I know what you’re thinking. Only three hours in Milan? Ridiculous. Right? But sometimes, a few hours is all we have to explore a place. And it’s better than not seeing Milan at all.
Although Alan and I are happiest when we’re traveling slow, occasionally we find ourselves cramming as much as we can into a travel experience. That was the case when we stopped in Milan at the beginning of a road trip to Northern Italy.
Alan and I had arrived the afternoon before at Malpensa Airport, about 28 miles northwest of Milan. We opted for a good night’s rest at the Holiday Inn Express Malpensa before starting out the next morning with our guide, Claudio from A La Carte Italy Tours, and boomer travel friends, Jack and Sue.
Although we were headed to our first stop at Lake Como, Claudio had convinced us that even though our focus was on off-the-beaten-path Italy, Milan deserved at least a few hours of our attention.
Three Hours in Milan: What to See
After climbing into Claudio’s minivan, we began the process of “getting to know you” as Claudio maneuvered the roads into Milan on a rainy Sunday morning. He quickly located an underground parking garage and we were off to see Italy’s fashion city.
Begin at Milan’s Duomo
Since this was a Sunday, worshipers crowded the interior of the Duomo, the fourth largest cathedral in the world (if you count St. Peter’s Basilica in the State of Vatican City). And it’s also the largest Gothic cathedral in Europe.
With construction believed to have begun in 1386 over the ancient basilicas of Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Tecla, the Gothic masterpiece, which also includes Renaissance influences, was finally completed in 1965. That’s six centuries of construction and renovation.
Explore the Crypt at Milan Cathedral
To escape the crowd, we paid the small fee for a self-guided tour of the crypt.
A mixture of organ music and priests chanting in Italian drifted from overhead as our small group descended narrow stone steps to walk among Milan’s earliest Christian history. Placards were placed around the area to explain the mosaics that decorated the floors and walls as well as other relics such as a basket of pottery shards. In the center stood the excavated foundation of a Paleochristian Baptistery dating from the 4th century.
If there had been time, and the weather had been better, we could have visited the Duomo’s terraces and roof for a birds-eye view of Milan and beyond. Then we could have claimed to explore the Milano Duomo from top to bottom.
If you have the time: Book a Cathedral and Terraces entrance ticket to skip the line. Good for 3 days and includes an audio guide.
Boomer Travel Tip
Inspired to start planning an Italian adventure? Check out our Italy Travel Planner.
Stroll Through the Vittorio Emanuele Gallery
Joining the well dressed citizens of Milan — Italians do know their fashion — we strolled under the glass-vaulted ceiling of the Vittorio Emanuele’s double arcade. The marble-floored covered passage connects Piazza della Scala, Piazza Duomo, Via Silvio Pellico and Via Ugo Foscolo.
Although completed in 1877, the stylish walkway lined with upscale designer shops recalls a time of elegance that was still present on this Sunday morning.
By now, feeling very unfashionable but a little bit Italian, we agreed with Claudio that it was time for a refreshment break at La Rinascente, a department store with a glassed-in restaurant that overlooks Cathedral Square.
Of course to really be Italian, we would have joined Claudio in a Prosseco aperitif in the mid-morning rather than ordering cappuccinos like American tourists. However, Alan saved us by correctly ordering hot chocolate, which is an acceptable choice according to Italian customs.
Glimpse History at the Basilica of Saint Ambrose
Before driving to lunch in nearby Bereguardo, Claudio made one more stop at Basilica of Saint Ambrose, one of the most ancient churches in Milan. Built by St. Ambrose in 379-386, the building and grounds are somber and understated compared to the grand facade of the Duomo.
The current version of the church building dates from 1080. The site was heavily bombed by the Allies in 1943 during World War II.
After a brief look, it was time for our drive to lunch followed by a visit to Italy’s most beautiful small town piazza, Vigevano, before our evening arrival at Lake Como.
Of course three hours wasn’t enough time for exploring Milan. Unfortunately, we did not have the time to visit one of Milan’s, and the World’s, most famous paintings, The Last Supper. If you have three hours, a guided city walking tour and skip the line ticket to the Last Supper is the perfect way to see it!
