Guided Walking Tour

Explore the Heart of Italy: A Guide to Milan's Most Popular Activities

Introduction

Milan, or Milan Castle a bustling town in Northern Italy's Lombardy region, is widely recognized as the global epicenter of the fashion industry. Milan, being the global hub of fashion, receives millions of tourists annually. Visitors from all over the world rush to Milan's shopping areas, where they can find names like Prada, Armani, and Versace. Attractions like Duomo Cathedral and Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper contribute to making Milan the third most visited city in the heart of Italy after Rome and Venice. Milan is a city with a multitude of museums, eateries, and popular activities to do, but it is a city that holds its mysteries close to its chest despite its reputation as a cultural powerhouse.

Except for a handful of flashy hallmarks like the Duomo and Castello Sforzesco, Milan's attractions aren't particularly eye-catching. However, a trip to one of Milan's grand palazzos will show you the city's most impressive architecture and a treasure trove of Renaissance works. The gleaming new skyscrapers in Milan are another indication of the city's vivacity and forward-thinking approach to urban development. At first glance, this Italian city may not seem like it has much to offer, but if you look a little closer, you'll find a wealth of surprises. Milan has countless museums, galleries, and other cultural landmarks to explore if you're interested in learning more about the city's rich history and traditions. Let's get your feet wet on your upcoming Milan sightseeing adventure by checking out our recommendations for the top sights in the city.

Milan Cathedral (Duomo II)

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente, more often known as "Il Duomo" by the locals of Milan, is one of the largest and most magnificent structures on Earth and the pinnacle of Flamboyant Gothic design. In spite of the fact that work on the structure began in the 14th century, it wasn't finished until the early nineteenth century, during Napoleon's rule. There are 135 intricately carved stone pinnacles above the roof, and other adornments squiggle the outside. The outside is festooned with 2,245 marble bodies, and the rooftop is crowned by 135 intricately engraved stone pinnacles, creating it among the topmost tourist attractions in Milan. The South Aisle in the nave has the earliest of this church's stained-glass windows, which date back to the 15th and 16th centuries and are considered among the world’s finest. The nave's stain-glassed windows remain the largest in the world, creating this a breathtaking piece of art as well as a well-liked tourist destination in Milan. Silver and gold pieces dating back to the fourth century can be found in the treasury, which is housed in the south sacristy. The snowy Alps, visible from the cathedral's peak on clear days, are a breathtaking sight. It is possible to reach the dome's observation deck by taking an elevator all the way up the 73 stairs.

A Self-guided audio tour of Vox City is also available to visitors who wish to visit the second-largest cathedral in the world, which is also one of Italy's most impressive structures. You can discover more about the building's unique background by doing a little exploring of Milan on your own. The Milan Cathedral, known as the Duomo, may be explored at your own pace with the help of the Vox City app's audio-guided tour. Once you have our app installed, you may start your sightseeing trip in Milan whenever you like, wherever you happen to be.

Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper

Bramante, one of Italy's most prominent Renaissance architects, constructed the enormous 6-sided dome of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which is a Gothic brick cathedral in Venice's Corso Magenta neighborhood. Antiquated graffito artwork in the dome was uncovered during the renovation of the church and adjoining refectory, which embraces The Last Supper of Leonardo da Vinci. Towards the northern culmination of the church is a baroque sanctuary called as the Madonna delle Grazie, which houses a Marian altarpiece. In contrast to more stagnant demonstrations of Christ's final suppertime with his disciples, Leonardo da Vinci's painting is full of action and tension. This was a huge leap forward in the development of art and a striking divergence from what had come before. In terms of tourist attractions and must-see places in Milan, Italy, this is one of the finest spots in Milan. Whether or not you enjoy wine, a trip to this vineyard will transport you to a different time and place, when art was serving as a catalyst for social change. Also available from Vox City is a guided tour of Leonardo's Vineyard, one of Milan's most revered landmarks.

You can also take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by taking a Vox City self-guided tour of two iconic Milan locales, Sforza Castle and Leonardo's Vineyard, both of which include entrance too. Vox City provides free Milan Self-Guided Tours to their customers as an added bonus. The trip will kick off at Leonardo's Vineyard. With a reserved ticket, you may learn the long-lost story of a vineyard and its link to Milan and Leonardo da Vinci.

Castello Sforzesco (Milan Castle)

Castello Sforzesco was originally constructed in 1368 and restored in 1450 for the Visconti and Sforza dynasty, which governed Milan from 1277 to 1447 and again from 1450 to 1535. In 1905, a copy of the old gate tower, 70 meters in height Torre de Filarete, was built. The Castello is home to a number of museums known collectively as Musei del Castello Sforzesco; among these is a sculpture museum. Michelangelo's final and most recently finished work, the Pietà Rondanini, was carried here from Rome in 1953. There are also museums specializing in ornamental arts, prehistoric and Egyptian artifacts, musical instruments, and armies displaying weapons and equipment from various time periods. The Sforzesco Castle, one of Milan’s top sightseeing activities, in Italy, was built in the 14th century as a stronghold and later developed into a symbol of strength and dignity.

We also recommend using our Vox City self-guided audio tour of the Sforza Castle and Milan, which will give you the freedom to explore and sightsee Milan at your own pace. Visit our meeting spot in front of Sforza Castle to exchange your smartphone voucher for an entrance ticket. Our staff members are easily recognizable by their blue VOX vests and folders.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Between 1865 and 1877, Giuseppe Mengoni built the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which wraps around part of Piazza del Duomo and connects to Piazza della Scala. A dome soaring 48 meters above the mosaic floor once made this building Europe's largest shopping mall. It was the first structure in Italy to use manufactured iron rammed with glass, and it still stands as a spectacular example of modern Italian architecture. Many residents continue to frequent its chic eateries and boutiques for lunch as well as other social occasions. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is among the most-oldest enclosed retailing mall in the world and a popular Milan tourist attraction. This shopping center's high-end fashions—sold by names like Prada, Borsalino, and Louis Vuitton —are equally eye-catching as the blue glass arched ceiling, montage floors, as well as gigantic mid dome. The mosaic bull found underneath the middle dome is supposed to get good prosperity to those who turn on their heels while passing over it. It's a most popular activity for anybody visiting and sightseeing Milan.

When you get off at this stop in Milan, you can take a Vox City self-guided tour to see the city's top attractions at your own pace. When you're ready, plan out your next stroll in Milan by noting the locations you most enjoyed and where you think the best photo ops might be.

Santa Maria Delle Grazie

Want to know where to go sightseeing in Milan next? Then a trip to Santa Maria Delle Grazie will provide you with memories to last a lifetime. It's a magnificent artwork done in tempera and oil on a gypsum preparation, measuring 4.6 m in length as well as 8.8 m in width. One of the most popular activities to do in Milan is to visit this, which is special because of the technique employed in the painting of Leonardo's Last Supper, which was exceptional during the fresco era. In any case, it is an eccentric site, predominantly if you are a writer, canvasser, or historian.

With our Vox City self-guided audio tour, you can learn about the history of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a church built in the middle of Milan in the fourteenth century. Listen to your multilingual audio tour as you wander the venue admiring the Basilica's lovely interior, intricately built by Bramante and Solari.