{"id":32427,"date":"2021-09-09T11:42:12","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T09:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bellitalie.org\/?post_type=destination&p=32427"},"modified":"2026-09-30T22:13:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T20:13:43","slug":"milan-cathedral","status":"publish","type":"destination","link":"https:\/\/www.bellitalie.org\/en\/destination\/lombardy\/milan\/milan-cathedral\/","title":{"rendered":"Milan Cathedral"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The magnificent Gothic Cathedral of Milan<\/strong> (whose precise name is Duomo Santa Maria Nascente<\/em>), and sometimes referred to as the “marble hedgehog”, is the emblematic building of the City.<\/p>\n

Brief history<\/h2>\n

This cathedral was built on the site where a first church already existed in the 5th century AD. Its long construction spanned more than five centuries. Probably begun in 1386 \u2013 as indicated by an engraved stone \u2013 under Gian Galeazzo Visconti<\/strong>, it was still not completed when Napoleon<\/strong> passed through at the beginning of the 19th century, despite the latter’s pressure. The emperor nevertheless had himself crowned King of Italy there on 26 May 1805. The Gothic-Baroque fa\u00e7ade begun at the beginning of the 16th century, covered in white marble and adorned with thousands of statues, was only completed in 1813.
The most recent bronze door dates from 1965. The Milanese saying that describes an endless task as “as long as the construction of the Duomo” is easy to understand.
A legend about its history tells that the Devil appeared to Gian Galeazzo Visconti offering to spare his life in exchange for the construction of an immense church containing many of his images, as attested by the presence of 96 satanic gargoyles.
The marble stones for the construction were brought from Lake Maggiore by boat, via the Ticino river, then the Naviglio Grande canal, to the Santo Stefano basin which was dug between the hospital and Santo Stefano.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Main fa\u00e7ade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Interior columns<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n

Description and architecture<\/h2>\n

Milan Cathedral is one of the largest and tallest cathedrals in the world, 157 metres long and 92 wide, the third by surface area after St Peter’s in Rome and Seville. The spire, also of marble, was erected in 1769 and bears the <\/span>Madonnina<\/span><\/em>, a 4-metre copper statue, which dominates the city from its height of 108 metres.
\"Milan<\/a>The exterior bristles with 136 spires and is adorned with 2,000 marble statues, blending the styles of different periods, but above all Lombard Gothic.
Surprisingly, among the multitude of statues, alongside prophets and martyrs, there are secular figures, such as Dante Alighieri, King Victor Emmanuel II, and even from the first half of the 20th century with Arturo Toscanini or the boxer Primo Carnera.<\/span><\/p>\n

The immense Gothic interior impresses with the great height of its five naves, supported by 52 large columns, which are illuminated by stained glass windows, the oldest of which date back to the 15th century. Treasures abound between the columns, each of which is dedicated to a week of the year, with hundreds of statues, sarcophagi and tombs of archbishops, the <\/span>crucifix<\/span><\/em> by Leonardo da Vinci, or the superb <\/span>candelabrum<\/span><\/em> Trivulzio<\/em> Gothic of the 13th century in bronze. Suspended above the main altar is kept the relic of the Holy Nail of the Cross. It also houses, for example, the tomb of Gian Giacomo Medici by Leone Leoni (1563), a walnut choir, a sundial, or a crypt of San Carlo del Richini from 1606 with the urn preserving the remains of Charles Borromeo.<\/span><\/p>\n

One can access the underground areas where archaeological remains of the original basilica of Santa Tecla are kept.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Visit and terrace<\/h2>\n

Nearly 4 million visitors come to discover the building every year, and sometimes the queue is particularly long. However, the visit would be incomplete without a tour of the <\/span>terrace<\/span><\/strong>, with a unique view over the city between the tall spires and the marble sculptures. You can choose to go up by the stairs or by the lift, at different prices.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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Terrace of the Duomo of Milan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n

Duomo Museum<\/h2>\n

The Duomo Museum<\/strong> (Museo del Duomo<\/em>) accessible near the Duomo in the Royal Palace complex is very interesting as it documents the construction of the building, with statues or stained glass windows that can be discovered up close under beautiful lighting, sacred objects and relics.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Cross of Aribert (11th c.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Gargoyle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Eternal Father (15th c.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Model of the Duomo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Statue<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Stained glass windows<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Stained glass windows<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n

Gallery<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Milan<\/a>
Main fa\u00e7ade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Main fa\u00e7ade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Main fa\u00e7ade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Detail of the fa\u00e7ade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Chancel and apse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"columns-interior-duomo-of-milan_7953\"<\/a>
Columns<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"nave-interior-duomo-di-milano_7946\"<\/a>
Side nave<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"column-interior-duomo-di-milano_7948\"<\/a>
Columns<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"arches-capitals-duomo-di-milano_7955\"<\/a>
Arches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"statue-of-san-bartolomeo-marco-d-agrate-duomo-di-milano_7967\"<\/a>
Statue of San Bartolomeo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"altar-of-san-giovanni-buono-duomo-di-milano_7961\"<\/a>
Altar of San Giovanni Buono<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Stained glass window<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"vetrate-duomo-di-milano_8109\"<\/a>
Stained glass window<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"battistero-di-san-giovanni-alle-fonti-duomo-di-milano_7969\"<\/a>
Old baptistery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"terrazza-duomo-di-milano_7884\"<\/a>
Spires of the terrace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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View of the terrace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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View of the terrace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Duomo Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Duomo Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Duomo Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"statue-museo-del-duomo_7983\"<\/a>
Statues (Duomo Museum)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"terrace-duomo-of-milan_7910\"<\/a>
Upper terrace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n

Information<\/h2>\n