Milan has won its bid to host the Universal Exhibition (Expo) in 2015, the Paris-based selection board announced on Monday.
Representatives from 152 countries at the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) chose Milan over the Turkish city of Izmir, the only other runner in the competition to hold the world's fair.
Milan triumphed by 86 votes against 65 after making a final 30-minute presentation for its green-themed Expo, entitled Nutrire il Pianeta, Energia per la Vita (Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life), with musical support from opera star Andrea Bocelli and Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour.
Outgoing Premier Romano Prodi, Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema and Milan Mayor Letizia Moratti were joined by Milan footballer Clarence Seedorf and Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore to close the deal in front of the judges.
Milan's proposal centres on fighting famine and malnutrition worldwide through sustainable development, global cooperation and new technology.
''Our Expo will not just be a logo, but it will be a network to enable the construction of schools and hospitals for everyone,'' said Moratti.
''We've done a lot of work in terms of listening and understanding, and we are not alone - we are collaborating with many charities and associations for a project that favours countries less fortunate than we are,'' she added.
Gore gave his support to the proposal, which he described as ''very solid'' and designed to have ''zero (negative) environmental impact''.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who spoke in favour of Izmir's 'New Routes for a Better World - Health For All' bid, congratulated Milan on a ''beautiful'' presentation.
The Italian delegation later joined him on stage to applaud the Turkish proposal.
''Only two Mediterranean countries could end the presentation all together on the stage,'' said Prodi.
The Expo, which lasts six months, will involve 152 countries and attract an estimated 30 million visitors.
Italy last hosted a world's fair in 1992, with a Christopher Columbus-themed Expo in Genoa.
The next fairs will be held in Shanghai in 2010 and in Yeosu, Korea, in 2012 before the Milan event.
