Weave through the heart of Milan's Isola district to discover the city's artisanal heritage through a story about inclusion, sustainability and tradition. This exclusive tour opens the doors to some of the most influential 'botteghe artigiane' - craft workshops, where the fusion of tradition and modernity takes center stage. Your National Geographic-trained guide will reveal the history and evolution of the Isola district, transporting you into the world of Italian craft making, where reverence for materials, people, and sustainability prevails.
Start your tour with a burst of color and passion at KeChic fashion atelier. Valeria and Cheikh will share the heritage and artistry behind their handmade garments, designing each creation with a genuine love for their work.
The reverence for traditional skills continues at Bertucci Romani bookbinders shop. Discover the lab above the shop, normally closed to the public, where you will watch the process of bookbinding and witness the creativity of the owners in realizing cards, posters and building boxes for all occasions and events.
Continue your tour to the family-run Laboratorio Cagliani, where you'll witness the intricate process of breathing new life into timeless pieces of furniture. Specializing in restoration using the same skills as when the original piece was crafted, the Cagliani workshop upholds the spirit of the past.
The last stop is Uroburo atelier. A jewelry shop, a gold laboratory and a social cooperative: they promote environmental sustainability by using fair trade raw materials and social inclusion by employing people with mental illnesses and allowing them to learn a job.
Your tour will end with a delightful typical Milanese lunch at a local trattoria in the Isola district.
Nat Geo Day Tour: Handmade in Milan
Instant confirmation
Local touch
Meal Included
Smaller Group Size
Subject expert guide- Learn the secrets of Milan's unique Isola district, where age-old crafts flourish alongside futuristic architecture
- Visit some of the most influential 'botteghe artigiane' and explore some of the city's oldest and most intriguing artisan workshops, usually closed to the public while learning from the artisans themselves about their passion for jewelry, fashion, musical instruments and furniture restoration
- Explore the interplay between tradition and modernity, witnessing how concepts like sustainability, reusing materials, working ethically, and social inclusion are embraced in the work of these artisans
- Appreciate the diverse blend of architectural styles that defines Isola as a neighborhood and delve deeper into the traditional Milanese "casa di ringhiera" and its "casa e bottega" concept, which combines living space with a workshop.
- Enjoy a typical Milanese lunch at a local trattoria
Lunch
-
Guided tour
-
Workshop
Lunch
Piazzale Carlo Archinto, 20159 Milano MI, Italy
Not suitable for:
- wheelchair users and people who struggle to walk distances
Know in advance:
- there are two toilets at Angolo Milano Trattoria. Each lab/shop has a toilet if needed
- activity level is moderate
- distance in kilometers is 2.6km and approx 30 min. walking
- your lunch will be served at Angolo Milano Trattoria
- this tour can host a min. of 1 and a max. of 10 people
Remember to bring:
- comfortable shoes
- hat
What people say about this experience
Based on 1 reviews from verified customers
Anonymous
From United States of America - April 2024Excellent
Overall rated5/5
We thoroughly enjoyed this tour. It was an off the beaten path experience that was truly special. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the Isola nei ...
You might also like
Nat Geo Day Tour: A Green and Inclusive Sanctuary in Milan
Visit Cascina Biblioteca, a historic oasis in Milan, where a cooperative helps the vulnerable through a variety of projects such as sustainable farming. Explore on a rickshaw, get hands-on helping in local farming and savor homegrown dishes.
Nat Geo Day Tour: In Verdi's Footsteps
Giuseppe Verdi is celebrated as one of the most influential opera composers of the 19th century, and his work still enjoys great popularity today. Among his best-known operas are La Traviata, Rigoletto and Aida, each telling a very different story but all offering dramatic music and emotional intensity. Taking a tour of Verdi's Milan spotlights his musical genius and reveals his fierce dedication to becoming a maestro of Italian Opera.Discover the legacy he left in Milan, a city he both loved and loathed, with a visit to the Fondazione Giuseppe Verdi, the house that the Opera maestro built to host retired artists and musicians. Here, you'll get a close up look at the life of Verdi and his wife, including their personal belongings, furnishings, art collections, and their final resting places.Next on the itinerary is an opportunity to meet the current residents of Casa Verdi, many of whom are internationally acclaimed artists, and listen to their extraordinary life stories. You are also invited to attend an exclusive performance for National Geographic travelers by one of the residents.Your penultimate stop is La Scala Theatre. Visit the museum and find out the behind-the-scenes anecdotes about Verdi's relationship with the theatre.At the end of the tour, you'll follow in Verdi's footsteps and indulge in an apéritif at Grand Hotel et de Milan, where Verdi lived for 27 years and in fact, where he took his last breath.
Nat Geo Day Tour: Handmade in Milan
Explore Isola district's heritage and get behind-the-scenes access to artisan workshops. Get hands-on crafting your own arrangement and savor lunch at a trattoria.
