Why Go Now: Milan

That Milan has long been treated as the unfortunate stepchild to Italy’s star trinity (Venice, Rome and Florence) is not news. Especially Italians have often spoken disparagingly about the capital of the Lombardy region, finding it too ugly, too hard-working, too cold—devoid of la dolce vita celebrated further south.

But recently the tone has been shifting. Last year’s Expo, which was proceeded by a flurry of renovation and new openings, has seriously reshaped public opinion of the city. Now tr...