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Walking Tour in Milan
Walking Tour in the Historic Centre of Milan - Itinerary Part 1
| Castello Sforzesco | Largo Cairoli & Via Dante | Piazza Affari | Piazza dei Mercanti | Cathedral | Palazzo Reale |
If you have only a few hours to see the most important sights, we invite you to a little walking tour in Milan.
Castello Sforzesco
- Monument of Giuseppe Garibaldi in Largo Cairoli
Our 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 to 1499 Leonardo da Vinci worked 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 mall and pedestrian zone.
Piazza Affari and the Milan Stock Exchange
- 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 in Piazza degli Affari that houses the Milan Stock Exchange. Since the trading only computerized, there is no more public trading floor to visit.
Under the keystone of the palace of the Milan Stock Exchange there are ruins of a ancient Roman Theatre that has been discovered and that can visited.
Piazza dei Mercanti
- Piazza dei Mercanti with Justice Palace
At the square where in the Middle Ages still grass and trees grew, began in 1228 the works for the Justice Palace.
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.
When 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 prison.
Passing the Piazza dei Mercanti a wide view opens to the majestic Milan Cathedral in Piazza del Duomo.
Milan's Cathedral Duomo
- From Piazza dei Mercanti ti Piazza del 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 a little luck you can see the Northern Italian and Switzerland Alps.
On the top of the roof shines 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 Piazzetta Duomo
- Palazzo Reale Exhibitions center
The former government palace, the Palazzo Reale, has become an exhibitions palace.
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.