Tour operator
Zani Viaggi
A long-established Milan travel company running city tours, Last Supper visits, Navigli boat trips, hop-on hop-off buses and day trips to Lake Como.
Ad Artem
A Milan cultural heritage company founded in 1993, running guided visits, family workshops and school programmes in the city's museums and monuments.
At a glance
- Type
- Museum and heritage guided visits
- Area
- Sant'Ambrogio, Milan, Italy
- Official site
- adartem.it
Good to know
- Guided museum visits
- Family workshops
- School programmes
- Group and company visits
Why we recommend it
Ad Artem is a Milan company founded in 1993 that specialises in making art and cultural heritage accessible to non-specialists. It works with museums, exhibition organisers, public bodies and private companies, running guided visits, educational programmes and workshops. Its office is on Via Lanzone, a short walk from the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio.
The company's activity is centred on Milan's museums and monuments, and its featured venues include the Castello Sforzesco, Palazzo Reale, the Museo del Novecento, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, along with temporary exhibitions around the city and in other Lombard towns such as Mantua. Visits are designed for a broad audience, from adults and tourists to students, families and institutional guests, and the guides focus on explaining the works and buildings in clear, approachable terms.
Families are one of its particular strengths. Ad Artem runs workshops, playful and animated tours and holiday programmes for children, which can be a good way to keep younger travellers engaged in museums that might otherwise feel heavy going. It also offers gift vouchers, and it organises visits for schools, groups and companies, including private tours on request.
Tours are offered in several languages, and the website has an English version, but many public visits are in Italian, so check the language before booking. If you want an English-language visit of a particular museum, a private tour is usually the most reliable option. The visits suit culturally curious travellers who want more context than an audio guide provides, and they work well alongside self-guided sightseeing. A guided visit is particularly helpful at the Castello Sforzesco, where the many separate collections can be confusing on a first visit, and at large temporary exhibitions in Palazzo Reale.
Book through the website, which lists upcoming guided visits with dates, meeting points and what is included. Museum entry may or may not be included in the price, so read the details of each visit. For school or group visits, contact the office by phone or email. The Sant'Ambrogio metro stop on line M2 is a few minutes' walk from the office, though most visits meet directly at the museum or monument concerned.
Ad Artem FAQs
What does Ad Artem do?
It runs guided visits, workshops and educational programmes in Milan's museums, monuments and exhibitions.
When was it founded?
In 1993, in Milan.
Which sites do its visits cover?
Featured venues include the Castello Sforzesco, Palazzo Reale, the Museo del Novecento, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and Sant'Ambrogio.
Are tours in English?
Tours are offered in several languages, but many public visits are in Italian; private tours are the surest option for English.
Is it good for families?
Yes. It runs workshops and animated tours designed for children and families.
Is museum entry included?
It depends on the visit, so check the details of each booking.
Where do tours meet?
Most visits meet at the museum or monument concerned; the meeting point is listed when you book.
How do I contact them?
By phone or email through the contacts page of the official website.