Milan

Milan, capital of Lombardy and Italy's economic engine, was the European Capital of Sport 2009. Few cities gather such a concentration of sporting history: the San Siro stadium, shared by AC Milan and Inter, is one of the temples of European football, and the city breathes sport across every discipline, from basketball to the motor racing of the nearby Monza circuit. The sporting title came during a period of great international projection that would culminate years later in hosting, together with Cortina, the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The title reinforced Milan's vocation as a showcase for sport and major events.