Wednesday, June 23, 1965
A day off in Lyon and travelling to Milan
Last updated on August 2, 2026
Wednesday, June 23, 1965
Last updated on August 2, 2026
Location: Duomo Hotel • Milan • Italy
Concert Jun 22, 1965 • France • Lyon • 10pm show
Article Jun 23, 1965 • The Beatles travel from Lyon to Milan
Article Jun 23, 1965 • A day off in Lyon and travelling to Milan
Concert Jun 24, 1965 • Italy • Milan • 4.30pm Show
Concert Jun 24, 1965 • Italy • Milan • 9.30pm show
Next article Jun 29, 1965 • The Beatles fly from Rome to Nice
Lyon • Palais d'Hiver • France
Jun 22, 1965 • 8pm show • France • Lyon • Palais d'Hiver
Lyon • Palais d'Hiver • France
Jun 22, 1965 • 10pm show • France • Lyon • Palais d'Hiver
The previous day, The Beatles performed two concerts in Lyon, the first at 8 p.m. and the second at 10 p.m.
On this day, they had a day off in Lyon. In the evening, they boarded a Trans Europ Express train to Milan, where they were due to play their first-ever concerts in Italy.
The train arrived at Milan Central Station in the early hours of June 24. Around 1,000 fans were waiting for The Beatles. In a last-minute attempt to outwit the crowds, railway officials diverted the train to a different platform than the one that had been announced. The change, however, proved futile.
The Beatles were then driven in an open-top car to the Duomo Hotel, but were quickly overwhelmed by fans who climbed onto the vehicle. It reportedly took around an hour for police to clear the crowd and get the group safely into the hotel.
Later that day, on June 24, The Beatles performed two concerts in Milan.
Milan Mobs Meet Beatles
MILAN, Italy (UPI) — The Beatles arrived here early today by train — 30 minutes late on the wrong track. But more than 1,000 screaming Italians found the mop-haired musicians.
The Beatles tiptoed off the train and tried to head quietly for a downtown hotel to get some sleep before performances in the Milan cycling arena.
Fans were waiting at another track. As soon as they got word of the “escape,” the mob charged out of the station past lines of police and security agents and formed a hooting, yelling motorcade through downtown Milan.
Police tried to slow the progress of the cars by handing out tickets for horn-blowing.
From The Herald Times – June 24, 1965
BEATLES IN RAIL PLATFORM SIEGE
Police allowed “travellers only” on to the platforms when the Beatles arrived in Milan by rail today for an Italian tour.
But 1,000 teenage fans got round the ban. They besieged the ticket office hours before the scheduled arrival, buying tickets to neighbouring stations.
When the quartet arrived, the fans, thwarted by a last-minute switch of the arrival platform, charged acroos the station waving placards with slogans “God save the Beatles,” and “Viva the Beatles.”
Those at the front of the mob got a brief glimpse of John, Paul, George and Ringo being hustled into cars bound for their luxury hotel.
It is the group’s first visit to Italy. Their first two concerts tonight are at a Milan sports stadium seating about 26,000. Later, they go on to Genoa and Rome.
From The Evening Post – June 24, 1965
1,000 FANS IN ITALIAN WELCOME
THE BEATLES arrived in Milan today on their tour of Italy and decided to travel to their hotel by open car.
It was a hard journey, with fans climbing aboard to touch their idols.
When the Beatles arrived by train in Milan, police tried to allow bona fide travellers only on the platform at which they were arriving.
However, 1,000 teenage fans got round the ban. They besieged the ticket office hours before the scheduled arrival, buying tickets to neighbouring stations.
When the quartet arrived, the fans, thwarted by a last-minute switch of the arrival platform, charged across the station waving placards with the slogans “God save the Beatles” and “Viva the Beatles”
Those at the front of the mob got a brief glimpse of John, Paul, George and Ringo being hustled into cars bound for their luxury hotel.
It is the group’s first visit to Italy. Their first two concerts tonight are at a Milan sports stadium seating about 26,000. Later they go on to Genoa and Rome.
From The Argus – June 24, 1965
BEATLES RIDE IN ARMOURED CAR
Milan, Thursday – THE BEATLES went to a concert today in an armoured bullion car with bullet-proof windows… to dodge several thousand fans.
“This is the only way we can assure the Beatles’ safety,” an Italian police official explained.
When the Beatles arrived in Milan early this morning, they were thrust into an open sports car, and the fans piled on top of them. It took an hour to rescue them.
But there was no trouble when the armoured car, with police escort, took the Beatles from their hotel to an open-air stadium three miles away where they gave a concert to 10,000 chanting teenagers.
From Daily Mirror – June 25, 1965
The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years
With greatly expanded text, this is the most revealing and frank personal 30-year chronicle of the group ever written. Insider Barry Miles covers the Beatles story from childhood to the break-up of the group.
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