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This broad boulevard became an epicentre of Milanese fashion when Giorgio Armani opened his gargantuan superstore here in 2000 (see Giorgio Armani). On Manzoni there’s everything from the Roman fashions of Davide Cenci (No. 7) to the check-me-out jewel-lery of Donatella Pellini (No. 20).

Milan’s glorious 19th-century shopping mall, though small, manages to host a little of everything. You’ll find both the pinnacle of class (Prada) and the joys of mass-market culture (a Ricordi/Feltrinelli super-store of CDs and books). For a shopping break, visit the home-grown bastion of la dolce vita that is Zucca in Galleria (Caffè Miani).

This thoroughly modernized pedestrian street at the back of the Duomo is lined with arcades and some of the hippest shops in central Milan. Techno beats throb from windows displaying international cutting-edge chic for young fashionistas.

Fashion-conscious men should head for Via P Verri, where they’ll find the menswear outlet of Zegna (No. 3, (see Ermenegildo Zegna)), supplier of sharp suits and sartorial weekend attire. Two doors along at No. 1 is a wonderful little boutique for Canali’s suits.

Rodeo Drive, Fifth Avenue, rue du Faubourg-St-Honoré... none can claim the hometown boutiques of Prada, Armani, Versace and more. Via Montenapoleone – “Montenapo” to its friends – is the main artery of Milan’s Quadrilatero d’Oro, a “Golden Rectangle” of streets where the top international names in high fashion congregate alongside the best antiques and art dealers and a few classy cafés.

Antiques, Via Montenapoleone

Prada, Via Montenapoleone

In the Quadrilatero d’Oro, this street has the highest concentration of art and antique shops, from lacquered 17th-century Venetian boxes at Silva (No. 12) to a bit of everything at Silbernagl.

For sheer shopping volume head to Via della Spiga, which has more worthy shops than any other street in all of Milan. Here’s just a sample of the well-known names on offer here: Dolce e Gabbana (2, 26), Bottega Veneta (5), Gherardini (8), Tiffany & Co. (19a), Gaultier (20), Krizia (23), Roberto Cavalli (42) and Sermoneta Gloves (46).

Via della Spiga

This long road is where your average Milanese heads to shop, offering more than 350 shops in no particular order. You’ll find everything from handmade men’s dress shirts and Richard Ginori china to bootleg records.

The grid of streets southeast of Milan’s Stazione Centrale train station is Milan’s best-kept shopping secret. Over 100 clothing warehouses and distributors pepper Via San Gregorio, Via Boscovich, Via C Tenca and others, offering cut-price goods.

The big Milan market is Saturday’s Fiera di Senigallia along the Darsena canal. Milan’s Sunday flea market surrounds the San Donato metro stop in the south. Local markets are on Via San Marco (Mondays), Via Benedetto Marcello (northeast of the Giardini Pubblici) on Tuesdays, and Viale Papiniano in the Navigli (Saturdays). Markets tend to shut by 1pm, except on Saturday.