Milan is one of the world's top fashion capitals, but there is much more to this hip, urban metropolis – it is also home to an incredible patrimony of art and culture which includes Leonardo da Vinci’s greatest masterpiece, the 'Last Supper'.
Meander Through Milan
On this Skip the Line walking tour of the best of Milan – we’ll take to the city by foot starting with a visit inside the famous ‘Duomo’ located in the most central point of the city. Milan's impressive cathedral is often described as one of the most beautiful churches in the world, so much so, in fact, that American author Mark Twain dedicated a whole chapter to it in his book 'Innocents Abroad' – describing it as “…so grand, so solemn, so vast! And yet so delicate, so airy, so graceful!”.
Milan's Drawing Room
Our next stop is the impressive Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – a 19th century glass vaulted shopping arcade. Brimming with fashionable shops and cafés – it is often called the ‘salotto di Milano’ or ‘Milan’s drawing room’ for its importance as a common meeting point through the years for the Milanese.
Next it’s through the Brera District. Rich in historic buildings and ‘literature cafés”, restaurants and fashionable bars – this area has long been home to artists and intellectuals. Brera's picturesque and winding streets lead us north to Castello Sforzesco. An imposing medieval castle and fortress, Sforzesco was once seat and residence of the family that ruled Milan and now houses several of the city's museums and art collections. Your guide will explain more about it from the outside.
Experience Da Vinci's Last Supper
The final stop and culmination of this Milan tour is none other than Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper, hidden away at the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. This enormous and complex 15th century mural captures the emotional moment in which Jesus announces that one of his 12 disciples will betray him. The painting had been severely damaged over the centuries, and has only very recently undergone a painstaking 21 year restoration, revealing the original colors and details of this masterpiece. The delicate nature of this mural and its importance means that Last Supper tickets are strictly limited to those who have pre-booked – and only one group is allowed to stand with the painting at a time in a specially conditioned room for 15 minutes.
Planning to travel to Rome too? We've got you covered. Check out our tours in Rome. We just know you'll love them. They offer the same, expert guides, skip the line access, and great sightseeing.
This Skip the Line Tour of the Best of Milan includes this difficult to obtain pre-booked entrance, guaranteeing exclusive no line entry and an intimate viewing of the Last Supper.