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Daytime

Golden Hour at the Duomo

Start your afternoon with a historic coffee in the heart of Milan, then walk to the cathedral square to catch the late afternoon light on the marble facade.

Best time: 15 AprAbout 120 min

Timeline

  1. 18:08

    Biffi

    Grab a coffee and a pastry at Biffi, an old-fashioned café open since 1867. It is located inside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, so you can arrive early when it is quiet and enjoy the stunning glass roof before the crowds gather.

  2. 19:08

    Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

    Stroll through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. The mother of all shopping malls features a splendid 19th-century palace with a mosaic floor and glass cupola. It is a short two-minute walk from Biffi, so you can keep the pace leisurely.

  3. 20:08

    Duomo

    Step out into the piazza to admire the Duomo. The massive late Gothic cathedral in white marble is festooned with spires and statues. On this date, the sun sets toward the WNW around 20:08, casting a warm golden light on the facade as you stand in the square.

Local tip

Biffi is open from 12:00 to 24:00, so you have plenty of time. The Galleria is a busy thoroughfare, so keep an eye on your belongings. The Duomo piazza is best viewed from the front; entering the cathedral requires a ticket and queue.

Check before you go

  • Biffi is open 12:00–24:00 daily.
  • The Duomo is free to view from the piazza; tickets are required for the interior or roof.

Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Milan (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

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