A POEM WROUGHT IN MARBLE

Known the world over as Italy’s stylish fashion capital and thriving business centre, Milan boasts a fascinating, thousand-year-old history and is home to an impressive wealth of archaeological, artistic and architectural treasures. See the very best of this northern gem on a private tour of the city centre.

First founded in the 6th century BC by a Celtic tribe, the ancient village of Medhelan was conquered by the Romans in the 2nd century BC and named Mediolanum, meaning “in the midst of the plain”. Capital of the Western Roman Empire from 286 to 402 AD, in its long history Milan has played a critical role in a host of social and political dramas. In medieval times the city’s fortunes waxed and waned: dark times of conquest and invasion were interspersed with fruitful periods of peace and prosperity. The city reached extraordinary artistic heights in the 15th century, when the enlightened patrons of the ruling Sforza family hired masterful Renaissance artists, including Leonardo Da Vinci and Donato Bramante, and sprinkled the city with astounding works of art. Your guide will lead you past Milan’s main attractions and highlight the key moments in the city’s past, from its early beginnings up to the latest urban projects, allowing you to gain an overview of Milan’s development throughout the ages.

You will begin your day exploring the remarkable Duomo, a masterpiece of Gothic workmanship and the 6th largest Christian Church in the world. Construction work began in 1386 and, since its completion – which took almost six centuries – it has entranced visitors from far and wide. One very impressed 19th century tourist was Mark Twain: “What a wonder it is! So grand, so solemn, so vast! And yet so delicate, so airy, so graceful! […] a miracle! – an anthem sung in stone, a poem wrought in marble!” Look up at the cathedral’s magnificent facade, brimming with statues of saints, monstrous gargoyles, pinnacles and buttresses while your guide retraces the history behind this architectural marvel and points out its most striking features. You will get to know the names of the illustrious patrons who gave impulse to this enterprise and the triumphs of the talented craftsmen whose priceless works still grace its walls. From the visionary projects of 14th century Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti to the royal coronation of Napoleon as King of Italy in 1805, the Duomo has witnessed – and embodied – hundreds of years of Milanese ambitions. After admiring the splendid interior, housing precious stained glass windows, paintings and sculptures, climb down the time-travel staircase and find yourself hurtled into a bygone era. Indeed, hidden almost four metres beneath the Duomo’s floor lie the subterranean remains of a 1,600-year-old baptistery where Milan’s patron Saint Ambrose is said to have baptised Saint Augustine in 387 AD. Your all-round exploration of the cathedral will end on the panoramic rooftop terraces, offering unparalleled views of the Milanese skyline. From here you will also gain a closer look at the myriad of fantastic marble creatures that populate the Duomo’s spires as well as the much-loved gleaming Madonnina, bestowing her blessings on the city since 1774.

A leisurely stroll through the city centre will allow you to discover many of Milan’s picture postcard landmarks. Your guide will certainly show you around the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a 19th century glass vaulted arcade lined with voguish boutiques and cafes, which can honestly claim to be one of the oldest shopping centres on earth – a noteworthy record for the capital of glamour. You will also discover the significant contribution of Milan to the world of music as you amble past the legendary 18th century La Scala theatre, a milestone in the history of opera, where innumerable premieres by Italy’s greatest composers were staged. No less astounding are the city’s triumphs in the development of military engineering and its past and ongoing reputation for fostering the most brilliant talents on the art scene, as you will learn as you gaze out on the 15th century red-brick Sforza Castle, once the residence of the powerful ruling family.