Rome lives in the past, Milan lives in the present. This is my superficial impression of the two cities during a very short trip.

"To understand European history, you must come to Rome," and "Not visiting Rome is like not having visited Europe"—I agree with these statements. However, no matter how important this city is historically, as a traveler needing to experience the realities of life, one must still contend with crowds, narrow streets, chaotic traffic and urban development, and lurking pickpockets. Rome's glory remains forever in the past; what people want to understand is always that Rome of the past.

Milan, in a sense, seems to be the exact opposite. It's a city utterly submerged in modern fashion and consumerism. Without shopping, the city would lose ninety percent of its charm. The arcades have been transformed into clusters of luxury boutiques, and the Milan Cathedral is adorned with enormous advertisements (though they're hanging on maintenance scaffolding). The ancient buildings have been reduced to mere dazzling shells, becoming part of consumerism.