MILAN UNDER THE “MADUNINA” – 21K

Milan is a city of contrasts, with a unique blend of modernity and tradition, glamour and austerity, excess and sobriety. It can be hard to understand, but it’s precisely these contrasts that make Milan so special. As you explore the city, you’ll see how it maintains a delicate balance between different times and styles.

The fullest picture of Milan includes spots, like Basilica of St. Ambrogio, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Piazza dei Mercanti and the Navigli, with its flamboyant nightlife, as well as a deeper cruise across the City Centre (Cinque Vie).

As we start our tour, we’ll begin with a nod to Milan’s most famous landmark, the “Madunina” statue atop the Duomo. From there, we’ll head to the Torre Velasca, the iconic skyscraper with its distinctive braces. Next, we’ll pass by the charming Santa Caterina Church and the historic courtyard of Ca’ Granda, which now serves as the University of Milan‘s main campus.

The trip into the past stretches along the Churches of Santo Stefano and San Bernardino alle Ossa, before diving into the heart of Milan’s fashion district at Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga. For a more serene experience, we’ll head to the Quadrilatero del Silenzio, featuring Liberty buildings and villas such as Ca’ de L’Oreggia and Villa Invernizzi with its Pink Flamingos.”

Then, just a quick shortcut through the Giardini Pubblici, spotting the lines of the Railway Central Station from Piazza della Repubblica, and we will reach Porta Nuova district in Piazza Gae Aulenti.

A refreshing drink in Corso Como, Porta Garibaldi and their lively Milanese movida will energize us before we travel back in time to the neoclassical Arco della Pace. But don’t get too comfortable in the past, as the ultramodern archi-star Citylife Complex is just a few blocks away!

The Old & New experience continues with a visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where you can see the world-famous Da Vinci’s Last Supper and Sant’Ambrogio.

Milan was built over water, and you will know more about it as we approach the Conca del Naviglio, just by the ruins of the Roman Arena and the Navigli, which offer a vibrant nightlife scene known as “Milano da bere”.

After rounding Porta Ticinese and the Basilicas of Sant’ Eustorgio and San Lorenzo, time for some more attractions, as we make our way through the Cinque Vie, where we explore Biblioteca Ambrosiana / Piazza San Sepolcro, Roman Imperial Palace at Via Brisa and the Triennale.

Our journey will take us through Parco Sempione, Castello Sforzesco, and the bohemian district of Brera, where we’ll visit the renowned Pinacoteca. We’ll even have a chance to have a glimpse of the prestigious Teatro La Scala before heading to the Galleria and concluding our tour in Piazza Dei Mercanti, with the stunning Duomo as our backdrop.