Starting from your centrally-located hotel, your guide will walk you through the streets of Milan to visit some of its most famous monuments.

Whether or not you agree with Oscar Wilde that Milan's Duomo is 'an awful failure', you can't fail to be impressed Italy's largest church as you walk into the Piazza del Duomo.    At the very heart of the city, the incredible marble-faced cathedral is dedicated to St. Ambrose, the city's patron saint, who, as Bishop of Milan, famously excommunicated the emperor Theodosius.  Learn about the construction of the cathedral, which began in the 14th century and would continue down the centuries until the facade was finished in time for Napoleon's coronation as 'King of Italy' here in 1805.  Inside, your guide will point out some of the great artistic and historical heritage that is housed here.

Wandering through the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping arcade, you can observe fashionable Milanesi checking out the designer stores which are covered by magnificent 19th century glass and iron domes and vaults.

On the other side is Italy's most famous opera house, La Scala.  Although you won't be going inside, your guide will talk to you about the history of the building, a replacement for the previous opera house that had burned down in the late 18th century.  From the start one of the places to be seen in Milan, today it attracts opera stars from around the world for the season that opens each year on the Feast of St. Ambrose. 

Your guide will walk you through part of the Brera district, known as the artistic heart of the city.  Still today it is home to many artisans, as well as the Brera art gallery.  Finally, you will come to Sempione Park and the Sforza Castle.  Several members of powerful Sforza family held the title of Duke of Milan throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, building the castle into a fortress, designed in part by Leonardo da Vinci.