Scala Theatre and Duomo Cathedral Skip-the-Line Tour

Then, just a short walk away, you’ll encounter the breath-taking Duomo, and thanks to your skip-the-line tickets, you’ll meander right past the long queue and into the cathedral’s impressive interior. Here, throughout an hour-long tour, you’ll be introduced to both the renowned and overlooked details of the Cathedral, which ensures you leave with a deeper appreciation for the generations of work behind its construction.

Scala Theatre and Duomo Cathedral Skip-the-Line Tour Description

Your 2-hour tour includes:

• Guided tour of the Scala Theatre

• Skip-the-line tickets to Duomo Cathedral

• Insights into Milan's musical and architectural heritage

• Small group for a more personalized experience

• Insights from a licensed, English-speaking guide

Scala Theatre

Your tour begins outside the Scala Theatre, where you’ll meet your expert guide and fellow group members. Before heading in, pause to take in its elegant neoclassic façade, grand archways, and intricate stonework, all of which hint at the grandeur within. Inaugurated in 1778, this stunning theatre is famed for its acoustical qualities and historical performances, and it's here that some of the world’s most renowned musicians have left their mark, from Arturo Toscanini to Daniel Barenboim.

As you step inside, the rich history and opulent architecture, adorned with red plush seats and a sprawling crystal chandelier, immediately reminds you of its grand purpose. And thanks to an expert guide leading the way, you’ll soon be admiring the theatre's impressive collection of classical set designs, costumes, and musical instruments. Tune in as your guide shares stories of past performances and highlights the theatre's significant role in the evolution of opera and classical music. Perhaps, with a stroke of luck, you'll even catch a glimpse of artists rehearsing, offering a rare peek behind the curtain of this iconic institution.

The Duomo

After leaving the Scala Theatre, a short walk brings you to the imposing Duomo. This magnificent Gothic cathedral, with its intricate façade decorated with statues, spires, and gargoyles, is even more striking up close, and the closer you look, the more hidden details reveal themselves. Yet, the inside is where the magic truly lies, and thanks to your skip-the-line ticket, you’ll quickly bypass the long queues and follow your guide into the cathedral’s nave.

Upon entering, pause to take in the vast interior, adorned with stained-glass windows and detailed sculptures and artworks that reveal centuries of devotion and artistry. While construction began in the 14th century, it wasn’t fully complete until the 20th and took thousands of workers and generations of architects to finish.

As you follow your guide’s lead, you’ll uncover the Cathedral’s most impressive features, including the Sundial Trail, the “Holy Nail,” which is said to be from the True Cross of Jesus Christ, and the crypt of Saint Charles Borromeo. Throughout the hour-long tour, your guide will also reveal fascinating facts and stories—from the meaning of the Madonnina to architectural quirks.

Then, as the tour wraps up, your guide will leave you inside the Duomo to explore at your leisure. Feel free to stick around or take advantage of your guide’s local knowledge to visit an excellent nearby bar or restaurant. Either way, you’re sure to walk away feeling well-introduced to Milan’s most renowned sites. Thanks for joining!

To enter the Duomo, both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders, otherwise, they have the right to refuse entry and you’ll miss out on a portion of your tour. We understand the summers in Milan can be warm, so a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.