Contrary to the idea that ‘fashionable people don’t eat’, plans in Milan tend to revolve around food. So, start the way you mean to go on with breakfast at a city institution: Cova. Founded in 1817, this café is known for its delicate pastries and impeccable espresso – ask for a table in the courtyard. From there, grab a picnic from food emporium Peck before heading to Parco Sempione – a 95-acre former hunting reserve – for people watching. Linger over dinner at Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone, before a nightcap in the romantic walled garden of wine bar Associazione Salumi e Vini Naturali.

It would be remiss to visit Milan without wandering through the Italy’s oldest shopping arcade – the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Here, the gold-lettered storefronts read like a who’s who of fashion weeks: Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Fendi. From there, wander to the trendy Moscova neighbourhood for something more contemporary at Bea Bongiasca. The Milan-born designer’s distinctive jewellery brand features gold pieces meticulously hand-enamelled in a spectrum of vivid hues.

Head southeast from the city, towards the outskirts of Parma, and you’ll find Fidenza Village, where fashion and food intersect.

Don’t leave without trying the tortellini with nettles at Parmamenu – it’s a local speciality.

Nearby Parma is the best base for exploring the beautiful Emilia Romagna region – or the long stretch of sandy coastline, known as the Riviera Romagnola, further afield. The city is less flashy than the country’s fashion capital, but with just as much personality. Stay the night at the Grand Hotel de la Ville, built in the palatial style of Parma. Cultural highlights are neatly packaged into the Palazzo della Pilotta, a complex housing the National Gallery, Farnese Theatre and Duomo.