Legends and Curiosities: A Guide to Milan’s Hidden Corners

(11 reviews)

Milan audio tour: Legends and Curiosities: A Guide to Milan’s Hidden Corners

This is a 2.9mi walking tour

It takes an average of 150 mins to complete.

Milan

Italy

$8.99

Access all 54 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

Buy for a Group

Reviews

About the Tour

Milan is far more than Italy’s fashion capital. On this walking tour, you’ll explore the historical center’s most intriguing corners while you hear about its mysterious symbols, forgotten saints, and often overlooked traditions.

The tour starts at Piazza Filippo Meda, where you’ll encounter the sculptural figures that adorn Casa degli Omenoni, a historical palace. You’ll wind through quiet squares like Piazza San Fedele and Piazza Belgioioso, and make your way to Chiesa di San Fedele, the church where literary giant Alessandro Manzoni met his fate.

Along the way, you’ll pass the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana art gallery which is home to a few Da Vinci treasures, Piazza degli Affari’s provocative sculptures, and Palazzo Imperiale Romano di Massimiano’s palatial ruins. The tour ends in front of the ancient Romanesque-style Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, an ancient Romanesque-style basilica, where you’ll see the mysterious Devil’s Column with its legendary horn marks.

On this two and a half hour tour, you’ll have a chance to:

Participate in the lucky tradition of spinning atop Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II’s famous floor mosaic of bull’s testicles
Discover the macabre beauty of Santuario di San Bernardino alle Ossa, a catholic church known for its uniquely decorated ossuary
Spot Tarantasio, the dragon carved into the Duomo di Milano’s facade
Get your head around master architect Bramante’s optical illusion inside the Renaissance church, Chiesa di Santa Maria next to San Satiro
Stroll along Milan’s secret Walk of Fame, featuring handprints from Hollywood stars like Sylvester Stallone
Explore the atmospheric Piazza dei Mercanti, medieval Milan’s trading heart where bankrupt merchants or fraudsters once faced public shaming
Descend into the crypt beneath Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio to witness the preserved remains of three saints in golden vestments

By the end of this tour, you’ll have a greater appreciation for Milan’s hidden world, where ancient legends and modern secrets intertwine.

Tour Producer

Simone

5 tours

Greetings, traveler!

My name is Simone, I’m a passionate travel designer and tourism expert with years of experience crafting memorable cultural journeys for adventurers like you. But more than that, I’m a lifelong explorer and a wanderer, with an insatiable curiosity for the world’s hidden gems and untold stories. History books fuel my passion for uncovering the layers of culture and heritage that shape the places I visit.

I believe the best journeys are built through storytelling and local immersion. That’s why I try to value routes that go beyond the usual highlights, opting for off-the-beaten path experiences.

My tours are crafted to ignite your imagination, combining rich storytelling with the joy of discovery, and possibly sharing the passion for the thrill of knowledge and adventure!

Farewell, and let the exploration begin!

Preview Location

Location 1

Start: The adventure begins!

Hello and welcome to a tour entirely dedicated to uncovering the secrets and unique places hidden within Milan's city centre!

My name is Simone, I am passionate about history and I happen to call this town home. Today, I invite you to join me in exploring Milan through the ... Hello and welcome to a tour entirely dedicated to uncovering the secrets and unique places hidden within Milan's city centre!

My name is Simone, I am passionate about history and I happen to call this town home. Today, I invite you to join me in exploring Milan through the lens of history, with a special focus on hidden, mysterious and curious places even my fellow citizen may not be aware of.

You are now standing in Filippo Meda Square, a tranquil place enriched by the golden aura of Arnaldo Pomodoro’s disc sculpture standing in the middle.

From this starting point, as you meander through the streets of Milan, I'll guide you to distinctive historical sites, unveiling fascinating facts and knowledge that even the locals don't know!
Commencing from this strategic hub in the heart of the city, let’s set a historical stage with a brief introduction of Milan before moving forward.

With roots tracing back to the Great Roman Empire, Milan emerged as the capital of the Western Empire from 286 to 402 CE, encapsulating over a hundred years of control!

Anyway, should you be unfamiliar with these Roman origins, when the city bore the name "Mediolanum", you'll find even more intrigue in the numerous stories and curiosities we'll unravel today.
While Milan is renowned as the fashion capital and a hub for urban shopping, as well as the capital of Italian commerce, you'll soon discover that its artistic and cultural heritage is equally remarkable and accessible to all those eager for the spirit of discovery and knowledge.

So, without further delay, let's embark on this adventure through time and mystery!
Let me orientate you first. Stand with your back to the disc sculpture, just between the nearby benches, and look straight ahead. Walk towards the visible colonnade straight ahead, and after few steps, you'll turn right under a big arch.

Bon voyage, and let this treasure-hunt exploration commence!

While you walk to the next stop, let me briefly explain how VoiceMap works.

It uses your location to play audio automatically, at the right time and place. This means that you can put your phone away now. Don't worry if I'm silent at times, when I'm not giving directions or telling stories. There's a map on your screen if you ever feel lost, and if you do get way off track without noticing, VoiceMap will let you know. Read More

View locations and route

How VoiceMap Works

Focus on your surroundings, not the screen

The VoiceMap app uses GPS to play audio automatically, at the right time and place, so you can focus on your surroundings, not the screen.

Follow a route with turn-by-turn-directions

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a fixed starting point. That lets us give turn-by-turn directions and use context to tell a better story.

Resume playback to go at your own pace

If you'd like to stop for a drink or go into a museum, end your tour then use the Resume feature to pick up exactly where you left off.

Listen as many times as you like

You can listen to your tours as often as you like using both the VoiceMap app and website.

Take virtual tours anywhere, like a podcast

Select Virtual mode in the VoiceMap app to listen to tours like a podcast - at home or in transit.

Buy for less on voicemap.me and sync

Once you've purchased a tour, it's added to your VoiceMap library. To access it in the app, just sign in using the same account.

Do tours without paying for data

Tours work offline, so you don't have to pay roaming fees. Just download them over WiFi before you get started.

Major Landmarks

Chiesa di San Fedele
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Duomo di Milano
Palazzo Reale di Milano
Santuario di San Bernardino alle Ossa
Church of Santa Maria next to San Satiro
Pinacoteca Ambrosiana
Temple Of Victory
Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio

View all

Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Piazza Filippo Meda, 2-6, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
Total distance

5km
Final location
Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, 15, 20123 Milano MI, Italy
Distance back to start location

2km

Directions to Starting Point

Your journey begins in Piazza Filippo Meda, where the striking bronze sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro marks the official start of your adventure. There, you'll receive a brief introduction before setting off to uncover the city's secrets!

Show Directions

Gift vouchers

Buy tours for friends and family who delight in discovery

Buy Now

Buy for a group

Get 15% to 50% off when you buy for a group

Buy Now

License this tour

Adapt this tour to use your brand and suit your guests

Find out more

Tips

Places to stop along the way

I recommend to check opening times prior to your (optional) entrance for these places:
• Duomo of Milan
• San Bernardino alle Ossa
• Church of San Satiro
• Pinacoteca Ambrosiana
• Victory Temple
• Sant'Ambrogio Basilica

Best time of day

I recommend to start the tour in the morning, so to dedicate the rest of the day to the exploration at your own pace with ease, and enjoy the flexibility to take spontaneous coffee or snack breaks during the tour! Weekdays are best, as it's usually less crowded. But please, if you wish to enter in any of the stated places, remember to check opening times prior to your adventure!

Precautions

Always be mindful opening times for the listed places. And double-check ticket availability for those keen to enter the Duomo Cathedral! (recommended but not mandatory during the tour)

Get The App

Download tours to use them offline

Listen hands-free with GPS playback

Get turn-by-turn directions

Scan the QR Code

“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”