The history of Bucharest can be traced back to the 14th century when it was first mentioned in documents as a village called "Câmpulung". In the 16th century, it became the capital of Wallachia. The city grew rapidly in the 18th century, and by the end of the century it had a population of over 100,000. Bucharest became the capital of Romania in 1862. The city suffered extensive damage during World War II, but it was rebuilt and grew rapidly in the following decades. Today, Bucharest is the largest city in Romania and the 6th largest city in the European Union.

Milan is a city in northern Italy, capital of the Lombardy region, and the most populous metropolitan area and the second most populous comune in Italy. The city proper has a population of 1,351,000, while its urban area has a population of 3,245,000. The city is the main business and financial centre of Italy and one of global significance. Milan is considered a leading alpha global city. It is a major international fashion and design capital, and a major tourist destination, with a total of 7.6 million international arrivals in 2016. Milan's museums, theatres and landmarks attract over 9 million visitors annually. The city hosts numerous cultural institutions, academies and universities, with 11% of the national total enrolled students. Milan is the home of the Italian National Football Team and one of the most successful clubs in international competition, having won 26 official trophies.