While many small businesses (family-run and individual shops and restaurants) do close for part or all of August, many visitor-oriented sites and businesses are very much open in August.

For the short duration of your particular visit, I'm sure you'll find open major attractions like, to name just two, the Duomo and the church refectory where the LAST SUPPER fresco is situated (from memory, I think it's something like Santa Marie della Grazie, but I could be wrong). Check out the opening and closing hours of these attractions carefully (they can be irregular) and if you find an option to buy advance tickets, I urge you to avail yourself of it. For shopping, one entrance to the glass-roofed Galleria is right across from the Duomo, and on an August stroll a couple of years ago, everything seemed open (and busy)!

One tip (and I apologize for not having the name of the place) - although GELATO is widely available (and puts the horrible American imitation to shame), there is a specific gelato shop, not too far from the center, that is said to be the best in the city - your hotel might have the name - open very late, very modern decor (including giant pieces of fruit), people of all ages spilling out into the street enjoying the heavanly ambrosia that is gelato

Lastly - although there may be tours available and its museum is worth visiting, unfortunately nothing will be playing at Teatro alla Scala. The season ended last month (with West Side Story of all things) and the company will visit Japan before getting ready for the 2000-2001 season opener (always on St. Ambrose Day, Dec. 7. As a rule, opera in Italy in August revolves around festivals, many in or around the birthplaces of the various composers, such as Torre de Lago, Pesaro etc.


[This message has been edited by Non-NonRev (edited 08-01-2000).]