Exploring Milan

A Quiet Start in the City

The day began with a gentle walk in a nearby park, Giardini Indro Montanelli, where the winter sunlight filtered through the trees and leaves rustled softly underfoot. We passed a statue of Indro Montanelli, the journalist the park is named after, seated with a notebook in hand, quiet and thoughtful, as if still observing the world around him. It was a quiet and refreshing start before exploring Milan’s cultural heart.

A Lunch Before the Walk

Before heading into the heart of the city, we stopped for lunch at a small restaurant right opposite of our tour meeting point. It was a simple, unhurried meal, just enough to recharge before the afternoon ahead.

After that, we joined a guided walking tour of Milan. Our guide spoke clear, fluent English and had a way of explaining things that made every place feel alive. It wasn’t just facts, he shared stories, little details, and historical context that made the city much more interesting to explore.

With that, we began our walk toward Milan’s most iconic landmark.

Milan Cathedral – A Masterpiece in Marble

Our first major stop was the Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano), one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world.

Standing in front of it felt almost unreal. The white marble façade was filled with countless spires and statues, over a hundred of them, each carefully carved, each telling its own story. It’s said that construction took nearly six centuries, which somehow explains the incredible level of detail.

Inside, the atmosphere changed completely. The space was vast and quiet, with towering columns and soft light streaming through stained glass windows.

One statue stayed in my mind—St. Bartholomew holding his own skin. It was striking, slightly unsettling, yet impossible to look away. A reminder of how deeply faith and art were intertwined in that era.

A Walk Through Milan’s Cultural Heart

Just outside the cathedral, the city felt alive again.

We stopped by the Leonardo da Vinci statue at Piazza della Scala, a tribute to one of history’s greatest minds.

Surrounded by his students, the statue quietly reflects Milan’s deep connection to art, science, and innovation.

From there, we walked into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest shopping gallery. The moment you step inside, it feels more like a palace than a mall—glass dome ceilings, mosaic floors, and elegant arches everywhere you look.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest shopping gallery.

La Scala – Where Music Lives On

Next, we visited La Scala Opera House, one of the most famous opera houses in the world.

Inside, the red velvet seats and golden balconies created a space that felt both grand and intimate. It was easy to imagine the performances that once filled the hall, voices rising, music echoing, stories unfolding on stage.

Even standing there quietly, you could almost feel the weight of its history.

The Last Supper – A Moment That Stays

The highlight of the day was seeing Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” at Santa Maria delle Grazie.

The painting is faded, fragile, and carefully protected but somehow, that makes it even more powerful. The expressions, the stillness, the emotion it all feels incredibly real.

It’s not just something you see. It’s something you feel. And for a few quiet minutes, everything else fades away.

An Evening at Sforza Castle

As the day came to an end, we made our way to Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco).

Once a powerful fortress and later a residence for Milan’s ruling families, the castle now stands as a symbol of the city’s history. At night, under soft lights and the quiet sky, it felt peaceful and almost reflective.

The long walls, the open space, the cool air, it was the perfect place to slow down after such a full day.

A Day to Remember