Milan Day 5

Helen keeps being bitten, presumably by mosquitos.

A lizard in Indro Montanelli Gardens.

Statue of Guiseppe Sirtori, commander in Garibaldi's army.  Behind is the Museum of Modern Art.

Natural history museum 

Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore.

Fresco of St.George defeating the dragon.

Looks like a sort of calligraphy of a horse.

A funerary shroud from Roman Egypt, dating back to the 1st century AD inside the Archaeological Museum.

Etruscan amphorae 

More Etruscan pottery

Etuscan wooden head. It is unusual to find something wooden this old as it normally rots.

Gelato Fatto con Amore. Fatto doesn't mean fat: in this context it means "made".

Lemon, ginger cream and salted caramel and peanut flavour. The latter had the strongest flavour although the lemon was refreshing.

There are pharmacies everywhere. I bought some Bonjela type stuff but the pharmacist needed to get it from behind the counter. It seems Italian pharmacies are more regulated than English ones.

The tower of Basilica di San Ambrogio (St Ambrose)

The Basilica 

This monument was next to it. It commemorates Italian servicemen who died in WWI and subsequent wars. It is in Italian Fascist architectural style. There was a small group of Italian veterans who were absolutely delighted to see us and explained the monument. Servicemen were made to learn English and sent to the UK for a few months to practice. He was sent to Cardiff, but found reading the signs very difficult, as Welsh and English were always present. He was disappointed that Cardiff Bay had no beach.

Statue of San Ambrogio trampling on the column to represent Christianity's triumph over Roman Paganism.

The skeleton of St Ambrose

Interior of the Basilica; part of a small museum

Helen's favourite, although the photo doesn't do it justice. Ceiling dome covered in gold leaf tiles.

Galleria shopping centre from the other side

Panzerotto - fried enclosed pizza. The dough was exactly like eating a doughnut.

The old postal building

Castle Sforzesco in Lego although the Lego store

Gelato is never finito. Olive oil flavour, cheese flavour and 70% dark chocolate flavour. The latter was best, although the others were not unpleasant, but had weak flavours.

Our evening treat - a spa visit

QC Termemilano Spa is a wonderful and mesmerising place, unlike any other. It has many, many different rooms with differing sensory experiences, with lights, sounds, smells, heat and cold.

The salt room - growing salt crystals, warm, classical music, salty smell and orange lights

A complimentary aperitivo -  snacks and drinks that Italians normally have in the early evening. There was a free buffet with hot breads, cheese straws and vegetable fritters. We didn't need any tea later!

You could go up and make your own cocktails (instructions included). Here, a Bellini (peach puree and prosecco) and an Elderberry Royale (Elderberry syrup and Prosecco).

Vegetable fritters

A citrussy beer for Swithun 

It is built on the site of an ancient rural villa (1st-3rd centuries AD); you can enjoy the ruins and other scenery whilst relaxing in the many jacuzzi areas. 

This old tram has been converted into a sauna

Cafe area

The dreams room - suspended platform beds with dreamy lighting

Bird song and moving lights

The butterfly room

Watching the outdoor spa from the butterfly room

Paper decorations

Lying on a giant trampoline covered in cushions

The front of the building

There were many other immersive cinematic experiences in water, such as the monsoon room, which rains from above, and the whirlpool room, plus numerous themed saunas and steam rooms. We even took a cold bath! 

Today's steps: 17,541; distance: 7.35 miles