Lombardia itineraries:
Visit Milano on foot

Pedestrian via Dante with Castello Sforzesco

Visit Milano on foot

Taking a stroll around Milano is an excellent way of getting to know some fascinating corners when visiting Milano for tourism or for business.

It also the only way to get acquainted with its flavor and the lifestyle of the "Milanese".

It is true what is said about the Milanese always being in a hurry, and it is undeniable that Milano is a very active city, its citizens however, have learned when to stop and enjoy a walk in the city center pedestrian areas while having an aperitif and a chat with friends.

Visit Milano's city center pedestrian areas:

Castello Sforzesco

• Corso Vittorio Emanuele is a pedestrian area with cinemas, booksstores, fashion stores and bars with open-air tables.
• Piazza Duomo - Milano's main square with the cathedral.
• Via Mercanti - Pedestrian area with its attractive "piazzetta", the administrative and political center of Medieval Milano.
• Piazza San Babila - Start of the pedestrian area, a square surrounded by post-war architecture with many fashionable shops.
• Via Dante - Created in the late 19th century to provide a link between the Duomo and the Castello Sforzesco.
• Via Della Spiga - Pedestrian street where the great stylists have their showrooms.
• Brera - One of the most attractive streets with fine private houses, art galleries, unique shops, most popular for its bars, clubs, restaurants, and night-life.

Visit Milano on foot: A recommended itinerary:

Photo © James Lawson

Start from Piazza San Babila, easily reachable with the "metropolitana" underground line 1, station San Babila. Walk in Corso Vittorio Emanuele, a fashionable street with lots of high end shops, mainly fashion.

At the end of Corso Vittorio Emanuele you'll arrive in the back of the Duomo.

A visit to the roof of the Duomo is a must. Take the elevator in the back of the Duomo, if you don't want to gasp on an interminable staircase! At the rooftop you are in a magic world of marble and several thousand statues.

Go to the front of the roof and look down at the Duomo square (Piazza Duomo).

Look also up to "the Madonnina" the golden statue on top of the highest guglia (spire), it's the most loved symbol of Milano. During world war II it was covered so that it would not shine in the night attracting the attention of the allied bombers.

Il Duomo from La Rinascente Cafeteria

When you finish your rooftop visit, don't miss a tour of the "Rinascente", a fabulous multi level store under the porticos on your right across the Duomo. 

While there stop in the cafe for a break. You'll  find it on the last floor of the store, the cafeteria has a glass wall facing the top of the Duomo.

The view is unique and the Cappuccino is worth a visit too.

Continuing North, you reach the main square in front of "il Duomo". You should visit the cathedral, if you have not yet done so.

On the right you then enter the "Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II", the first mall realized in the 19th century, and still a masterwork of artistic shopping.

La Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

Go to the middle of the Galleria and on the left don't miss the bull mosaic on the ground.  There is a tradition in Milano of spinning on the heel of one foot on the bull's testicles for good luck--go ahead and try it!

Returning back to piazza Duomo, visit the Piazzetta Reale, on the opposite side of the square: the "Palazzo Reale" is the place where most art and historical exhibitions are held in Milano.

Continue then towards the right corner of the square, and enter "via Mercanti", stopping to look at the Mercanti square on the left: it is a surprising corner of medieval Milano preserved  intact to the current days.

At the end of via Mercanti you continue through piazza Cordusio towards via Dante, recently converted into a pedestrian area. Via Dante will take you to the "Castello Sforzesco", definitely worth a visit too.

an article from Enrico Massetti.

© 1997-2010 Enrico Massetti
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