Milan: Highlights Walking Tour with Cathedral and Rooftops

We will step directly into the cathedral, which is an absolute masterpiece, a stunning architecture that took centuries to complete. In 1386, the first duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, commissioned the construction of this cathedral upon the ruins of two previous churches, Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Tecla. Today the Duomo is the biggest church in Italy and the sixth biggest church globally. Since its inception, the cathedral was dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente and designed as gothic architecture. Numerous changes intervened throughout the centuries, and it was finally thanks to Napoleon that the Duomo got completed. You’ll explore a place filled with history, art and faith, admiring fantastic stained glass, outstanding artworks, worshiped relics and unparalleled architectural solutions. Did you know that precious Candoglia marbles were transported from their quarries (near Lake Maggiore) to the city center thanks to artificial canals?

Our tour will start observing the cathedral apse and the facade. Immediately after, we’ll climb approximately 200 steps to reach a breath-taking roof terrace of about 8,000 square meters. There, you’ll be able to admire 135 spires, pinnacles, flying buttresses and many statues. It is almost impossible to believe it, but the Duomo features about 3,400 statues! Designed and carved throughout the centuries, they portray a vast range of biblical and historical figures, gargoyles, animals, little monsters, dragons, faces, and puzzling silhouettes. And if you think that the Duomo is now complete, you’re wrong! New statues have been carved and installed in recent times to represent the city’s contemporary history. We’ll also pay homage to Milan’s most venerated statue: La Madonnina. Completed in 1774 and installed on the cathedral's highest spire, the gold plated statue of the Virgin has been protecting the city ever since. Even our Milanese unofficial anthem is dedicated to her!

Start your walking tour admiring the renowned and monumental Piazza del Duomo, the city’s beating heart. The square is house to the city’s most famous landmarks, including the Duomo, which took centuries to complete. Featuring 135 spires, 3.400 statues and a golden statue of the Virgin Mary on top, it’ll be a feast for your eyes!

Follow our guide through the crowds and immerse yourself in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Its imposing glass dome and luxury fashion boutiques will leave you speechless while the tragic story of its architect and the legends deriving from his mysterious death will make you see the Galleria with different eyes.

Admire Piazza della Scala, home to the world's most famous opera house, the city town hall, museums, and monuments. On our way to the Sforza Castle, marvel at the enchanting and ancient Piazza Mercanti, one of the most suggestive places in Milan. The hidden piazza will surely seduce you while also letting you discover more about the city’s multi-layered past.

Stroll through Milan’s scenic streets and reach the Sforza Castle, a superb monument encompassing the city’s history like no other. Indeed, the castle has accompanied the city throughout centuries and stands as one of its most representative symbols.