Ernest, after Zurich Milan is going to seem positively chaotic. It's a relatively small place, over polluted, lots of creative parking and not much in the way of greenery. Also there is very little social conscience compared to northern Europe, so lots of grafitti, dog poo and illegal parking on pavements.
Italian women, I'm afraid to say, are not the friendliest, although I have noticed that has changed a bit now I'm a mum. It's easyish to meet people but making true friends is a nightmare. When I was single people always wanted to be my friend because I could speak English/got free passes for clubs/had a boyfriend they fancied (yes, really!) and always used to abandon me (and anyone else) as soon as they coupled up with someone as afraid we'd steal their man. Now I have a child I frequent different circles and much of the hostility is gone, but even so it's not easy to break into social circles. In Milan I finally made a couple of good friends from my antenatal group and met a few people in parks with my DD, but now I live in Monza I'm back to square one as it's more provincial and they seem to be a bit mistrustful of outsiders.
Re houses and things, unless you're seriously well off you'll probably be living in a flat as houses as we know them are very few and far between in Milan and many of the surrounding suburbs. A lot of the nearby towns are total dormitories or industrial and are extremely boring, soulless places. Further out is much nicer and the mountains are only an hour's drive away, but it does depend on how much commuting needs to be done as rush hour on Milan bound motorways is chaotic to say the least.
Oh dear, I haven't painted a very good picture have I? I had a bad day trying to get some documents sorted out, can you tell? The bureacracy is excruciating but has immensely improved since I first got here, they even have computers now (I kid you not!).
There are loads of good things too, lots of great shopping, a more fun loving lifestyle and excellent food (it's very difficult to eat badly in Italy). I would also say the weather is better but Milan doesn't really have an ideal climate - cold and foggy in the winter, hot and humid in the summer. It does rain less than the UK, though. Location wise, you're close to the mountains and some good skiing, plus about 1.5 hours away from the nearest beaches. France is only 3 hours down the motorway and if you want to visit the rest of Italy the trains are good and very cheap (Milan - Venice only 25 euros on the Eurostar express. Bargain!). There are actually loads of good things only I can't remember them all as have been here too long!