Ciao, Milano Expo! Reporting from the city just before the Expo―③ ~Welcome to Milan~

The Milan Expo expects 200,000 visitors from around the world during its six-month run. Preparations for welcoming them are now in the final sprint.

Banners and flags of participating nations flutter everywhere, posters are displayed, and stickers adorn city tour buses and cars—the entire city is filled with a welcoming atmosphere.

In front of Sforza Castle, one of Milan's symbols, stands the EXPO GATE, designed by architect Alessandro Scandola as an Expo information point. Events are held daily in the square in front of it.

While the Expo site showcases future smart cities through cutting-edge design and high-tech facilities, the city also features a park named "ISOLA DIGITALE" (Digital Island), equipped with free Wi-Fi and touchscreen guide devices. Despite Milan's frequent air quality issues, car and bicycle sharing stations will also be established.

Milan's subway system, currently with four lines, is adding two more lines for the Expo. Construction is also underway to improve access from the airport to the city center. New accommodations, such as the five-star deluxe hotel "PALAZZO PARIGI," are also appearing one after another.

Tourist attractions are also being meticulously developed. Milan once boasted numerous artificial waterways, said to have included designs by Leonardo da Vinci, earning it the nickname "City of Water." The only remnant of this legacy is the canal in the Naviglio district. This historic district, where marble was transported from Carrara via these canals during the construction of the Duomo, is undergoing redevelopment. This includes renovating the public market and creating a riverside promenade to provide a relaxing space for citizens. Tourist boats are also planned to run from the canal's entrance at Darsena to the neighboring town of Abbiategrasso. Expectations are high for increased travel not only to Milan but throughout Italy. The official tourism site "Wonderful Expo 2015" has been established, and promotional activities are intensifying to draw tourists to the charming surrounding areas like Piedmont and Como.

The Milan Expo finally opens on May 1st. The eve-of-opening gala on April 30th will feature tenor Andrea Bocelli and numerous other guests from around the world, with the event broadcast globally. So, what kind of six months will Milan experience?