Tour Details
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
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- Sforza Castle
- Pinacoteca Ambrosiana
- Cecilia Gallerani's House
Photos & Highlights
- Enjoy a curated visit to the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and the majestic Sforza Castle, home to some of Leonardo's rare works and other Renaissance treasures
- Explore the city where Leonardo da Vinci lived, worked, and left an indelible mark, guided by an expert art historian
Select a date
Tour Description
Due to its nature of being an extremely dynamic city and place of continuous transformation, Milan is one of the Italian cities that has changed the most from ancient times to today. This 3-hour tour is more than a walk through historical sites: it’s an invitation to see Milan through Leonardo’s eyes. Our experienced guide, an art historian specialized in the Italian Renaissance, will take you on a journey through the historical center of Milan to explore Leonardo’s life, his genius, and his lasting impact on the city.
During this tour, you will be able to admire two of the three surviving masterpieces by Leonardo in Milan. You will start from Sforza Castle, probably one of the most iconic sights in Milan, and the place where Leonardo served the Sforza dukes and left significant artistic traces, such as the magnificent Sala delle Asse. This masterpiece is the largest painting Leonardo ever created, and recent restorations have uncovered previously unseen drawings, making this an extraordinary experience. As you wander through the courtyards and museum rooms, your guide will go over the deep connection between Leonardo’s innovations and the city's development, demonstrating how his work helped shape Milan into a Renaissance powerhouse like Rome, Venice, and Florence.
Your guide will share stories of how Leonardo, upon arriving in Milan, presented himself to the ruling Sforza family with a letter similar to a modern resume. It highlighted his skills as an engineer, musician, and architect—only modestly mentioning his abilities as a painter.
You will also visit the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, one of Milan's most valuable artistic collections, where you will see some of Leonardo's original drawings and writings in pages of the Codex Atlanticus, which were collected from his private diaries and sketchbooks. You'll also see the Portrait of a Musician, Leonardo's only surviving male portrait and extremely enigmatic painting, with its mysterious subject and innovative approach to portraiture.
This tour will transform your appreciation for both Leonardo and Milan, showing you less-known aspects of Leonardo’s life, and diving into his diverse contributions to Milan.
- You are an art enthusiast, a history buff, or simply a lover of great stories and you are fascinated by the figure of Leonardo da Vinci.
- You’re curious to explore Milan’s rich history and learn about Leonardo, whether you know a lot or just a little about his life.
- You’ve seen the Last Supper or couldn’t secure tickets and still want to learn about Leonardo with the guidance of an expert art historian.
- Pinacoteca Ambrosiana
- Sforza Castle
- Cecilia Gallerani's house - the famous Lady with an Ermine
Tickets
The tour includes skip-the-line access to both the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and Sforza Castle.
Additional Trip-Planning Resources
A few things that pair well with this tour:
- A sketchpad and a camera to capture your own inspirations from Leonardo's works.
- Comfortable walking shoes for exploring the historic hallways and courtyards.
- For more information on planning your travels to Milan, take a read through our Context Stories.
- If you are looking to learn more about Milan prior to a visit, check out our online lectures at Context Learning.
Will I see the Last Supper on this tour?
No, this tour does not include a visit to the Last Supper. Since the Last Supper is a very popular site in Milan, tickets are often difficult to obtain. However, this tour offers a comprehensive exploration of Leonardo's other significant works in the city. We recommend this experience if you don’t have time for the Last Supper or were unable to secure tickets. Even without seeing the Last Supper, you will still gain deep insights into Leonardo’s genius and his lasting impact on Milan.
Can we add tickets for the Last Supper to this tour?
This tour is specifically designed to focus on the Sforza Castle and Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, so we cannot include tickets for the Last Supper. If you wish to visit the Last Supper, we suggest booking our dedicated Last Supper Tour. Please note that due to high demand, tickets for the Last Supper are extremely limited and can be difficult to obtain.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Although not necessarily designed for families, this tour can be tailored to engage younger audiences with interactive storytelling.
Although not necessarily designed for families, this tour can be tailored to engage younger audiences with interactive storytelling.
Can I take photos during the tour?
Photography is allowed in most areas; however, flash photography may be restricted in certain parts of the museums.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Is this tour wheelchair-friendly?
This tour involves walking through historic sites that may have uneven surfaces, which can be challenging but can be doable for wheelchair users with some modifications. The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and the Sforza Castle are both accessible, with ramps and slides in certain areas, including the Sala delle Asse.
Where You'll Start
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7 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Loved our tour. Giacomo was friendly and knowledgeable. We would highly recommend.
Gregory
Aug 2, 2024
Giacomo is amazing, professional and enthusiastic. Not sure how you find these great people but Giacomo (his English is Perfect) is so knowledgeable not just about Da Vinci but also about art history, Milan history etc. He is a perfect context person.
Kathleen
Oct 15, 2019
Giacomo was very insightful and his passion for the subject matter made the tour very enjoyable. We had great conversations and learned a great deal; not just about Da vinci and other great works of art, but about buildings while we walked. In future I would offer a longer version of this tour to guests because of the abundance of pieces that were overlooked because of time restrictions. Or to offer guests printed version of museum tickets to go back same day. We were offered to stay in last museum by Giacomo but were too tired bc of our long day of travel. I would had taken up the offer if I had not been tired.
Melissa lee
Oct 12, 2019