MY other half looked extremely nervous when I told him I had booked a mini-break in Milan.

After all it is the fashion capital of the world, and said husband knows I love my shopping!

Mind you, with a luxury suite, it was quite hard to tear ourselves away from the hotel to do any shopping and sightseeing.

We arrived early evening after the quickest of flights and checked into Hotel Principe di Savoia, with its uniquely Italian style, which is part of the Dorchester Collection and dominates Piazza della Repubblica, a green refuge in Milan’s dense city centre.

Luxury and elegance abound at the hotel, as you would expect from a member of the Dorchester Collection, but its sophistication is matched by the friendliness of the staff, many of whom became firm friends during our three-night stay.

We were staying in an Ambassador suite - 646 square feet of comfort and opulence in the glamorous art deco style of the 1920s.

Suites feature hand-painted frescoes, traditional Italian furniture and marble bathrooms. What heaven.

Dragging ourselves away from our room the following morning, we headed to the historical centre, courtesy of a limo laid on by the hotel.

Milan is a vibrant cosmopolitan city, rich in art, history and culture, married with design and fashion.

Famed for its designer boutiques (and I certainly investigated a few!), the city is also home to La Scala, the historic opera house; the magnificent Duomo cathedral; and Leonardo da Vinci’s breathtaking The Last Supper.

No visit to Milan should miss out on any of these highlights.

The Duomo is magnificent. Started in 1386 it took six centuries to complete, is the third largest church in the world and has 3,400 statues, 55 stained glass windows, beautiful altars and paintings.

Take the elevator to the roof, where you will see spires and sculptures from close up. A climb of 50 steps will take you to the highest terraces and you can walk near the main spire, which hosts the golden statue of the Virgin.

The Last Supper is situated in the refectory of Sante Maria delle Grazie church. It is mesmerising, measuring 180 inches by 350 inches and covering an end wall of the dining hall.

Of course Milan has a castle – Sforza Castle underwent several transformations in the 14th century before emerging as a ducal palace.

One charming feature of the city is the network of tram lines. Trams are numbered 1 to 33 and run on 18 lines until past midnight and are definitely one of the easiest and fastest ways to get around the city.

Trams have been running since 1876, when they were pulled by horses. There are trams from several periods, from the classic to the most modern and “psychedelic. The most peculiar are the 1500 series trams, which date back to 1928-1930.

You can even have dinner on the Atmosphere, a traditional Milanese tram, as it passes through the historical district.

Try to fit in a visit to the Navigli area to the south of Milan, which is dominated by two canals and home to many of the city’s popular aperitivo bars and nightclubs.

Trattorias and cafes were charming. Often there was complimentary food on the bar – the traditional saffron risotto and lots of ciabatta with delicious toppings – to go with your wine, beer or cocktails.

A little tip – if you stand at the counter to drink your coffee or wine, instead of at a table, you get it at a fraction of the cost. Depends how much your feet are hurting after all the sightseeing!

Back at our hotel, we had to fit in a cocktail at the Principe Bar – their cocktails being legendary. I had a ‘Chic and Cheek’ cocktail made with Champagne, pear vodka, elderflower cordial and lychee liquer. Wow, is all I can say. And the bartender made my husband a Long Island Iced Tea, his favourite, even though it wasn’t on the menu.

We were also given the most amazing canapes to accompany our drinks – lobster salad, vegetarian strudel, and luscious chocolates and honeyed walnuts. And there was a resident DJ.

Despite all the sightseeing, shopping, wining and dining, we still – amazingly – found time to catch some rays on the roof terrace, overlooking the city.

While we were there, Milan was experiencing a bit of a heatwave, so we had temperatures of 28 and 29 degrees – perfect for some horizontal relaxation on the sunloungers.

This Italian city really does have everything. Ciao for now…

It’s all in the detail:

Hotel Principe di Savoia, in Piazza della Repubblica, is within walking distance of the Repubblica underground station and five minutes from Milan’s main station. A taxi transfer from Malpensa airport takes around 35 minutes.