Historic Center Walking Tour (Self Guided), Milan

Immerse yourself in several fascinating centuries’ worth of history and architecture in Milan’s city center. A gorgeous park, elegant palaces and historic houses are just some of the thrilling sights to be seen.

A good place to start is with a saunter down Via Dante, named after the Florentine poet Dante Alighieri. This beautiful pedestrianized street is lined with 18th and 19th-century houses, palaces, shops, cafés and restaurants.

One of the principle highlights of this part of the city is Castello Sforzesco, a 14th-century castle with a turbulent history. It has been demolished and rebuilt on several occasions, and today offers a wonderful window into the past with historical artifacts belonging to the Civici Musei Castello Sforzesco and numerous other museums in the castle complex. Among them is the Egyptian Museum, the Antique Furniture and Wooden Sculpture Museum, the Museum of Ancient Art and the Museum of Musical Instruments. You could easily spend days among the many and varied exhibits.

Behind the castle is Parco Sempione (Simplon Park), a large green space designed in the romantic style of an English garden. Amble along winding paths through beautifully landscaped grounds and open grass areas. Check out the attractive bridge across the central pond and the park’s other structures and monuments.

Climb up to the viewing platform of the Torre Branca, a 354-feet (108-meter) tall tower erected in 1933. Stop by the Arco della Pace, originally built as a Victory Arch for Napoleon in 1807.