurant 7 days a week. However, it is necessary to book in advance. You can book your table on the ATMosfera website.

”Gaying” in Milan

As we’ve mentioned before, Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world. Milan is a big city and offers plenty of accommodations. From hotels to home rentals, you are sure to find something that fits your needs. Be sure to visit websites like Tripadvisor to read the most recent reviews.

There is also a gay scene in Milan. Signs of affection like holding hands, hugging in the street, and kissing cheek to cheek are perfectly accepted in the city. The gay scene used to be around the area that’s called Via Sammartini. We do not advise that you visit this area, as it’s considered unsafe. The gay scene has moved to the Porta Venezia district, on Via Lecco. In town, you need a club card to access most gay clubs. You can purchase this card at the participating locations.

Milan

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Sanne Messemaker

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Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, part 4

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been won by Austria. It was the 57th Austrian entry. Reason for us to go back to all the Austrian entries in history! For the fourth episode, we will look back at the early eighties. Austria returned to having a national final. Marty Brem and Gary Lux both took part twice. Austria 1980 – Blue Danube – “Du bist Musik” By 1980 Austria was back with “Du bist Musik”, performed by the group Blue Danube. Composer-lyricist Klaus-Peter Sattler wrote this German-language entry. The song is a love ballad comparing a beloved to music, name-dropping famous composers and dances. Blue Danube was a five-member ensemble formed just for Eurovision. Notably the group included singer Marty Brem. He would represent Austria again the following year. Conducted by Richard Österreicher, “Du bist Musik” opened the night’s show and scored 64 points for 8th place out of 19. Austria 1981 – Marty Brem – “Wenn du da bist” Marty Brem was part of Blue Danube in 1980. The singer returned solo for Austria in 1981. “Wenn du da bist” (“When You’re Here”) was composed and written by Werner Böhmler, and again Richard Österreicher conducted the orchestra. For the first time since 1963, the song was chosen through a national final. Brem was the only contestant. He sang three songs. “Wenn du da bist” is a romantic ballad with a slightly jazzy, complex composition. Unfortunately, it finished in 17th place (20 points) at the contest. Marty Brem’s performance featured an energetic stage show with flamboyant costumed dancers. The Austrian singer was frontman of a band called “Marty and the Bomfriz” at the time. After Eurovision, Brem pivoted to working in music journalism and the record industry. 1982 – Mess “Sonntag” Twelve songs competed in Austria’s 1982 national final. The duo Mess won with “Sonntag” (“Sunday”), an upbeat pop track full of early-’80s Europop charm. Both members, Michael Scheickl (also known as “Fritz”) and Elisabeth “Lizzi” Engstler, had also entered the competition as solo artists. Michael Scheickl (credited as “Michael Mell”) composed the song, while Rudolf Leve wrote the lyrics. Mess brought joyful energy to the stage with their lively, danceable performance. “Sonntag” celebrated the carefree feeling of a Sunday, wrapped in a catchy, cheerful style. The song earned 57 points and placed 9th out of 18 countries. Formed specifically for Eurovision, Mess disbanded soon after. Engstler, just 21 at the time, later built a successful career as a television presenter for Austria’s ORF network. 1983 – Westend “Hurricane” In 1983, Austria chose the pop group Westend to perform “Hurricane”, selecting them from 12 finalists that included Waterloo (ESC 1976). Band member Peter Vieweger composed the song, while Heli Deinboek and Heinz Nessizius wrote the lyrics. Sung in German, “Hurricane” delivers an upbeat synth-pop sound with Schlager influences, using a whirlwind metaphor to capture the chaos of lost love. The entry scored 53 points and finished in a tie for 9th place. Westend featured five members, including Gary Lux—whose role stood out. Lux went on to represent Austria at Eurovision six times during the 1980s, both as a solo performer and backing vocalist. “Hurricane” earned Austria a solid mid-table result and later became a beloved ’80s Eurovision memory. 1984 – Anita “Einfach weg” Twelve songs battled for the ticket to Luxembourg, with Gary Lux finishing as runner-up. Austria chose Anita Spanner, known simply as Anita, for the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest with “Einfach weg” (“Simply Gone”). Brigitte Seuberth composed the track, and Walter Müller wrote the lyrics. This energetic pop song featured a catchy melody and a synth-driven arrangement typical of the mid-80s. Despite strong expectations, Austria landed in 19th (last) place with just 5 points. Ironically, the song found huge success at home. It climbed to #1 on the Austrian singles chart and stayed in the Top 20 for ten weeks. Anita, a newcomer and surprise national final winner, took the stage in Luxembourg backed by vocalists including Gary Lux. Although “Einfach weg” didn’t resonate internationally, its popularity in Austria turned it into an iconic Austropop hit of the decade. 1985 – Gary Lux “Kinder dieser Welt” By 1985, Gary Lux had become a familiar face for Austria at Eurovision. Having been in Westend (1983) and a backing singer in 1984, Lux took center stage with “Kinder dieser Welt” (“Children of this World”) in Gothenburg. He was internally selected for the contest. His uplifting song was a pop anthem calling for hope and joy for children around the globe. It was written by prominent lyricist Michael Kunze and composed by the British duo Mick Jackson and Geoff Bastow. “Kinder dieser Welt” earned 60 points and secured 8th place for Austria out of 19 entries. The entry affirmed Gary Lux’s status as one of Austria’s most frequent Eurovision participants.

Read More »
November 13, 2025 No Comments
History
Martijn

Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, part 4

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been won by Austria. It was the 57th Austrian entry. Reason for us to go back to all the Austrian entries in history! For the fourth episode, we will look back at the early eighties. Austria returned to having a national final. Marty Brem and Gary Lux both took part twice. Austria 1980 – Blue Danube – “Du bist Musik” By 1980 Austria was back with “Du bist Musik”, performed by the group Blue Danube. Composer-lyricist Klaus-Peter Sattler wrote this German-language entry. The song is a love ballad comparing a beloved to music, name-dropping famous composers and dances. Blue Danube was a five-member ensemble formed just for Eurovision. Notably the group included singer Marty Brem. He would represent Austria again the following year. Conducted by Richard Österreicher, “Du bist Musik” opened the night’s show and scored 64 points for 8th place out of 19. Austria 1981 – Marty Brem – “Wenn du da bist” Marty Brem was part of Blue Danube in 1980. The singer returned solo for Austria in 1981. “Wenn du da bist” (“When You’re Here”) was composed and written by Werner Böhmler, and again Richard Österreicher conducted the orchestra. For the first time since 1963, the song was chosen through a national final. Brem was the only contestant. He sang three songs. “Wenn du da bist” is a romantic ballad with a slightly jazzy, complex composition. Unfortunately, it finished in 17th place (20 points) at the contest. Marty Brem’s performance featured an energetic stage show with flamboyant costumed dancers. The Austrian singer was frontman of a band called “Marty and the Bomfriz” at the time. After Eurovision, Brem pivoted to working in music journalism and the record industry. 1982 – Mess “Sonntag” Twelve songs competed in Austria’s 1982 national final. The duo Mess won with “Sonntag” (“Sunday”), an upbeat pop track full of early-’80s Europop charm. Both members, Michael Scheickl (also known as “Fritz”) and Elisabeth “Lizzi” Engstler, had also entered the competition as solo artists. Michael Scheickl (credited as “Michael Mell”) composed the song, while Rudolf Leve wrote the lyrics. Mess brought joyful energy to the stage with their lively, danceable performance. “Sonntag” celebrated the carefree feeling of a Sunday, wrapped in a catchy, cheerful style. The song earned 57 points and placed 9th out of 18 countries. Formed specifically for Eurovision, Mess disbanded soon after. Engstler, just 21 at the time, later built a successful career as a television presenter for Austria’s ORF network. 1983 – Westend “Hurricane” In 1983, Austria chose the pop group Westend to perform “Hurricane”, selecting them from 12 finalists that included Waterloo (ESC 1976). Band member Peter Vieweger composed the song, while Heli Deinboek and Heinz Nessizius wrote the lyrics. Sung in German, “Hurricane” delivers an upbeat synth-pop sound with Schlager influences, using a whirlwind metaphor to capture the chaos of lost love. The entry scored 53 points and finished in a tie for 9th place. Westend featured five members, including Gary Lux—whose role stood out. Lux went on to represent Austria at Eurovision six times during the 1980s, both as a solo performer and backing vocalist. “Hurricane” earned Austria a solid mid-table result and later became a beloved ’80s Eurovision memory. 1984 – Anita “Einfach weg” Twelve songs battled for the ticket to Luxembourg, with Gary Lux finishing as runner-up. Austria chose Anita Spanner, known simply as Anita, for the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest with “Einfach weg” (“Simply Gone”). Brigitte Seuberth composed the track, and Walter Müller wrote the lyrics. This energetic pop song featured a catchy melody and a synth-driven arrangement typical of the mid-80s. Despite strong expectations, Austria landed in 19th (last) place with just 5 points. Ironically, the song found huge success at home. It climbed to #1 on the Austrian singles chart and stayed in the Top 20 for ten weeks. Anita, a newcomer and surprise national final winner, took the stage in Luxembourg backed by vocalists including Gary Lux. Although “Einfach weg” didn’t resonate internationally, its popularity in Austria turned it into an iconic Austropop hit of the decade. 1985 – Gary Lux “Kinder dieser Welt” By 1985, Gary Lux had become a familiar face for Austria at Eurovision. Having been in Westend (1983) and a backing singer in 1984, Lux took center stage with “Kinder dieser Welt” (“Children of this World”) in Gothenburg. He was internally selected for the contest. His uplifting song was a pop anthem calling for hope and joy for children around the globe. It was written by prominent lyricist Michael Kunze and composed by the British duo Mick Jackson and Geoff Bastow. “Kinder dieser Welt” earned 60 points and secured 8th place for Austria out of 19 entries. The entry affirmed Gary Lux’s status as one of Austria’s most frequent Eurovision participants.

Read More »
November 13, 2025 No Comments
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