We last caught up with Lex as he enjoyed the Christmas Market in Nuremberg, Germany. Lex’s next stop on his world tour is Milan, Italy, as the 2026 Winter Olympic Games are about to begin! Follow along as Lex learns about the Italian language, Italian books, and what makes Milan so unique.
Milan, Italy
Milan, located in Northern Italy, is the capital of the Lombardy region. The city lies with the Alps to the north and the Po River to its south, and it is more than a 6-hour drive from Rome. It is a significant economic, fashion, and cultural center with a population of approximately 1.4 million.
What Language Do They Speak?
Italian is the official language of Italy and is spoken by the majority of the population. Interestingly, it only gained official status following Italy’s unification in 1861. Approximately 85 million people worldwide speak Italian.
Italian is a Romance language derived from Latin. The Italian alphabet consists of 21 letters and does not include j, k, w, x, or y. While numerous regional dialects exist, standard Italian is primarily rooted in the Tuscan dialect, which gained prominence through renowned Italian authors like Dante Alighieri.
Italian is a highly expressive language, with hand gestures being a deeply ingrained part of the language.
Italian serves as the universal language of classical music, as many essential terms such as crescendo, adagio, and maestro originate from the Italian language.
Fun Facts
Here are some fascinating facts about Milan:
Milan is home to the Duomo di Milano. This Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete, from 1386 to 1965. It is one of the world’s largest cathedrals and a symbol of Milan.
The city is considered Italy’s financial hub, hosting the country’s stock exchange and many major companies, making it the most prosperous city in Italy.
Milan is also one of the world’s fashion capitals, hosting Milan Fashion Week every year.
Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper” is located in the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city is also home to La Scala, one of the world’s most prestigious opera houses.
Milan is famous for panettone, a popular Christmas dessert that was first made in Milan, as well as the tradition of aperitivo, which involves pre-dinner drinks and snacks.
Milan and the Winter Olympics
The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as Milano Cortina 2026, will take place in Italy from February 6 to 22, with approximately 2,900 athletes expected to compete from around the world. The games will be jointly hosted by Milan and the Alpine resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo, with additional events held across various locations in Northern Italy. Milan will host the opening ceremonies and several winter sports, including figure skating and ice hockey. Cortina d’Ampezzo will host major skiing and alpine events. The closing ceremony will take place at the historic Arena di Verona in Verona, a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater.
Ski Mountaineering (Skimo) will debut at this year’s Olympic Games, with three events: a men’s sprint, a women’s sprint, and a mixed-gender relay. This new sport combines uphill climbing (booting) and downhill skiing on a mountain course.
The 2026 Olympic Games will mark the 3rd time Italy has hosted the Winter Olympics and the 4th time it has held the Olympic Games in total. The 1956 Olympics were the last time Cortina d’Ampezzo hosted the Games.
Bilingual Italian Books & More
If you want to learn Italian or improve your language skills, Language Lizard offers over 45 Italian-English books, from board books to those suitable for older learners.
In the spirit of the Winter Games, a timely read is Amazing Sports from Around the World, which features unique and unusual sports from around the world. Especially interesting would be the winter sport of Skijoring, which was exhibited at St. Moritz in 1928 and holds the honor of being the first demonstration sport at the Winter Olympics, and Yukigassen, which originated in Japan and is best described as an organized form of snowball fighting.
Stay tuned to see where Lex will go next!