Milan City Tour
Milan city tour, Milan is commonly popular as the economic capital of Italy, a definition that seems to emphasize that there is a lot of money but there is little interesting to see during Milan city tour. And instead of things to do and see in Milan there are many: you can start from the Milan – Postcard, that of Piazza Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the SFORZESCO Castle, symbols of the ancient wealth of Milan.
Moreover, during the amazing Milan city tour, there is the Milan of Leonardo Da Vinci, who put his genius architect at work to make navigable the NAVIGLI. Leonardo has also donated to Milan one of his greatest masterpieces: the CENACOLO, painted in the refectory of Santa Maria DELLE GRAZIE.
In addition, there is the international Milan, the one that attracts rich from all over the world: that of San BABILA with the beautiful neo-Romanesque church, but especially with the fashion streets, the showcases of big brands, the models around and the parked cars.
In short, the things to do and see in this city are certainly not few, to which we must add the charm of a great European metropolis and a cuisine unjustly underestimated compared to that of Rome, Naples, Bologna or Florence. So, now let’s explore what to see during your full day Milan city tour and if you have more day then there is a long list not to miss.
Day 1 Milan City Tour
1 Duomo the heart of Milan city
The church dedicated to Santa Maria NASCENTE. It is the symbol of the city and one of the first things to see as soon as you set foot in Milan. The works for the Cathedral of Milan began in 1386 and led to the birth of a beautiful monument, with wonderful stained-glass windows and beautiful carved decorations. This majestic structure is the most significant testimony of Gothic architecture, which leaves no room for doubt: it is the only one in which Nordic characters and Lombard elements blend.
The famous Madonnina of Milan
The beauty of the Cathedral is completed with major spire where stands the famous Madonnina, a golden copper statue, 4 meters high. If you visit the church on a beautiful sunny day, you can enjoy from the terraces a wonderful view of the city and the Alps.
Inside you must not miss the area of the presbytery, restored in the second half of 500. At the apex of the apsidal vault is located the relic of the Sacred Nail of the Cross.
Just to give a few numbers know that: in the Cathedral there are 3,500 statues, including the 96 giants of the gargoyles, and that the structure is 157 meters long, 92 meters wide and that the spire is 108.50 meters high.
2 Museo del NOVECENTO
A few steps from the Cathedral there is the Palazzo DELL’ARENGARIO with the wonderful Museum of the twentieth century. There is collection of more than 400 works of Italian art. Among the authors of the early ‘900 we meet the works of Picasso, Braque, Klee, KANDINSHIJ and Modigliani. We then move on to Futurism with Balla, Boccioni, Carrà, DEPERO, Severini and SOFFICI.
Awesome experience not to miss
During this amazing Milan city tour you will be exploring, the ’20s and ’30s. On the third floor there are works with informal artists (Burri, VEDOVA, LICINI and others) and the 50s and 60s with Piero Manzoni and artists of Azimuth.
The fourth floor is all for Lucio Fontana with the large “space ceiling” from 1956 (coming from the Hotel del Golfo on the Island of Elba), the Neon and the Spatial Concepts from the 1950s. The large room dedicated to Fontana has large windows that allow a spectacular view of the Cathedral.
3 The Sforzesco Castle of Milan
The castle has almost always played the role of military citadel and is, even today, one of the largest castles in Europe. This was always a place linked to war, domination and mourning. In the twentieth century the Castle was the comforting aspect of a place of culture, to protect the testimonies of Lombard art. However, it is one of the main attraction of Milan city tour.
The museums of the Castello Sforzesco in Milan
The Castle contains some masterpieces of Italian art: the Pietà RONDANINI and the frescoes in the VIII room of the Museum of Ancient Art, the Madonna in Glory and Santi Giovanni Battista, Gregorio Magno, Benedetto and Gerolamo del Mantegna in the Pinacoteca and the extraordinary cycle of tapestries depicting the twelve months of BRAMANTINO, in the Sala DELLA Balla. Behind the Castello Sforzesco there is Parco Sempione, the green lung of Milan. An immense green area where the Milanese escape from smog and city stress for a run, walk or picnic.
4 The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan
This is the most popular no 1 place to visit during Milan city tour. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, popular as the living room of Milan. In 1865 the works began with the laying of the first stone and two years later the Gallery was inaugurated although still incomplete and without the presence of the king. But the construction of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II has a tragic epilogue: its creator, Giuseppe Mengoni, died during an inspection of his “creature”.
5 The NAVIGLI of Milan
You almost never think of Milan as a water city, but it is. The NAVIGLI system was born with the ambitious project of connecting Milan with Lake Como, Adda, Lake Maggiore and the Po, reaching in northern Europe and then to the sea. The history of the NAVIGLI begins in the second half of the 12th century, with the construction of the first navigable section.
The first canal, the TICINELLO, was inaugurated in 1179, and with its 50 kilometres of length. In 1457, Francesco Sforza entrusted to Bertola da Novate the construction of the Martesana Canal but it was with Ludovico il Moro that the real turn took place.
An amazing visit not to miss
And what genius could complete such a complex hydraulic work if not Leonardo Da Vinci? With a brilliant system of locks, Leonardo da Vinci managed to connect Milan with Lake Como. There was only the connection with the sea through the Po: this was what Napoleon thought in 1805 who completed the construction of the NAVIGLIO PAVESE.
Today they are living a rebirth and are at the centre of numerous projects of requalification: Cycle paths, boats, relaxation areas are alongside the traditional taverns, boutiques and artists’ shops.
6 Church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
It is Built in the early ‘500 on the remains of an ancient place of worship, the church is close to the Major Monastery of the Benedictine order, of which today remains the entrance cloister, part of the Archaeological Museum.
The division of the interior space into two parts (one open to the faithful, and another, the rear one, is only for the nuns of the monastery) testifies to the ancient destination of the structure.
The best experience ever
The simple and linear facade of the building on Corso Magenta does not suggest the surprising interior rich in wonderful frescoes. It covers the entire architectural structure, from walls to time. That why it was popular as the Sistine Chapel of Milan. The fresco decorations with bright colours extend for 4 thousand square meters and are the work of some of the greatest masters of Lombard painting of the sixteenth century.
Milan City Tour Ends Here
More places to explore in Milan
1 Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan
The church named after the patron saint of the city is considered to be the second most important church, after the Cathedral. Founded in the IV sec. The church was rebuilt according to the canons of Romanesque architecture between 1088 and 1099.
The beauty of Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan
It is the most important example of Lombard Romanesque architecture, the basilica owes its appearance also to the construction work and adaptations carried out in the following centuries.
The basilica has a four-door atrium, has a façade with two overlapping lodges: the one of the monks on the right, dating from the 9th century, and the one of the canons, on the left, erected in the 12th century, with the exception of the last two floors.
2 San Bernardino alle Ossa in Milan
About 500 meters from Piazza del Duomo, in Piazza Santo Stefano, there is one of the most unusual, fascinating and macabre places in Milan. It is the Sanctuary of San Bernardino alle Ossa and the name already says a lot.
This small chapel then became a church, in fact, for centuries has performed the function of “ossuary” and therefore has the internal walls completely decorated with the bones of the dead. The story begins in 1145 when a hospital and a cemetery were built in the area to bury dying patients. After a few years the available space proved insufficient and it was necessary to build a chamber to house the bones of the exhumed dead from the oldest graves.
Amazing San Bernardino alle Ossa
After the collapse of the old ossuary, at the end of 1600 was built the new ossuary that the friars decorated with the bones of the dead and had frescoes in 1693-94 by the Venetian painter Sebastiano Ricci.
The walls are completely covered with bones, fusing the macabre with the delicacy of the rococo decorations. Although the legend says that they are the bones of the Christian martyrs, in reality they are the remains of the sick of the hospital, of the brothers who lived in the church, of the prisoners of Milan and of some members of the noble families of Milan. To see absolutely!
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3 Sempione Park in Milan
In a chaotic city like Milan, Parco Sempione is a green lung where you can enjoy a breath of oxygen away from traffic. The park is large and beautiful, it develops from the Castello Sforzesco to the Arco Della Pace along the Civic Arena, the Aquarium and the Triennale. For the people of Milan, it is a place to jog, walk or relax lying on the lawn, take your dog and children to play in the open air on sunny days.
The park houses several areas for dogs, a play area with carousels for families, basketball and volleyball courts, a library. Dear to the Milanese – especially for couples – is the Bridge of the SIRENETTES that crosses an artificial lake, a corner undoubtedly picturesque. People say that passing on the bridge brings good luck, a good reason to go there.
Spend a relaxing noon here
Autumn is undoubtedly one of the most evocative moments, with its carpet of leaves and chestnuts that fall spontaneously. The spring days instead lend themselves to eat something at the kiosks scattered in the park, drink a drink or read a book sitting on the grass.
Parco Sempione is one of the symbols of Milan, and a must-see for a stop while you are touring museums. It is advisable to go outside the weekend to enjoy it fully. It is worth a half an hour to walk among the rich flora and fauna that live there. Enthusiasts of educational trails can take part in tours with volunteers to discover tree species and monumental trees.
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4 Monumental cemeteries of Milan
If it is true that the visit to a cemetery is not always well seen, we guarantee that the one at the Monumental Cemetery of Milan is an amazing experience. The architects and artists have left their signature: aedicule’s, chapels, temples and sculptures have a very high artistic as well as symbolic value. The sculptural currents are the most disparate, from Liberty to Symbolism through SCAPIGLIATURA.
So, we recommend just a walk in this open-air museum that expresses all the greatness of illustrious figures of Italian and Milanese history. You can explore here the graveyards of Wanda Osiris, Giorgio Gaber, Alda MERINI, Dario Fo, Franca Rame and Enzo JANNACCI just to name a few.
Facts
One can visit the Monumental Cemetery of Milan for free. It is possible to do a tour independently choosing from a series of routes that lead to the discovery of the various areas. Alternatively, option that we feel to recommend, you can participate in an interesting tour with the volunteers of the Civil Service. Route A includes 24 monuments and lasts about an hour while, for those who have less time available, there is the route B with 12 monuments lasting half an hour.
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5 The Hotel Diurno Venezia in Milan
In Milan there is a place to take a trip into the Belle Époque: it’s the Albergo DIURNO Venezia. It is below Piazza Guglielmo OBERDAN near the entrance of the Metro Porta Venezia (line M1). To enter you must book a tour volunteers that lasts about an hour.
For FAI members, access is free. It is a curious to discover a piece of modern Milanese history. Milanese those who, returning from work or a trip and willing to relax and take care of their body for a few hours were coming here.
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At the time it was a luxury to allow, considering that not everyone had a private bathroom in their home. In the Albergo DIURNO there was a corner dedicated to the barber, manicure, spa – the so-called Bagni” – and so on. Today we could associate it with our SPA and wellness centres.
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6 The La Maggiolina district in Milan
The MAGGIOLINA is a historic district on the border with the Journalists’ Quarter in Milan. The MAGGIOLINA is not part of the classic tourist routes, but it would deserve attention for its out-of-the-box atmosphere. Do not expect monuments, churches, famous sights or skyscrapers. The district is located in the north-east of the city.
Visit Maggiolina district in Milan
Milan never ceases to amaze and the MAGGIOLINA is proof of this. A place that has undergone several transformations over the years, today it is popular for its curious houses in the form of igloos and mushrooms (for the Milanese are the “houses of the gnomes” or “houses of the Smurfs”).
Many of the mushroom dwellings were demolished in the sixties, only a few remain today in via Lepanto. The “igloos” of the MAGGIOLINA are built on two levels and are still inhabited. A walk through the streets of the district will make you know an unusual Milan, experimental and also very quiet compared to the more chaotic centre.
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7 Villa Invernizzi and the pink flamingos in Milan
In the centre of Milan there is a garden were live pink flamingos, an attraction without doubt singular. It is the garden of Villa Invernizzi, popular as the owners of the famous cheese factory. If you have some time left, it should be on your list of things to see in Milan!
The facade of the Art Nouveau building overlooks Corso Venezia at number 32 and is already a source of interest but the real attraction are the flamingos that living in the park behind for decades. To see them just turn the corner with via SERBELLONI and move on via CAPPUCINI.
Some interesting facts
The Fondazione Romeo and Enrica Invernizzi owns the villa, which protect birds. It is close to the public but it is worth making a small detour from the fashion and shopping streets to see this place.
The area itself is worth a walk, it is famous as QUADRILATERO del SILEZIO because as its name says it is very quiet. Walk among Liberty style buildings and between a stately architecture and the other reach the most unusual of the district. Worth mentioning the Arch of via Tommaso Salvini, Palazzo Rocca Saporiti, Casa Berri Meregalli and Villa Necchi Campiglio.
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8 Tours of the centre of Milan
A visit at sunset in the centre of Milan, to taste all the beauty that daily surrounds us and to which we often do not give the right attention. The evening visits of MILANO GUIDA allow, once the working day is over, to enjoy Milan calmly, in its most evident aspects but precisely for this unjustly mis known.
We will start from the apse of the Cathedral where, the construction of the cathedral commissioned to Gian Galeazzo Visconti, who made his marble quarries available to the town of CANDOLIA. Along the southern side of the church, we will pass in front of the Royal Palace, which today presents itself in the guise that in the eighteenth century the architect Piermarini gave to the ancient ducal Palace.
An amazing way to explore Milan
When you arrive in the immense Piazza del Duomo, admiring the facade of the cathedral. We will tell the story of the square and its unfortunate architect, Giuseppe Mengoni, whose name belongs with the project of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
It will be right through the nineteenth-century covered passage that we will arrive in Piazza Della Scala, where we will welcome the Monument to Leonardo, jokingly nicknamed after its inauguration “a LITER in quarter”. On the square overlooks Palazzo Marino, today the seat of the City; passing the right side we will land in Piazza San Fedele, and discover why the statue of Alessandro Manzoni was erected here. The route will end in Piazza Mercanti, one of the most significant places in Milan, because it reflects, with its composite and heterogeneous appearance, all the historical stratifications.
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9 Brera district
The tour of the district of Brera is an itinerary that will turn out to be a journey through history, discovering the more and less popular places of one of the most fascinating QUARTIERI of Milan as well as an opportunity to spend a pleasant evening in company.
Artistic area par excellence because of the presence of the Pinacoteca di Brera and numerous art galleries and centre of the Milanese evening entertainment, the Brera district houses some of the most important buildings and streets in the past and recent history of Milan. The itinerary will take you to discover these places starting from Largo GREPPI, where there are two buildings of one of the most prestigious theatrical institutions, city and national, the Piccolo Teatro.
Not to miss place
The Piazzetta di Brera and the courtyard of the complex that houses numerous institutes will be unmissable, including since 1776 the renowned Academy of Fine Arts, still able to attract students from all over the world, and since 1809 the Pinacoteca, a real treasure trove of masterpieces.
We will dive into the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries observing the facades of Palazzo CITTERIO and Palazzo CUSANI, then immersing ourselves in the Middle Ages in front of S. Maria del Carmine, whose nineteenth-century facade is related to the church of San Marco.
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10 Tours in historic tram
The tour in a historic tram in Milan is an opportunity to discover the city from an unusual and curious point of view, moving through streets and squares of the city. The tram is one of its first symbols of modernity.
Comfortably seated aboard an old and Milanese tram of the 1920s, we will admire the city that slides alongside us. It is leaving behind the frenzy of the working day and enjoying the spectacle of a city always beautiful.
Not to miss experience
An art history graduate guide will tell the Milan that flows, from the window and in time, in a succession of images, eras, artistic currents, curiosities and historical. The main monuments of the city centre are the Scala, the Duomo, the Castello Sforzesco, Piazza Della Repubblica, the NAVIGLI and the DARSENA.
The tram tour in Milan is a real way to explore through the streets and the glorious city history. Here are some of its most prestigious monuments and artistic places, as well as a real experience MENEGHINA. It will not fail to thrill even those who knows (or who thinks he knows!) Milan like his own pockets!
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What to eat in Milan
As for all Italian cities, Milan has a great culinary tradition. The real king of Milanese cuisine is butter, used in most dishes, from risotto to Milanese cutlet and panettone.
To start with traditional dishes, the best known is certainly the risotto all Milanese, made with saffron. The traditional one involves the use of ox marrow, but currently not many people cook it in this way. There is another typical Milanese main course is the “BUSECCA” (hence the nickname of “BUSECCONI”).
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Among the latter, the most popular is the Milanese cutlet, which according to tradition is made with veal meat, at least a finger high, and fried in butter. Today we prefer the healthier and less fat olive oil or seeds. Let’s not forget the Ossobuco (also known as la Milanese): veal shank slice or beef stew.
The “CASSOEULA” instead is a very rich dish, made with cabbage and the “poor” parts of the pig like the rind, head, ribs and feet. Moving on to sweets, the origin of the panettone and the dove are in the capital of Milan. Dairy products are among the typical products of the area: stracchino, mascarpone, grana di Lodi and, of course, gorgonzola.
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Where to stay in Milan
It is not only a destination for managers and business people, Milan already before the Expo 2015 is the arrival point of a cultural tourism. The relaunch of the NAVIGLI, the multiplication of exhibitions and the opening of new museums attracts a large number of new visitors to the city.
However, the large influx of people, Milan expands its accommodation and today more than yesterday. It is ready to welcome its tourists in its many hotels, hotels, bed & breakfast, apartments and hostels, throughout the city.
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Next to the large and luxurious hotel chains, you will also find more modest and cozy hotels and comfortable rooms. There are many bed & breakfasts family and even extravagant early ‘900 liberty houses. It is not easy to find a room at a good price, especially in the city centre and at international events.
Prices start from 80 € per night in a 3-star hotel and then go up. The advice is to book in advance. All accommodation facilities are perfectly connected to the centre of Milan, thanks to an efficient and functional transport system. So if you want to save a bit you can choose to sleep on the outskirts, without having to worry about travel.