The Bell Tower of the Basilica of San Vittore with the Bell Ringers

The Basilica of San Vittore, a surprise in the heart of Milan

A stone’s throw from the more famous Sant’Ambrogio, the Basilica of San Vittore, with its very tall bell tower, is also worth a guided tour. The church is called vetus, an attribute meant to remind us of its antiquity and prestige, but it was the cession to the Olivetans that consecrated it as the beating heart of artistic history in the city. The facade, which has remained unfinished, strikes us with its simplicity that contrasts with the sumptuousness of the interior. Once inside, we will be overwhelmed by the splendor of the rich decorations and the marvelous perspective vault. A real unexpected surprise for the visitor, who certainly does not think to find a jewel like this hidden among the streets of downtown Milan, just a few steps away from the much more famous Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio.

A visit…in height

But the guided tour of the ancient Milanese basilica is only completed with a climb to the tall bell tower: the ideal place to admire the city’s panorama, in an exceptional historical setting. Here we will admire the rooftops of the city, its skyline and skyscrapers, and recognize the main areas of the city, sharpening our eyesight and admiring with a new look the particularities of the Lombard capital. In this unique setting, accompanied by the tolling of bells, Milan has a whole other sound, and we will get to know one more facet of it.