| Castello Sforzesco | Largo Cairoli & Via Dante | Piazza Affari | Piazza dei Mercanti | Cathedral | Palazzo Reale |
Travel Guide Milan
If you have only a few hours to see the most important sights, we invite you to a little walking tour in Milan.
As travelling group you can book an individual guided tour for groups
as individual tourist you can book a sightseeing tour with guide or you can plan your program by yourself to see the most important monuments following
our tips for the itinerary through Milan.
Visiting Milan in one Day without Guide - Itinerary First Part
Second part of the walking tour through Milan
Castello Sforzesco
The tour starts at the Sforza Castel, Castello Sforzesco. The castle dates from the renaissance period and was built in the 14 century by Galeazzo Visconti II as a defensive structure.
From 1482 - 1499 Leonardo da Vinci served at the Castle in Milan under the Duke Ludovico, called “il Moro”. Leonardo designed court festivals and created many of sketches in the in the reign house. In the 17 years of his work for the Duke Leonardo completed important paintings (Last Supper, Virgin of the Rocks).
The Sforza Castel houses museums and behind the castle you can make a walk through the Castle Park Parco Sempione.
Largo Cairoli and Via Dante
Across Piazza Castello and Largo Cairoli with the monument of Giuseppe Garibaldi you reach Via Dante, a large shopping street.
Piazza Affari and the Milan Stock Exchange
Passing impressive palaces of high-ranking personalities of the historic Milan you arrive at Piazza Cordusio with its enormous bank houses. A little detour leads to the Palazzo della Mezzanotte that houses the Milan Stock Exchange. Since the trading only computerized, there is no more public trading floor to visit.
Below the palace of the Milan Stock Exchange there are ruins of a ancient Roman Theatre that has been discovered and that an been visit all through a glass floor. The rooms and halls of the palace are rentable for meetings and conventions.
Piazza dei Mercanti
At the place where in the Middle Ages still grass and trees grew, in 1228 the works for a Justice Palace began.
In the past in Via Mercanti lawyers offered on the street their services for few money, surrounded by craftsmen, shoemakers, seamstresses, weavers, tailors and bakers, that populated Piazza dei Mercanti.
It happened that a retailer fell in disgrace, so he had to pull down his pants and to sit on the Stone of the Frustrated to be ridiculous by the mob before he was shut up into the prison.
Passing the Piazza dei Mercanti a wide view opens to the gigantic Milan Cathedral in Piazza del Duomo.
Milan's Cathedral Duomo
The majestic Dome construction Santa Maria Nascente in white marble of about 157 m length, 93 m wide and 108 metres height is the third largest Catholic Church in the world.
On the left side of the cathedral's back part there are lifts and stairs to the terraces of the roof. From the roof of the Cathedral Duomo you have a breathtaking view over Milan and with good weather you can see the Northern Italian and Switzerland Alps.
On the roof you can see the Golden Madonnina, a copper plate statue that is placed upon the Tiburio in 108 metres height. In 1769 the Madonnina has become the symbol of the Milan.
Palazzo Reale in Piazza Duomo
In the museum of the Duomo in the Real Palace Palazzo Reale on the cathedral's square, the interested visitor learns more about history and architecture of the cathedral.
Passing Piazza del Duomo you reach the famous Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery the lounge of Milan. The prestigious gallery is a place for shopping in the luxurious boutiques. Crossing the Gallery you arrive in the Scala Square, Piazza delle Scala.
Second part of the walking tour through Milan