Carnival, the most lighthearted and fun celebration of all, is now here. Store windows are colored in colorful hues, filled with the typical sweets, chatter and pancakes, confetti is already beginning to be seen on the streets, and children are looking for a new disguise.
Since Carnival has a very special flavor in Milan, the NEIADE Tour & Events team thought of dedicating some themed tours to this holiday as well!
Perhaps not everyone really knows the story of Meneghino, the Commedia dell’Arte character who is undisputed king of the Milan carnival and whom we will get to know on our tours: good and witty servant, honest and always busy, so much like the typical Milanese that his name has become synonymous with it.
Discover guided tours to learn about all the stories and traditions of Carnival in Milan!
The Legends and Traditions of Milan – Special Carnival
In the shadow of the Castello Sforzesco there are so many stories and anecdotes to be told by tracing the entire history of Milan. With this tour between the Castle and the Duomo, this time we are going to discover all the stories related to the Milanese carnival: we will get to know Meneghino, the absolute protagonist of the carnival, and we will hear the story of chiacchiere according to the Milanese recipe. If, then, you are curious about how confetti was born, this is the right tour.
The new Actor tours, in search of Milan’s historical figures
Carnival rhymes with masks, disguises and theater… so it is the right opportunity to visit the city of Milan and its historical-artistic heritage in a completely new way, treating yourself to the fun experience of an actor tour in the city’s historic center. A guided walking tour, enriched by the “surprise” incursion of one of the most famous characters in the history of Milan, played by a professional actor: long and gray beard, Renaissance suit… do you recognize him? He is Leonardo da Vinci, the Tuscan genius who lived in the city for a long time during the time of Ludovico il Moro, working at the court of the Castello Sforzesco and creating such celebrated works as the Last Supper, still preserved today in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
The Basilica of St. Ambrose, at the origins of the Ambrosian Carnival
What makes the Ambrosian Carnival so special? For starters, the dates on which Ambrosian Carnival is celebrated are different from those celebrated elsewhere! Following the Ambrosian liturgical calendar, in fact, Carnival is celebrated until Shrove Saturday: a full four days after Shrove Tuesday, which instead determines the end of celebrations where the Roman rite is observed. Legend has it that in the fourth century AD. St. Ambrose, today the patron saint of the Lombard capital, had asked the people of Milan to postpone the start of the celebrations of Lent (the so-called Ash Wednesday), as he was still far from the city, engaged in a pilgrimage… These and other anecdotes will be the focus of the guided tour dedicated to the very ancient Basilica of St. Ambrose, a real treasure chest of precious stories and treasures!
At the Theatre Museum at La Scala, remembering Meneghino
Speaking instead of Meneghino, a stop at the Museo Teatrale alla Scala is a must. In addition to displaying stage costumesand memorabilia belonging to great artists of the city’s theatrical past, a visit to the theater museum allows us to tell a few anecdotes that have to do with the Ambrosian Carnival.Indeed, Milan’s most famous stage tells us about the fortunes of the character invented by Milanese playwright Carlo Maria Maggi during the 19th century. Indeed, among the many literati who narrated the events of Meneghino in texts composed in the Milanese dialect (or, to be precise, Meneghino) is the poet Carlo Porta, who participated in the writing of the comedy Il supposto morto, with Meneghino servo spiritoso in Paris: the play was performed at La Scala, albeit without enormous success, on July 26, 1818.
On the historic streetcar in Milan, in the atmosphere of the 1920s
To immerse yourself in the festive air throughout the city, simply board the Historical Tram and let yourself be transported through Milan’s most charming neighborhoods and areas to catch the joyful vibrancy of Carnival: Castello Sforzesco, the Fashion Quadrilateral, the Navigli… The streetcar is one of the symbols of Milan, we are used to taking it to work and get around the city, but getting on board theoriginal 1920s car on a Sunday afternoon, listening to its history and retracing that of Milan, with all it has to tell, and while sitting comfortably, is an experience not to be missed.
Max Ernst exhibition in Milan at Palazzo Reale
And if the Carnival weekend is an opportunity to indulge in some time to visit exhibitions and museums, we recommend the beautiful exhibition dedicated to German artist Max Ernst, on the very last day he is open to the public! In the halls of the Royal Palace, the guided tour will take you through a colorful, imaginative and dreamlike, ironic and surprising universe, influenced by the expressions of Surrealism international, one of the most important currents in twentieth-century art.
Finding a way to spend Carnival in Milan in a fun and original way, exploring the different faces of the city, is easy with the tours designed for this occasion by NEIADE Tour & Events!
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