What to See in Milan – An Interview with an IHE Milan Guide

Some people arrive in Milan for work. Others for love. Some simply by chance. And then there are those who choose to tell their story every single day, transforming the city into a living, breathing and unforgettable experience.

With this article, we take you behind the scenes of the tour guide profession alongside a remarkable professional who, for more than twenty years — eight of which spent collaborating with Hidden Experiences — has been accompanying travelers from all over the world in discovering the beauty of Milan: Lorella.

Her story is one of courage, passion and a bold decision: leaving behind a secure and prestigious career in the fashion industry to pursue a lifelong dream. Born in Pistoia, Tuscany, and Milanese by adoption, Lorella worked for nearly twenty years as the personal assistant to a General Director in an important international office. Yet the call of travel and the desire to share the soul of a place proved stronger than any desk.

We now leave you with the full interview. We hope her journey inspires you — and perhaps encourages anyone with a dream tucked away in a drawer to find the courage to pursue it.

What inspired you to become a guide, and what do you love most about your job?

One day, I invited a colleague to spend a weekend in Tuscany. I took her to visit Montecatini, and we rode the funicular up to Montecatini Alto. On the same train, there was a group of tourists with a tour guide — and in that moment, I had a true “revelation.” That was the job I wanted to do!

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. After twenty years in high-level office roles with prestigious responsibilities, I decided to leave my permanent contract and secure salary to pursue the job of my dreams: becoming a licensed tour guide. I was already 40 years old when I began studying. The qualification exam was difficult, but through dedication and hard work, I passed it on my first attempt.

Then came the challenge of finding clients on my own as a freelancer — and that was not easy either. But with determination, I succeeded. Today, I collaborate with several important travel agencies. I have now been working as a licensed guide in Milan for twenty years (and since 2013, under the new law, we are officially recognized as national tour guides). I truly love my job because I meet people from all over the world. On the same day, I might speak English, German, and Spanish — the languages I am licensed in — and only rarely my native language – italian. With all these cultures meeting in one place, it feels like I’m constantly traveling, even while staying in Milan.

As Confucius said: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” For me, that has always been true.

What is your first memory connected to Milan, and why did you choose this city?

I used to come to Milan long before moving here. I was only 23 when I began attending the BIT – Borsa Internazionale del Turismo (International Tourism Exchange) every year. I would collect travel catalogs of trips I dreamed of taking — and later made come true. Even back then, I loved Milan for its international spirit, its uniqueness, its constant innovation and energy.

By chance, I met Alberto — my future husband — in 1993 during a trip to Singapore. I am Tuscan by birth, and he is Milanese DOC. We married a year later, and I moved to Milan — the most beautiful city in the world, in my eyes.

I am truly happy to live in Milan. I have traveled extensively, visited many countries and cities in Italy and abroad… but Milan remains, and always will be, my favorite city.

If you had to describe Milan’s soul in just three adjectives?

Milan is big. Milan is spectacular. Milan is unpredictable.

For first-time visitors, what are the three absolutely unmissable stops?

When you arrive in Milan, you cannot miss the majestic Duomo Cathedral, the spectacular Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery with the magical La Scala Theatre, and finally the imposing Sforza’s Castle.

What hidden corner do you love showing travelers?

The Orto Botanico di Brera. Even some Milanese don’t know about it. It was opened thanks to Empress Maria Theresa of Austria between 1774 and 1775 and was also used to cultivate medicinal plants for Milan’s first historic pharmacy, opened in Via Fiori Scuri in 1812.

Milan is often described as gray and lacking greenery, yet behind private gates and courtyards lie enchanting green oases. This is the only one open to the public and tourists — and it always leaves visitors amazed.

Which neighborhood best reveals Milan’s authentic side?

The Brera district reveals an unexpected soul of the city. Tourists often say, “It doesn’t feel like Milan!” They associate Milan with business, finance and fashion, but rarely see it as a human-scale city — one where you can stroll, meet people from all over the world, and experience countless cultural and gastronomic events.

How has Milan’s tourism changed in recent years?

Milan grew enormously thanks to Expo 2015. In 2010, the Duomo welcomed 590,000 visitors annually. Today, according to 2025 statistics, it receives 3.5 million visitors per year — 82% international and 18% Italian.

How do you prepare for a tour, and what is the biggest challenge?

Being a licensed guide means constant study and staying updated on everything happening in the city. Milan hosts multiple events simultaneously, offering endless cultural opportunities. Visitors need experiences they cannot have at home. Memories are tied to emotions — it’s not enough to simply explain facts. You must make them feel the magic of the place. Only then will they remember it and perhaps wish to return. Many guests have come back with family and friends because they wanted to share those same emotions.

Why does a licensed guide make such a difference?

Today, independent visitors have books, audioguides, podcasts and social media influencers. But a licensed local guide dedicated to you or your group can interact personally, tailor explanations to your interests, answer your questions — something other methods cannot do — and offer deeper insight into the city.

Which tour do you love the most?

My favorite subject is Leonardo da Vinci. He lived in Milan for 17 years and called himself a “Florentine master in Milan.” Like me, he experienced the wonder of this city.

We find him in many places: in Sforza’s Castle, the Last Supper, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci, and his statue in Piazza della Scala.

I love telling his true biography because many people have constructed ideas that are not historically accurate. One of the biggest myths I always clarify concerns the Navigli: many believe Leonardo built them. I adore Leonardo — but he certainly could not have built Milan’s canals three hundred years before he was born! Construction began in 1172, with the defensive canal designed by Guglielmo da Guintellino. The Naviglio Grande was completed in 1272. Leonardo was born much later, in 1452 — and he himself was amazed by this extraordinary city of water.

The strangest question or most memorable moment?

Sometimes tourists book after researching online but don’t know exactly where monuments are located. I once received a call from guests who couldn’t find me at the meeting point at the Duomo Cathedral. While giving directions, I realized they were standing in front of Florence Cathedral — not Milan’s Duomo!

Recently, while explaining the golden statue of the Madonnina atop the cathedral’s main spire, after answering all questions, one guest concluded: “So she is Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ girlfriend.” A completely invented interpretation. Some travelers think they already know everything — but thankfully, the rest of the group had a good laugh.

What type of traveler gives you the most satisfaction?

Curious travelers who ask many questions and genuinely want to discover Milan. I happily offer them suggestions and advice for exploring further on their own.

What would you say to someone unsure about booking a tour?

A guided tour with a licensed guide allows you to truly understand the city. As the Milanese writer Carlo Castellaneta wrote: “There are cities of evident beauty that reveal themselves to everyone, and others more secret, that love to be discovered: Milan is a city to be discovered.” With us guides, you first become explorers — and then you become Milanese.

If you could give visitors one lasting memory?

Milan is made of countless memories: art, history, curiosities, innovation and experiences… the list could go on forever. In the end, each person will carry home what touched their heart. We are unique and irreplaceable — so every memory will be uniquely yours. As Castellaneta said, “One becomes Milanese.” I did — and now I am waiting for all of you in Milan, to help you become Milanese too.

What emerges from Lorella’s words is not simply the story of a career, but the living proof that a city can become a life choice. Milan is not merely a collection of monuments, squares, and museums. It is an intricate weave of stories, encounters, and hidden details revealed only to those who know where to look — and how to tell them.

Through her eyes, we rediscover a city that goes far beyond finance and fashion. A city that surprises. A city that hides secret gardens behind anonymous gates. A city that intertwines the genius of Leonardo with centuries-old waterways. A city that vibrates beneath the spires of the Duomo and shines under the vaults of the Galleria.

Most importantly, Milan is not just visited — it is lived.

And living it fully requires someone who can transform information into emotion, facts into stories and places into experiences.

That is the difference between seeing and discovering.

If this interview has sparked your curiosity — if you feel the desire to go deeper, to step behind the scenes, to listen to authentic stories and create a memory that is truly yours — the next step is simple.

Hidden Experiences does not offer simple tours, but carefully curated, tailor-made experiences for travelers who wish to explore Italy with depth and awareness. Whether you are in Milan for business, for a romantic weekend, or for your very first visit, we can guide you through its most iconic landmarks and its most unexpected corners, with licensed and passionate professionals like Lorella. From Renaissance masterpieces to authentic neighborhood strolls, from cultural insights to refined food and wine experiences, each proposal has one clear goal: to make you feel part of the city — not just a visitor passing through.

Discover all available experiences and book your personalized tour.

Because, as Lorella reminded us through Castellaneta’s words, Milan is a city that loves to be discovered. And we are ready to help you truly experience it.