My wife and I will be traveling by train through Milan next September and expect to have a 4-hour layover. I'm looking for advice as to how we might best spend the 4 hours. We expect to plan our layover around a visit to The Last Supper. I expect we'll also want to spend time at the Duomo and the surrounding area.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
If the viewing of the Last Supper is important you need to arrange to get your reservations in as soon as they become available.
Unfortunately there are few people who see the masterpiece each day due to the deterioration caused by humidity only a very small number of people are allowed at each viewing, and only for a short period of time. The other problem is that a guy by the name of Dan Brown wrote a work of fiction which draws many people to want to see it. So by the laws of supply and demand it is often very difficult to see at when you want to see it.
The duomo in Milan is my favorite in Europe. It has a spectacular facade. Take the elevator up to the roof and you can walk around among the gargoyles and spires that overlook the city. I've never been on a cathedral roof that allows you such free access to cover so much of it. Highly recommend!
By 4 hour layover, I assume you are talking about the train station, not the airport. See the thread "Last Supper Scam". Not really a scam, but a rant against the tour companies that buy up all the Last Supper reservations and then bundle them into their tours at significantly higher cost than the nominal price of visiting on your own. Nonetheless, booking one of these walking tours might be good use of your time. they last about 3 hours, visit the Duomo, walk through the Victor Emmanual Mall, past La Scala, Castello Sforza and then on to the Last Supper. That way you will have a guaranteed time slot. Despite the tone of the rant, I found the tour guides highly knowledgeable and the tour worthwhile.
I will second the Duomo, the exterior is amazing and the climb to the top was worth the effort too! It's easy to access by subway from Milano Centrale. The Galleria sits on the same square and is worth a look. Have fun!
