Duomo di Milano, Milan Cathedral
Address
P.za del Duomo, 20122 Milano
GPS
45.46391015, 9.1906426262557
Located in Milan, Italy, the Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary, or simply Duomo di Milano, is Milan’s impressive cathedral church. It is the home of the Archbishop of Milan and is dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary (Santa Maria Nascente).
Quick facts
- Name: Duomo di Milano, Milan Cathedral
- Location: Milan, Italy
- Built 1386
- Type of attraction: Cathedral
- Ticket price: From $7
History
Construction on the cathedral began in 1386 and was completed in 1965, a period of nearly six centuries. In terms of size, it is the biggest in Italy, the second biggest in Europe, and the third biggest in the world. It has a length of 515 feet (157 meters) and a width of 302 feet (92 meters). It has a capacity of up to 40.000 residents.
When the Cathedral was built, the site of the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio stood there instead. Next to the initial church, in 838, the Basilica di Santa Tecla was built; however, a fire in 1075 razed both structures; and a few centuries later, the Duomo was built on the same site.
When Gian Galeazzo Visconti came to power in 1386, work on the Milan Cathedral got underway. To improve the neighborhood and commemorate the Visconti estate’s growth, a massive structure like this was built.
It took five centuries to build the entire Cathedral. Various architects, sculptors, and artists worked on the “Fabbrica del Duomo,” a well-known construction project, throughout this time period.. After merging the international Gothic style with the Lombard Romanesque style, they created a stunning and distinctive structure.
The Candoglia quarry in Val D’Ossola provided the white and pink marble for the building’s exterior and interior surfaces, respectively. To give a better idea of the size of the cathedral, here are some pictures.
In 1774, sculptor Giuseppe Perego erected the Madonnina, a gilded bronze statue, atop the temple’s topmost spire. As time has passed, it has come to be seen as a symbol of Milan.
The structure
The Milan Cathedral is a massive building built of black marble plates that stretches across the city’s whole skyline. Elegant and regal, the interior is highlighted by floor to ceiling sculpted marble columns.
What to see inside the cathedral
Many biblical themes are painted on the temple’s walls, and the skeletons of saints are displayed in glass caskets all around the place, all dressed to the nines.
Another notable feature of the Cathedral is a statue of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, patron saint of leatherworkers and tanning shops. As a nod to his suffering, the saint is sometimes represented with his skin hanging loosely from his shoulders.
It’s one of the nails from Jesus’ crucifixion that’s on display in the dome behind the altar of the Duomo in Florence. Every year on the Saturday closest to the 14th of September, it is made available to the general public for the first time.
The rooftop patio has an area nearly as vast as the Cathedral’s entire roof. Tourists can make the ascent to the observation deck and walk along the terrace to take in one of Milan’s most stunning vistas. In addition, the sculptures on the roof’s surface are intriguing to observe up close.
It is certainly worth the trip to see Milan’s Duomo, which is a major attraction. To top it all off, there are spectacular views of the city from the rooftop terrace. In contrast to the rest of the Cathedral, the Treasure is less appealing.
Interesting facts about Duomo di Milano
Here are some interesting facst about this amazing historic landmark:
- The cathedral has largest number of statues from any building in the world – 3.200 statues, about 100 gargoyles and 135 spires
- Napoleon Bonaparte helped facade to be finished in 1,800’s becasue he wanted to be crowned in Duomo di Milano.
- The canals in north of Milan were constructed to bring marble for the constrution of the cathedral
