One of the largest subways in Italy belongs to the northern capital - Milan. There, the "subway" was opened since 1964. The metro of this city is not as branched as in Moscow. But still, in order to use it and not to confuse the directions that you need, you must learn to read the metro plan of Milan. After all, it is very useful for independent travelers, because with its trains you can get to many attractions of this city for little money.
General description of the Milan metro
The “subway” of one of the largest cities in Italy is almost a hundred kilometers long. When we look at the metro map of Milan, we see that it consists of four lines. Red, green and yellow have been operating for a long time, and purple has opened since 2015. In total, 103 stations unite these branches.
On the red line you can go from the west of Milan to its northern part, on the green - from south to east. All of them have items that allow you to switch from one branch to another. The yellow line leads from west to south. Not all Milan metro stations are underground. 10 of them are open, like ordinary trains or trams. And from 11 you can transfer to various trains.
The red and green lines are bifurcated, the latter even several times. The purple branch was designed to unload the center. And the blue line leading to Linate Airport began to be built. It was supposed to open in 2015, but its launch was delayed until 2022.
How to use the metro better
Italian "subways" act like everywhere else in the world. If you want to get to a particular station, then the Milan metro scheme will help you. You find on which line the station you need is located, and choose which line leads there and where you can transfer. In order not to confuse the directions of trains, screens are installed everywhere in the metro, indicating where the train is going and how many minutes are left before it arrives.
Since all stations are announced in Italian and English, the Milan metro scheme in Russian can often only confuse the tourist and he will not recognize the name. In the colors of the metro lines used on the maps, all trains and trains are decorated.
More information about the subway lines for tourists
Milan Metro, the scheme of which we are describing, has its secrets. So, the red line goes from "Sesto Maggio" and after bifurcation has two terminal stations - "Fiera" and "Bisceglie". It is most interesting for tourists, because it is it that passes near the main attractions of the city. This is the Duomo Cathedral, La Scala Theater, and Victor Emanuel Galleries, and various museums and exhibitions.
The yellow and green branches are good for those who want to quickly get to the station from these very sights. After all, it is they who pass through the central railway station of the city. And the purple branch is the most modern. There are no people there, and her trains are fully automatic. It runs between the Bigny and St Siro Stadium stations.
Subway Tickets
So, according to the Milan metro scheme, you have found the necessary station and direction, and also planned your way. Now you need to think about which ticket to buy to get there. If your station is located on one of the branches, then you just buy a regular city ticket. It costs one and a half euros and is valid 90 minutes after you stamp it in the car. But you can’t change to another line along it. Therefore, if you must make the transition between branches, it is better to buy two or three tickets.
In the event that you live in Milan for several days and often use public transport, get a “carne" - 10 tickets at once. Or buy a travel document that is valid for a day or two. It allows you to make transfers between the lines. By the way, such tickets are valid not only on the Milan metro, but also on any type of public transport. After all, the ATM company, which owns the "underground", owns a network of trams, buses and electric trains in the city.