Milan Tour Experience
Modernism to Antiquity - The Navigli Trails
Welcome to the walking tour. This route is created in the context of Milan's important commercial network, which once stretched from Venice, where goods arrived at San Babila, and pushed onward toward Switzerland. Transportation of the goods was aided by an intricate system of waterways.
Hidden from the naked eye, a historical lifeline meanders beneath our route; it traces the course of an old inner canal ring that dates back to the twelfth century. These canals were the only viable means of transporting the massive Candoglia marble blocks from Lake Maggiore to the Duomo.
Planning Your Walk
Although the audio guide begins from Piazza San Babila, you may follow the route in reverse, starting from the Navigli District. If you wish, you may also consider 'breaking' the walking route into 2 phases, on separate days.
Start from San Babila and end at Torre Velasca for the first phase. Subsequently, visit the Navigli District and walk north towards Torre Velasca.
Use the link below to view the planned route on Google Maps:
Google Maps Directions
Piazza San Babilia
The Portrait Hotel
Casa Degli Omenoni
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Duomo
Torre Velasca
Via Crocefisso
Colonne San Lorenzo
Conca di Naviglio
Darsena—Navigli District
Before you leave ...
If you have chosen to end your walk in the Navigli District, visit the Centro di Incisione at Alzaia Naviglio Grande 66 to catch a glimpse of this neighbourhood from the 70s.
Centro di Incisione is a lithography workshop founded by Gigi Pedroli, on the right bank of the Naviglio Grande Canal. The workshop is hidden within Palazzo Galloni, a complex built in the early 17th century and once owned by the merchant family of the same name.
Walk through the building's portico and be greeted by the complex's lush courtyard garden, a typical urban landscape in the Navigli district.
Then hop across to the other side of the canal and order yourself a cocktail at Rita, Via Angelo Fumagalli, 1, an institution of Milan's cocktail bars in the district.
If you have chosen to take the reverse route, ending at Piazza San Babila, take a leisurely stroll along Via Durini, a street that has evolved from a historic noble quarter into a bustling district showcasing Italy's finest furniture design brands.
Mindful Milan Unveiled
This walking route is thoughtfully curated by our passionate founder, who aspires to reveal Milan's soul through its layers of history, architectural aesthetics, and cultural evolution. From the iconic landmarks to the hidden gems of Milan's historical districts, the route is a deep dive into the contextual stories that shaped this vibrant city. We hope you have experienced Milan with a new perspective!