What we are going to do at Expo?

More than 150,000 meters of exhibition, but the question that everybody does is “what we are going to do at Expo?”

Whether you are interested in the pavilions architecture, the food or the show, we suggest some useful ideas to guide you in this great event. Grab your ticket, bring an empty plastic bottle to fill at the Water Houses and start your own adventure!

Architecture

We selected the pavilions from the most unusual and curious ones, like the Palazzo Italy (and we cannot say otherwise!) whose rich texture of the outer branched and photovoltaic glass roof substain the whole energy the structure needs, Azerbaijan, with its three glass balls on different levels representing different biospheres, the “seeds” of Malaysia, whose external structure is built with the “glulam” or laminated wood made from sustainable local material, the “hat” of Thailand, recalling the ones that the rice farmers usually wear, the “corn cob” of Mexico, at the intersection of the two main avenues, and the Pavilion of the United Arab Emirates, which has walls of sand rippled by the wind, twelve meters high, and an entrance lined by a real digital falaj, the ancient water channels.

Cluster

Clusters are a new feature of Expo Milano 2015: countries aren’t grouped into collective pavilions on a geographical basis, but according to the most food chains that represent them (rice, cocoa, cereals, spices, fruits and vegetables …). Featuring public areas, countries develop the food chain through different areas (market, shows, events, tastings). Every state in the cluster has an individual stand, where they plays independently the theme of Expo 2015. We invite you to discover them all on the Expo website.

Activities

A must for learning about the history of humanity is the Pavilion Zero. The Brazil Pavilion, however, close enough to the main entrance, allows to test and try to walk and climb on the huge networks that are inspired by the natural environment, and to have a great time with the whole family. Switzerland, then, raises awareness on limitate resources: you can take a predetermined amount of food, but stocks will not be renewed during the exhibition period. Austria has been recreated a small forest, cooled by the natural effect of evapotranspiration of plants, while the Bahrain allows visitors to take a trip through ten botanical gardens, each characterized by plants that will bear fruit at different times of the semester. In China and Turkmenistan you can climb on the rooftop terrace and at the Pavilion of the Principality of Monaco you will see vertical gardens and a system of rainwater harvesting.

Food

If you want to taste something really exotic, the Vietnam Pavilion is made for you: the lotus, a symbol of the country, is a very common flower in Vietnam and you can taste famous dishes and drinks, some of which are based on this flower. If, however, you do not want to give up the Milanese gastronomy, in the kiosk behind Pavilion Zero, there is the signature dish of Expo 2015: the saffron risotto (prepared by the chef Davide Oldani, ambassador of the exhibition) or its variant with roasted panettone powder, which fits perfectly with the dessert: a panettone ice cream, indeed! For the meat, if you want to avoid Uruguay and Brazil (overpriced), it’s better to take refuge in Argentina. For a snack, do not underestimate Belarus: they serve a good vodka ice cream! Beware instead hams and similar: you could save by choosing to depart directly for a weekend in Madrid, rather than deciding to taste a pound of jamon iberico in Expo. The same goes for hot dogs in Germany.

If, then, you want to spend less than 10 Euros, we recommend this little guide made by Dissapore. Your budget is zero? The Japan Pavilion has a restaurant where you can take a virtual lunch: the food appears on the table with an explanation of its features.

Shows

Terrazza Martini is sensational, there you can grant a late drink, enjoying the view. Every hour, at the Lake Arena, at the center of which stands the Tree of Life, you can enjoy performances of exciting games made of lights, special effects, fireworks and music, including the “Tree of Life Suite”, specially composed by Maestro Roberto Cacciapaglia (only in the evening). While, from May 15 to August 30, you can buy the ticket for the Cirque du Soleil show ALLAVITA! in the context of the Open Air Theatre. For the youngest of us, at 11:30 and 16, there is the mascots parade, where Foody and his friends will be the protagonists of a time full of special effects. For food lovers, from 13.30 every day, at the Expo Center at the South of the Decumano a cooking demonstration take its place. As from June, at 20:30 in Pavilion Zero, will be held a show, lasting about one hour, on the history of the relationship between Man and Nature.

For us in Fandis, a day is not enough! Planned so your visits throughout the semester and … give us your suggestions by commenting here or on our Facebook page.