Milan ( mil-AN, US also mil-AHN; Milanese: [miˈlãː] ; Italian: Milano [miˈlaːno] ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nearly 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city has 3.2 million residents. Within Europe, Milan is the fourth-most-populous urban area of the European Union with 6.17 million inhabitants. According to national sources, the population within the wider Milan metropolitan area (also known as Greater Milan) is estimated between 7.5 million and 8.2 million, making it by far the largest metropolitan area in Italy and one of the largest in the EU. Milan is the economic capital of Italy, one of the economic capitals of Europe and a global center for business, fashion and finance.

Milan is recognized as a leading alpha global city, with strengths in the fields of art, chemicals, commerce, design, education, entertainment, finance, healthcare, media (communication), services, research, and tourism and has been described as the fashion capital of the world. Its business district hosts Italy's stock exchange (Italian: Borsa Italiana), and the headquarters of national and international banks and companies.