From December 13, 2025 to January 1, 2026, I had the opportunity to stay in Milan, Italy with my partner Marco. The city is immensely charming, reminding me a lot of what I love about New York City, where I reside. Unlike the other four times I briefly glimpsed the city, this time I got to spend most of my time exploring her history, art, food, fashion, or just walking in her buzzing streets among people, watching the trams passing each other on their tracks. The city was packed with visitors like me, for holidays, and many other reasons.
I finally headed to La Scala with Marco one night. At midnight, we walked to the Metro after the opera through the magnificent il Galleria, its Christmas tree lit up with thousands of lights, its luxury stores still glowing with closed doors. Our hands held, we were glad we did go to the opera on that day, as we were sure that our moms were looking at us from above with approval, and satisfied that we two kids were together, continuing experiencing this world on their behalf.
IMAGES
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Duomo di Milano
PizziKotto
Greek Madonna, Giovanni Bellini, Pinacoteca di Brera
Christ, Alvise Vivarin, Pinacoteca di Brera
Fall/Winter 1989, Giorgio Armani: Milano, per amore (September 24, 2025 to January 11, 2026, Pinacoteca di Brera
Fall/Winter 1998, Giorgio Armani: Milano, per amore (September 24, 2025 to January 11, 2026, Pinacoteca di Brera
Peter of Verona (part), Cima da Conegliano, Pinacoteca di Brera
Giorgio Armani: Milano, per amore (September 24, 2025 to January 11, 2026, Pinacoteca di Brera
Fruit Seller, Vincenzo Campi, Pinacoteca di Brera
Spring/Summer 1996; Fall/Winter 1988, Giorgio Armani: Milano, per amore (September 24, 2025 to January 11, 2026, Pinacoteca di Brera
The Canopy over the Virgin’s Throne and St. Venanzio’ Cloax and Peter of Verone, Cario Crivelli, Pinacoteca di Brera
The Writer (The Italian Girlfriend), Giovanni Spertini, Pinacoteca di Brera
Melancholy, Francesco Hayez, Pinacoteca di Brera
Princi
Fondazione Prada
Sueno Perro: Instalacion Celuloide de Alejandro G. Inarritu, Fondazione Prada
Tulips, Jeff Koons, Fondazione Prada
Bar Luce
Via Giorgio Giulini
Wait and See Sri
Via S.Maurilio
Via Orefici
MTA station, via Broletto
Corso Garibaldi
Tram 14, Via Cesare Correnti
Osteria Mercato, Stresa
Stresa
Isola Bella, Stresa
La Scala
Edoarda Masi e la Cina (November 13, 2025 to January 11, 2026), Biblioteca Nazionale di Braidense
Brera Botanical Garden
Via Ciovaso
Via Santa Marta
Navigli
ATLAS, Fondazione Prada
Bathroom, Fondazione Prada
Firework seen from Marco’s balcony, December 31, 2025
SOUND
Street performance, Modena, December 26, 2025
Pre-opera warm-up, La Scala, December 23, 2025
Image and Sound Production: Shenzhan/申展
January 11, 2026