Milan walking tour & city guide

The Duomo and the Galleria

Milan Cathedral, the Duomo, took nearly six centuries to complete and is one of the largest churches in the world. Its white marble facade bristles with spires and thousands of statues, and you can walk on the rooftop terraces among the pinnacles for close-up views of the carvings and, on clear days, the Alps.

Next to the cathedral, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, opened in 1877, is one of the world's oldest shopping arcades, with a glass dome and mosaic floors. Tradition says that spinning on your heel on the mosaic bull brings good luck. The arcade leads to La Scala, one of the most famous opera houses in the world.

Art and neighborhoods

Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper is painted on the wall of the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie; tickets sell out weeks ahead. The Sforza Castle houses museums including Michelangelo's last sculpture, the Rondanini Pietà, and opens onto Sempione Park.

Brera is Milan's artistic quarter, with cobbled streets, galleries and the Pinacoteca di Brera. The Navigli district, built around historic canals, is the place for the evening aperitivo, when bars serve drinks with generous snacks along the water. The fashion streets of the Quadrilatero della Moda display the world's top designers.

Practical tips

Milan has an efficient metro and tram network, including vintage trams still in service. It is the main gateway to the Italian lakes, with Lake Como less than an hour away by train. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit; August is hot and many locals are away.