Milan, September 15 - Tickets to Milan Expo 2015 went on sale to the general public for the first time on Monday.

The tickets can be bought via the Universal Fair's website and its official app and they will soon also be available through a number of other channels, including branches of Intesa Sanpaolo bank.

Expo is offering a variety of special packages with discounts, including those for families with children, over 65s, groups and schools. Children under four and carers of people with disabilities are entitled to free tickets.

The average ticket price will be 22 euros, Milan Expo said.

The Expo 2015 theme 'Feeding the planet. Energy for life' focuses on nutrition, sustainability, and fighting hunger and, among other things, will give Italy the chance show off its culinary delights.

Last month Premier Matteo Renzi set organizers the target of selling 10 million tickets for the six-month event before it kicks off on May 1, 2015.

Organizers hope to attract 20 million visitors from around the world in total. Five million tickets have already been sold to tour operators, including one million in China.