The Origins of Milan: from Celtic Myth to Roman Capital

Beneath every modern Milan street lies layers of history. On this walking tour, you’ll peel back the centuries to discover the original city of Mediolanum, from its mythical Celtic beginnings to its rise as a powerful Roman capital that controlled the Western Empire.

This tour starts in Piazza del Duomo, Milan’s modern heart, but quickly leads you into less-travelled alleyways where ancient stories await. You’ll walk along what was once the Cardo Maximus (main north-south street) of Roman Mediolanum, and witness how this strategic location at the centre of the Po Valley became a vital corridor for soldiers and merchants.

Along the way, you’ll see marble columns that have witnessed nearly two millennia of history and hear about the half-woolly boar that gave the city its name. The tour ends where the Roman Amphitheatre once stood, a place where 20,000 spectators once gathered to watch gladiatorial contests and naval battles in what is now a peaceful courtyard.

On this 90-minute journey through ancient Milan, you’ll have the chance to:

• Stand in the former heart of Roman Mediolanum where the Cardo and Decumanus Maximus once crossed
• See the archaeological remains of Emperor Maximian’s grand Imperial Palace of Maximian
• Marvel at the sixteen Corinthian columns of San Lorenzo, one of Milan’s most striking Roman remnants
• Learn how Milan became the capital of the Western Roman Empire in 286 CE
• Hear about Milan’s Roman Amphitheatre Archeological Site and the Ruins of the Circo Romano, where chariot races once thrilled thousands
• Discover how Christian basilicas like San Lorenzo were built using materials from older Roman temples

Step back in time and discover the hidden Roman city beneath modern Milan on this fascinating archaeological journey!