The long awaited expo in Milan has been up and running for over five months now, and has been visited by over 20 million people since its opening on May the 1st and is now coming to a close on October the 31st.
Thinking about going? Or haven't managed to get there and want to know what it's like? Here is my experience and all the info you might need.
What is Expo?
Pre 1967 Expo was known as the 'World’s Fair', after that edition, the name changed to 'Exposition' and then was shortened to the more catchy 'expo' as we know it now. Each Expo gives participating countries a chance to show off their latest developments in designed exhibition spaces on whatever the Expo theme is that year.
What is it about?
"Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life" is the central theme of Expo Milano 2015. More than 140 participating countries will showcase their latest technologies and innovations in achieving the aim of a sustainable future as well as exchanging ideas and shared solutions on the theme of food. Not only this, Expo Milano 2015 will offer everyone the opportunity to know and taste the best dishes of the world and discover the excellence of the agri-food and gastronomic traditions of each country.
Where is it and what's it like?
Milan already had an area outside the city centre for trade fairs, but after seven years of construction, a brand new exhibition space on a 270-acre former industrial site 10 miles out of the city centre was built for the Expo near the existing one in Rho.
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| Overview of the Expo site |
The Expo site is an area extending over a colossal one million square metres and is essentially like a small town. The site is based around 2 intersecting ‘roads’. This very simple shape was chosen with the aim of helping visitors find their way easily around and to navigate themselves to events and shows, and for participant countries to display their products with ease.The main street, the 'Decumano', crosses the whole site from east to west for one and a half kilometres. On either side of the Decumano, are the national pavilions of the participating countries. The other main street that crosses the Decumano, is the 'Cardo' and is 350 metres long. It connects the exposition site from the north to the south where the Italian Pavilion is located. In this area, 'Palazzo Italia', all the cultures and traditions, typical of the Italian food industry, are showcased.
The point where the two “roads” intersect is called Piazza Italia. This is the main square where the two main streets cross, acting as a symbolic place where Italy meets the rest of the world.
At the four extremities of the Cardo and the Decumano are some of the most important structures of Expo Milano 2015: the Mediterranean Hill, the Expo Centre, the Open Air Theatre and the Lake Arena. These landmarks offer visitors a sense of direction and create locations for hosting some of the biggest Expo events.
The pavilions vary in size from 500 to 5,000 square metres and are located.
On the main street, the Decumano, also called 'World Avenue'. They are mostly "self built", meaning that they were created and designed by the individual countries. Each participating country had to adhere to certain rules so as to ensure a unique and ecological experience, for example use of sustainable and recyclable materials, low-impact energy use and they must be temporary and easy to take down after the event.
This is the first time a World’s Fair has had “food” as a theme and due to this, the Expo could be mistaken for a gigantic food court. The event provides the opportunity to learn about countries through their flavours and their dishes, so a visit to the Expo is described as being in the world's largest restaurant.
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| The main street of Expo known as 'Decumano' or 'World Avenue' |
The set up of the majority of the pavilions is as follows, upon entering you will find an interactive exhibition area demonstrating the scientific and environmental advances in food cultivation of the respective country. Not all, but many countries have taken the opportunity to show off their culinary delights of their food culture and therefore some pavilions have restaurants, bars, food & beverage corners, kiosks, and street food stations to choose from. Some pavilions also had intermittent dance shows or performances both inside and outside the pavilions.
How to visit Expo
Let me start by saying, it is nearly impossible to visit all the pavilions. I visited for an evening, and then the whole day and night the next day and managed to see a great deal, but by no means everything. In order to not get overwhelmed, I would recommend a strategy, for example visit the pavilions you have a great interest in first (for example your country, a pavilion you've heard is interesting or maybe you want to try a specific food from a certain country) after that you can just wander around and visit the ones that catch your eye. Another strategy would be to start from the entrance and then just wander along, popping into the pavilions that take your fancy.
The main thing to consider that the space is absolutely huge! It's like a purpose built small town but with no public transport, you will walk kilometres and kilometres and still have things left to visit! As well as visiting the exhibitions, the Expo site is animated by music and dance performances, workshops and exhibitions, there is a lot to see and do!
In my visit in July, very few of the pavilions had queues to enter, only a couple. I believe that that is no longer the case however due to the upcoming closing.
Inside expo
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| One of the many water features |
The UK has created a stand-out Pavilion designed by award-winning British artist Wolfgang Buttress showcasing the best of British business, science and culture globally.
The UK pavilion designed like a bee hive to not only demonstrate the important of bees but to represent the UK as a 'hive' of activity for business.
The UK pavilion follows the journey of the honey bee to highlight the role of pollination in the global food chain and ecosystem. This complex environment encapsulates some of the qualities the UK brings to the global food challenge. It offers a metaphor for describing how the exchange of ideas, skills and knowledge is an essential part of human activity and the UK, as a gateway to global connections, is the ideal place for such cross-pollination.
Mum enjoying the bee keeper costumes
The richness, diversity and high quality of British food and drink will be on display at the UK pavilion. The UK pavilion restaurant and bar provide a stunning vantage point of the hive.
The theme of Spanish pavilion was "Cultivating the Future".
The Theme of the Mexican pavilion was "Mexico, the Seed for the New World: Food, Diversity and Heritage".
The Mexican pavilion for me was one of the most interactive and elaborate, they also had many kind members of staff to explain things on display.
Having my picture taken with some Oman locals in traditional dress.
The Russian pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 tells the stories of several internationally recognised Russian scientists, whose work has contributed to the development of agriculture and food security. It also demonstrates the wealth of Russia’s natural resources and its rich and diverse culinary traditions.
There was a bar where you could sample some of Russia's interesting soft drinks
With its simple yet distinctive theme Morocco’s pavilion is built around sensorial discovery, food and gastronomy, and represents all the diversity of the Country, showing the richness of its food and visitors can discover the architectural expression of a trip through Morocco.
Theme of Slovenia pavilion - "I Feel Slovenia. Green. Active. Healthy" Slovenia offered the chance to dip your tired feet in some of its natural salt.
The Wine pavilion was a wine lovers galore with an almost vending machine like set up where you buy one glass and then try all the wines.
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Thailand Pavilion
The Thai 'Kitchen to the world' put on a good show demonstrating the importance of Thai cuisine and agriculture.
A delicious vegetable curry naan from the Bangladesh Pavilion.
The Vietnamese pavilion put on a show using traditional instruments.
Based on its theme "Feeding the world with solutions," the Brazilian pavilion uses the metaphor of the network, in terms of flexibility, fluidity and decentralisation, showing the relationships and integration of different topics that combined, make it the global leader in food production.
In an exhibition space of 4,133 square metres, Brazil offers Expo Milano 2015 visitors a view of all the possibilities being explored and implemented to increase and diversify food production, satisfying food demands around the world and using advanced technologies in a way that is truly sustainable.
To enter the pavilion you have to climb over a bouncy mesh, fun for kids and adults! Quite difficult with sandals I discovered.
We managed to catch a dance performance at the Malaysian pavilion.
The Dutch pavilion included an outdoor 'food truck/street food' area.
The French pavilion.
The Italian Street
Germany built one of the largest pavilions with its 4,933-square metre exhibition space. Its title is "Field of Ideas" and it was designed with ideas and solutions that examine the prospect of a more mindful and respectful relationship with nature.
Ecuador was probably one of my favourite pavilions due to its colourful and lively exterior.
The German pavilion turned into a bit of a party with a DJ when the sun started to set.
The American pavilion is an open concept that evokes the lines of a traditional American barn. The American pavilion showcases American leadership in the global food arena as responsible and diverse; sustainability through science, technology, innovation and free trade.
The United States presents a dynamic pavilion that showcases America’s unique role in the future of food around the world, and creates a global conversation about the challenge of feeding more than 9 billion people nutritiously by 2050. With the theme “American Food 2.0: United to Feed the Planet” it tells America’s food story – one of innovation, diversity and entrepreneurship – through topics including food security and policy, international relations, science and technology, nutrition and health, and culinary culture.
The Pavilion included 'Food Truck Nation', a series of food trucks serving iconic and innovative regional American foods and beverages.
World Avenue by night
Located at the northernmost point of the Cardo, is the Lake Arena. The pond, which is approximately 90 metres wide, is encircled by a seating area, bordered by around 100 trees and accommodates approximately 3,000 people. The bottom of the pond is filled with dark pebbles to create a mirror effect. At the centre of the pond there are fountains and the 'Albero della vita' or 'Tree of Life'. During the day a three and a half minute show in which the tree is lit spectacularly to music, takes place every hour, from 11:00 until 19:00. The evening shows are longer, lasting 12 and a half minutes.
The show was one of the highlights of Expo for me, a must-see, especially in the evening.
How to get there?
The Expo Milano 2015 Exhibition Site is located just north-west of Milan, and is easily accessible from all of the city’s three airports, as well as the main public transportation lines. The site can be reached by metro (underground), by train, by tour bus, by taxi, and by private car.
From the city centre of Milan, it is easily accessible by Metro, just buy a ticket for the 'RHO Fiera stop' (2.50 one way or 5 euro return) and you will reach the stop in about 20 minutes.
I would advise to buy a return ticket as when you return in the evening the ticket machines in the station are very crowded.
The Expo is a little bit of a walk from the Rho Fiera stop.
Tickets?
Tickets can be purchased from Expo gate which is an information point as well. We actually got tickets included in our hotel stay (see below) and I know that Tim the phone company also had an offer on for cheaper tickets too.
All ticket information can be found here.
Where to stay?
We stayed in this hotel, the UNA hotel, Meditteranean in the Porta Romana area of Milan. We have always enjoyed our stays at the other UNA Hotels in Florence and Naples so we knew this time wouldn't be an exception. They also had a package which included tickets to the EXPO.
Considering the Hotel was just a couple of stops from the Metro, the Expo site was very accessible.
Tips?
Wear comfortable shoes, you will be doing a lot of walking. I would even recommend a change of shoes as I did.
Take an empty water bottle, as with all the food and drinks at such events, water is expensive and its pointless buying it when there are numerous (eco friendly) water points which dispense both natural and sparkling water.
Although this years expo is all about food, it's not as easy as you may think to eat.
If you're a fussy eater or have children with you, take some snacks just incase.
All information can be found here on the official website.
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