Beneath the scarlet sky of Milan - a day in the footsteps of Pino Lella

Beneath the scarlet sky of Milan - a day in the footsteps of Pino Lella

The life of Pino Lella, only recently revealed and narrated in the book "Beneath a scarlet sky", by the American writer Mark Sullivan, sounds like the script of a war movie. Yet it is all true.
With our tour, you will walk in the footsteps of this Italian hero during the most dramatic years of Milan, following his adventures in the wounded city occupied by the Nazis.
With us, you will visit some of the most fascinating highlights of Milan: the imposing cathedral, Duomo, where the body of cardinal Schuster, a key figure for Pino, was buried; the medieval Sforza Castle, in whose courtyards many people suffered a horrible death; the Monumental Cemetery, an open air museum of funerary art; the Memorial of Shoah, an emotional testament to the persecution of the Jews; piazzale Loreto, home of the most tragic memories of the city. We will end the tour on a happy note: with a drink at Diana Hotel, where Pino celebrated the end of the Nazi occupation.
Some public transport will be used.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Pass By: Via Monte Napoleone, 20121 Milan Italy

Pino Lella lived with his parents in via Monte Napoleone, in the very heart of the elegant Quadrilatero della Moda, the Quadrilater of Fashion. This will be the starting point of our tour.

Pass By: Piazza della Scala, Milan Italy

Inside La Scala Opera House, Pino seeks refuge while being chased by antifascists. And it is La Scala square the place of its first encounter with Anna.

Pass By: Via Santa Margherita, 20121 Milano MI, Italy

Hotel Regina housed the Gestapo headquarters, a stone's trow from La Scala Opera House.

Stop At: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Piazza del Duomo, 20123 Milan Italy

A landmark of Milan, the elegant shopping mall suffered major damages during WWI.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Duomo di Milano, Piazza del Duomo, 20121 Milan Italy

The cathedral of Milan, and the place where the body of bishop Schuster lies in a glass coffin. We will walk along its high naves, marvel at the majesty of its tall pillars, admire its stained-glass windows, the biggest in Europe. Ticket included.

Duration: 30 minutes

Pass By: Via Dante, 20121 Milan Italy

Dolly, general Leyers' lover, and Anna, her maid, lived here.

Stop At: Castello Sforzesco, Piazza Castello 3, 20121 Milan Italy

Inside the medieval castle of Milan, Anna was executed under the horrified eyes of Pino . We will walk through the elegant courtyards of the castle, among visitors totally unaware of the tragic facts that took place during the WWII.

Duration: 30 minutes

Pass By: Piazzale Loreto, 20127 Milan Italy

Now a dull roundabout, this square is the place where 15 partisans where executed in retaliation for the attack of a German convoy. And the place where the bodies of Benito Mussolini and some of his followers where hanged.

Stop At: Memoriale Della Shoah Di Milano, Piazza Edmond J. Safra 1/ Gia Via Ferrante Aporti 3, 20124 Milan Italy

The Shoah Memorial is housed in the Central Railway Station. From here, from the infamous Platform 21, Jews and political opponents where taken to death camps or concentration camps. Deep inside Milan's Central Station, the Shoah Memorial is a place of memory and gathering. Ticket included.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Monumental Cemetery, Piazzale Cimitero Monumentale, 20154 Milan Italy

An open air museum of artistic momumental graves. Pino walked desperately along its aisles in search of the dead body of beloved Anna. Closed on Mondays. Free entrance.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Sheraton Diana Majestic, Milan, Viale Piave, 42, 20129 Milano MI, Italy

Nowadays Hotel Diana is the place where locals enjoy one of the best and lavish aperitifs of the city. Here Pino celebrated the liberation of Milan from the Nazis. We will do the same! Drink is included in the tour.

Duration: 30 minutes