Milan Cathedral style. Duomo Cathedral in Milan: what the walls won't tell you
Cathedral in Milan (Duomo di Milano) May 20th, 2013
It all started with this photo. Experts on Europe may be in the know, but I tried to imagine what kind of structure this is. This is usually how the fantastic architecture of another civilization is depicted. However, everything turned out to be much closer :-)
The ancient temple of the Celts was destroyed on this site. The same fate befell the Temple of Minerva, which stood here during the Roman Empire. For some time there were two churches here (Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Tecla), which were replaced by a grandiose building in the Gothic style.
The most famous monument of Italian Milan subsequently became this Cathedral, whose full name is "Santa Maria Nascente". This magnificent building of Gothic architecture is even called the symbol of Milan, because it is located right in the city center. Seeing the Milan Cathedral with your own eyes is not the same as seeing it in photographs, although they also convey its grace and beauty.
The first stones for the construction of this Gothic temple were laid by Gian Galeazzo Visconti in 1386, and the design of the facade was approved by Napoleon in 1805. The cathedral is the only one in Europe built of white marble.
At the site of the construction of the Duomo (as the cathedral in Milan is called), in early times there was a sanctuary of the Celts, during the Roman Empire - the Temple of Minerva, later the Church of Santa Tecla (IV-VI centuries), from the 7th century - the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore ( it was demolished to make way for a new cathedral).
Specialists were invited from Germany and France to build the temple in the Gothic style, although the Italian architect Simone de’Orsenigo was initially involved in the project. In 1470, Guniforte Solari was invited to the post of chief architect. He invited Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci to help him, and they proposed combining the Gothic style with the Renaissance, resulting in an octagonal dome.
In 1417, the unfinished cathedral was consecrated by Pope Martin V. The opening of the temple took place in 1572, it was solemnly consecrated by Saint Charles Borromeo.
In 1769, a 104-meter spire was built with a gilded statue of the Madonna at the end. After this, Milan passed a law that no building should obscure the patroness of the city. In the 19th century, a “stone forest” was built of 135 marble spiers pointing into the sky.
During the construction of the Cathedral, many generations of people took part in its construction. And they understood perfectly well that they were not destined to see the completion of construction.
Not only Italian masters took part in the construction of this splendor, but also French and German architects. And even now you can constantly see forests and other structures there - after all, the Cathedral has to be constantly renovated.
The structure is simply grandiose, decorated all over the top with numerous spiers and turrets, carved decorations, which makes it look like weightless lace. The facade of the Cathedral is impressive, delicate milky white color with a slight pinkish tint.
The height of the cathedral building reaches 157 meters. It is the second largest Gothic Cathedral in the world in terms of capacity, after the Seville Cathedral, which was rebuilt from a mosque. The internal area of the Milan Cathedral is 11,700 square meters.
The Milan Duomo is dedicated to the Holy Madonna. Her gilded statue is installed on the highest spire, at a height of 108.5 meters.
Milan suffered significant damage during the German bombing of World War II. More than 60 percent of city buildings were destroyed. Among the surviving and untouched buildings was the Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente.
Churches of the Gothic era are traditionally decorated with numerous sculptures, because endless details are considered the main decorations of Gothic buildings. 
So, the Milan Cathedral has 2245 different and very remarkable sculptures. These include statues of saints, depictions of scenes from biblical stories, and strange phantasmagoric animals. The details decorating the building depict many medieval faces. It can be logically assumed that most of them are construction sponsors and their families.
Some female figures located on the central balcony of the facade are very similar to the New York Statue of Liberty, and are quite reasonably considered its prototypes.
There are also many figures on the spiers. It is these details that perfectly convey the peculiarity of the Cathedral, even better than general standard views.
Another amazing feature of the Milan Cathedral is that its roof, equipped as a terrace, can be reached by elevator or stairs. All 135 spiers rise around – a real stone forest.
You can walk around the entire perimeter of the roof and see statues of angels, chimeras, and biblical characters in great detail from different angles. Every sculpture, facial expressions, facial expressions, and details of clothing are so elegantly executed that you just want to stand and admire this real art.
The magnificent facade of the Cathedral hides no less splendor behind it. The central entrance to the Cathedral is most often closed, so you need to enter through the right side portal. There is the tomb of the Archbishop of Milan 1018-1045 Ariberto da Intimiano.
A brass strip runs along the entire front wall. At noon, its secret is revealed - this is the meridian, onto which at that time a sunbeam falls through a hole made in the roof.
There is also a descent into the remains of the early Basilica of Santa Tecla, which stood on this site before the construction of the Cathedral. At this place in 387, the bishop and patron saint of Milan, Saint Ambrose, baptized the future father of the church, Saint Augustine.
The white marble floor is inlaid with baroque patterns of black and red marble, embodying the fantasies of the famous Italian painter Pellegrino Tibaldi.
The work of the statue of St. Bartholomew, the patron saint of fishermen, who was flayed alive, is unique. It is in this naturalistic form, reminiscent of an anatomical model, that Saint Bartholomew was captured by the sculptor Marco d'Agrate.
The high ceilings and vaults, columns and the famous huge organ of the Duomo, which includes 180 registers and 13,200 pipes, are striking.
The stained glass windows of the Milan Duomo took several centuries to create. Of these, the oldest is more than 500 years old, this stained glass window is one of the most beautiful - it depicts the life of Christ. And the last stained glass window was installed not so long ago - in 1988. The stained glass window with the image of St. Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine I the Great, which is located above the small Chapel of the Cross, is also skillfully made. The largest of all stained glass windows of the Middle Ages are also located in the Milan Cathedral - stained glass windows in the apse created by the Bertini brothers in the 19th century, depicting scenes from the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Apocalypse.
Dozens of relics are collected in the Milan Cathedral. Among them is a wooden crucifix, specially made for the procession of 1576, during the plague. The tombstone-mausoleum of Gian Giacomo Medici, made by the sculptor Leoni Leoni, is also impressive. This is the most famous tomb in this Cathedral, commissioned by Pope Pius IY, brother of Giacomo. On the tomb between two allegorical figures of Peace and War, Giacomo Medici himself, who lived from 1495 to 1555, is depicted.
The Milan Cathedral houses a relic - one of the nails with which Christ was nailed to the cross. There were three nails in total. One of them, thrown into the sea, calmed the storm. The second nail is in the Cathedral in Monza. The third nail was converted into a horse bit for the emperor. Later, Emperor Theodosius presented the Holy Nail, converted into a bit, to Bishop Ambrose of Milan. Now this relic is located above the main altar in the very center of the Cathedral, placed in a precious tabernacle, consisting of a dome with the figure of a triumphant Christ above eight bronze gilded columns.
Twice a year the Holy Nail is available for viewing by parishioners. Using a special device, which was invented by Leonardo da Vinci, the Milanese bishop rises to the niche behind the nail. The rest of the time, the nail symbolizes a red ray on the wall.
The main altar, made of marble and bronze, was created by Pellegrino Tibaldi. Behind it, in 1560, a canopy was erected in the shape of a temple, resting on twelve columns symbolizing the apostles.
Nearby stands a masterpiece by the Lorraine master Nicola da Verdun of the 12th century - the famous bronze candlestick five meters high. The candlestick rests on four dragons, which are the center of the composition. And the bronze leg of the magnificent candelabra is decorated with allegorical figures and biblical characters.
On one of the walls of the Cathedral hangs a huge stone table with an engraved list of the names and surnames of all the archbishops of Milan since 51 to the present. There are still empty spaces left on it for the names of future archbishops.
It is important to note that women cannot visit Milan's main attraction with bare shoulders and a low-cut T-shirt.
During the first days of summer, visiting times have changed
- June 1 07:00-12:00;
- June 2 14:00-19:00;
- June 3 09:00-19:00.
Operating mode observation deck
Mon-Sun 09:00-21:30;
Cost of visiting the elevator
adult – 12 €, reduced price – 6 € (children 6-12 years old, persons over 65 years old, groups of students).
Cost of visiting on foot
adult – 7 €, reduced price – 3.50 € (children 6-12 years old, persons over 65 years old, groups of students).
– an incredibly atmospheric, sophisticated and fragmented, calm and loud, in general, contradictory city. Everyone who found out that I was going to spend time here uttered the sacred phrase: “Oh, well, shopping, the Duomo, but there’s nothing else to do...” But I stubbornly refused to believe that there were cities in the world in which there was nothing to do. Well, since everyone says “Duomo,” then perhaps we’ll start with it.
The Duomo Cathedral is the main, most famous and striking landmark of Milan. This is the fourth largest cathedral in Europe, a temple of incredible size made of white carved marble, rising on the square of the same name, filled with pigeons and Chinese tourists. The jaw involuntarily falls to the floor (or rather, to the magnificent paving stones) at the sight of this architectural miracle.
How to get there
The most convenient way to get to the Duomo is by metro - on the yellow line (M3) or the red line (M1) to the station with the logical name Duomo. A single metro ride costs 1.5 euros, a pass for 10 trips can be purchased for 10 euros, or you can purchase a daily card for 4.5 euros. Before entering the station, do not forget to validate your ticket! An unmarked ticket is subject to a fine of 100 euros. The metro schedule in Milan is from 6.30 to 0.30, and, by the way, its structure is quite simple and clear, you can figure it out in no time!
Official address: Duomo di Milano, Piazza del Duomo, Milano, Italy - if you arrive by car.
Parking in the center of Milan, as in any other metropolis, is expensive and problematic. The cost per hour is about 1.2 euros, but finding a place is not so easy. Payment is possible through the parking meter with coins, using a special Sosta Milano card or via SMS. But if you're going to be walking around the center of Milan all day, it's best to leave your car at one of their Park & Ride parking lots.
When you exit the metro, you immediately find yourself in a crowded square in front of the cathedral, where caring guys will definitely offer you food for birds “Food for Birds”, and then demand a fabulous 2-3 euros for it. I was lucky, I didn’t fall for the divorce, although I saw numerous people who agreed.
Opening hours and prices
And here I am, unable to cope with the desire to take a couple thousand more photos, standing in front of the Milan Cathedral. It must be said that the cathedral is a whole complex of cultural objects, including the cathedral itself, the crypt inside, the church, terraces and roof, museum and zone archaeological finds.
You can enter the cathedral every day from 8 am to 7 pm; the terraces and roof await guests from 9 am.
The cost of visiting will also depend on the selected set of options.
- minimum – 2 euros (the cathedral and everything inside it),
- maximum – 15 euros (church, cathedral, elevator terraces, museum and excavations).
Detailed and up-to-date information is always available on the website of the cathedral itself. If you choose English, then everything is clear even to those who are “landan is the capital of great britain”. If you don’t want to search for ticket offices at all, you can buy tickets here online.
Tours of the cathedral are held regularly in Italian and English languages. The cost of such an excursion starts from 16 euros per person and is then calculated individually, depending on the composition of the group, language, desired topic of the excursion, etc.
- start your inspection with the interior decoration, and only then, having bought water and incredibly tasty Italian ice cream, go upstairs;
- There are ticket offices on both sides of the cathedral. It is quite likely that at one ticket office tourists stand as if in famine years for sausage, and at another ticket office there is no queue at all;
- If you are planning to visit the cathedral, you should make sure that your knees, shoulders and stomach are covered. Upon entering the cathedral, you may be asked to present yourself in a proper manner.
Duomo from outside
The façade of the Milan Duomo can be viewed endlessly. Several thousand white marble sculptures look down on the magnificent city from the spiers and turrets. Rumor has it that not only saints, martyrs and philosophers are hiding among them, but also Mussolini and the ancient prototype of the Statue of Liberty. I honestly tried to see them, but nothing came of it.
Duomo is a real Italian long-term construction. It was founded back in 1386, and the object could only be considered completed at the beginning of the nineteenth century, when even Napoleon could no longer stand it and ordered the completion of the façade of the temple. Although, to be honest, it seemed to me that they were still finishing something there... The Italians involved their closest neighbors in the construction, so they built, one might say, the whole of Europe, which could not but affect the appearance of the temple. The cathedral is a timeless compilation of all European Gothic styles. By the way, one of the legends says that the octagonal dome of Jomo is the idea of Leonardo himself, who also took part in the design of the cathedral.
Duomo inside
Looking at the façade made my neck hurt; I had to lift my head too much and for too long. A great excuse to stop this and go inside. Coolness, light breaking through the huge stained glass windows, columns going up to the endless ceiling, amazing sculptures and dark paintings - all these are details of the inner world of the cathedral, in which you get lost and dissolved.
Of course, you can take an audio guide (the cost of the guide is from 6 to 9 euros, depending on the set of options) in Russian and meticulously understand the authenticity of the trellises and the floor ornaments... But, in my opinion, you should just surrender to your inner sense of beauty and wander around the cathedral, noticing billions of details. For example, on the floor of the cathedral you can see a metal strip along which there are tiles with images of zodiac signs. It is a kind of sundial indicating the constellation of that time period. There is a rumor that systematic errors in the readings of this clock made it clear that the foundation of the cathedral is slowly subsiding. The main relic of the temple is located right under the ceiling - it is a nail from the crucifixion of Christ. Every year, on September 14th, it is revealed to the people using a special mechanism similar to a mechanical cloud.
Roof of Milan Cathedral
The interiors are amazing, but the thought that there is still a roof ahead doesn’t give me peace, which means, hurry up, hurry up! There are 2 options for lifting: by elevator and on foot. The elevator is, accordingly, more expensive (from 7 to 13 euros), but faster. A rather narrow and unpicturesque spiral staircase leads upstairs. But, it seems to me, you can climb it quite calmly without much harm to your health and nervous system. That's what I did.
Here, real splendor is revealed before your eyes, located on 3 levels of existence. The first, lowest one is a city bustling with life, with its fashionable boutiques, everyday bustle and endless birds. Authentic, noisy and charming.
The roof of the Duomo is definitely the best viewing platform in Milan. On the second level, right before your eyes, there are dozens of spiers, with marble audiences perched on them. And at the very top, on the third level, there is the shining gilded Virgin Mary, the patroness of the city, looking good-naturedly at. You can wander endlessly in this marble jungle, catching the warm Italian wind and admiring the views.
***
I understood why when talking about Milan everyone immediately remembers the Duomo. It's not that there's nothing more to see here. It’s just that the cathedral is so amazing that everything else fades into the background.
Conclusion: The Duomo is a must see! And don't forget about the ice cream :)
Milan Cathedral is a white marble building in the late Gothic style that adorns the historical part of the city. The outlines of its spiers, as if piercing the sky, the peaks of columns, numerous turrets and sculptures, skillfully combined into a monumental composition, are known to every professional traveler.
The Cathedral dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, or Duomo, as the Italians themselves call it, is a real symbol of Milan; in size and capacity it is second only to two European Gothic churches: the Seville Cathedral and the Vatican (St. Peter).
It is also a kind of record holder in terms of construction time. The work, begun in 1386, was finally completed only in the 20th century (1965). The intermediate stage, when Napoleon approved the design of the facade, ordered the decoration to be completed and the doors to be opened for parishioners, occurred at the beginning of the 19th century.
Thus, several historical figures took part in the fate of the temple: Gian Galeazzo Visconti, during whose reign the first blocks were laid; Carlo Amati - architect who designed the exterior of the cathedral; French Emperor Napoleon I Bonaparte and others.
History of construction, XII-XV centuries.
In the second half of the 12th century, the authorities of the city of Milan decided to seriously take up the development of the city in order to rid it of traces of battles for territories that had unfolded here for centuries and left behind a huge amount of destruction. Almost the first point of the plan was to clear Cathedral Square from the ruins of the ancient winter basilica and lay the foundation in its place for a new building - large, durable and beautiful.
The first stone of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was installed by order of Antonio de Saluzzi, Archbishop of Milan, in 1386. At the same time, the construction plan was approved, but due to the grandeur of the plan, its initial implementation dragged on for almost three centuries and required a number of fundamental changes. Ultimately, according to the updated project, the area of the building was increased, which required the demolition of the second - summer - basilica on the square.
Architect Simone de Orsenigo was appointed head of the work to bring the project to life. The best masters of Lombardy worked as performers under his leadership. In order to reduce the cost of the estimate at least a little, during the construction of the frame they used not new materials, but materials left over from the demolition of other buildings, but always in good condition. It was decided not to skimp on the external decoration: the archbishop personally chose a milky pink marble and signed all the papers about its delivery from a quarry in Piedmont.
The process of constructing the cathedral - due to the scale of the idea, its complex and centuries-long implementation - gradually turned for the residents of Milan into a kind of common cause, a task that unites the church, the state, and the common people. In the 15th century, the head of the city, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, noticing this positive trend for strengthening the Italian monarchy, took the work under personal control.
At the same time, specific relaxations from the state were introduced regarding global construction. In particular, materials intended for delivery to the site were marked AUF (“for construction purposes”) and were not subject to taxes.
Mixing architectural styles and mathematics
Despite the fact that the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary looks harmonious and holistic, many design techniques are mixed in its design and design. Since the construction was supervised by different architects at different times, each of them brought something different to the image of the Duomo, and initially conceived as a building with three naves, it eventually became five-nave and received decorative elements from different movements of the Gothic style.
To ensure that the monumental structure was not only beautiful, but also stable and strong, the architects were helped by mathematicians and engineers. Thus, Gabriele Stornaloco calculated the optimal height for the nave in the center (no more than 45 meters) and deduced the ideal location of the side naves - smoothly descending downwards. And Jean Mignot developed a special system for delivering heavy building materials to heights.
Thanks to the help of the state and the patronage of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, by the middle of the 15th century the Duomo was almost half completed, including the installation and consecration of the main altar. But due to emerging problems with financing and the worsening political situation in Italy, subsequent work was frozen for 40 years.
History of construction, XVI-XVII centuries.
The 16th century in the history of the cathedral was marked by the completion of the construction of its domed part. The arrow-shaped spire (architect - Giulietto del Amadeo) on the outside and four rows of sculptural figures depicting saints and martyrs of the Catholic faith formed a truly grandiose but harmonious ensemble in the Renaissance style.
The period of Spanish domination that soon followed (the middle of the 16th century) also affected the “Milan unfinished construction”. Thus, the new government considered that in order to open the Duomo it is not necessary to wait for the completion of all work and, most importantly, to complete the main stages of interior decoration.
The money allocated by the authorities was enough to equip a number of altar pilasters, install a central organ, a statue of St. Bartholomew and a huge candlestick. At this point, the funding ended, and the doors of the temple remained closed to ordinary parishioners. It was allowed to perform religious rituals within its walls, but only on special occasions.
At the end of the 16th century, Charles Borromeo was elected Archbishop of Milan, who decided to return the fate of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary to the Italians and put Pellegrino Pellegrini in charge of construction. According to the cardinal's plan, the external and internal appearance of the building should have undergone a number of changes, freed from the influence of foreign architectural styles and softened somewhat, acquiring Renaissance features.
In 1577, after a series of interior changes, despite the fact that the overall construction progress was still far from complete, Charles Borromeo held a consecration ceremony cathedral. Until the 17th century, the “Renaissance spirit” laid down by the archbishop continued to be embodied in the decoration of the Duomo. This continued until the change of the main architect, who eventually returned the historical - Gothic - appearance to the temple.
Exterior of Milan Cathedral
The Blessed Virgin Mary is the patroness of the city, and that is why the main cathedral is named after her. The central figure of the saint is placed on top of the 102-meter spire and adds an additional four meters of height to the entire structure. The golden glow of the statue can be seen from anywhere in Milan.
The monumentality, beauty and grandeur of the Duomo won the heart of Napoleon Bonaparte himself, and he chose it as the site for his coronation. It took 7 years to prepare the cathedral for such an important holiday. The updated style organically intertwined late and neo-Gothic, and at the end of May 1805, the emperor solemnly ascended the throne under the marble arches. This event was also marked by the installation of a statue of the commander on one of the spiers.
The completion of all the main construction stages and the official opening of the cathedral took place only in the 20th century - in 1965, at which time it began to function and receive parishioners at full capacity for the first time in its long history. The final reconstruction work was completed in 2009.
Today, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is a grandiose architectural monument and a real symbol of the city of Milan, accommodating about 40,000 people. In addition to religious events, music concerts and other events important for the cultural life of the city are regularly held here.
Milan Cathedral from above and from the ground
The shape of the church, when viewed from above, is cruciform: the length of the vertical line is 158 m, the horizontal line is 92 m. The total height of the building, including the spire and the statue of the Virgin Mary, is 106 m. However, the real beauty of the Duomo is revealed from the ground, as you gradually approach marble giant.
So, at first only the snow-white outlines and pointed silhouettes of the columns are visible, then individual elements of decoration become noticeable, and when the dimensions of the cathedral completely absorb the viewer, all the twists of the late Gothic stucco molding and the wonders of the design of each of the 135 spiers are gradually revealed to the eye.
The total number of statues involved in the decoration of the temple is also striking - there are 3,400 of them. Based on the subjects and images depicted in the sculptures, one can trace the history of the Duomo in general and medieval architecture in particular. Thus, there are images of almost all the key characters of the Bible, martyrs and saints, diluting the “company” of Mussolini and the prototype of the American symbol of freedom, and numerous chimeras and gargoyles guard the entire composition.
Another amazing feature of the building is that it changes the color of its walls depending on the time of day and weather. Milky pink marble looks different at dawn and sunset, in rainy weather and in bright sun. The German poet Heinrich Heine wrote that the main cathedral of Milan is especially charming in the light of the moon.
Crossing the threshold of the cathedral, it is as if you find yourself in another world - which is not touched by vanity and worldly worries, where time seems to have frozen in the muted reflections of multi-colored stained glass windows, coolness always reigns under the arches, and the atmosphere is imbued with peace and majestic tranquility.
The central place of the temple is occupied by the altar, and above it, in the space under the dome, a priceless relic is kept - a nail from the very cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. According to legend, the shrine was presented to Archbishop Ambrose of Milan by Emperor Theodosius the Great, and he, in turn, inherited it from his ancestors.
Every year, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the relic is lowered down and visitors to the cathedral have the opportunity to look at it up close. First, it is put on public display, the next day it is carried through the entire temple, and the next day it is again raised under the dome. All ceremonies are held very solemnly, accompanied by prayers and chants.
If you pay attention to the floor of the Duomo, what catches your eye is a strip of metal running through the entire building, starting from the very entrance. Along it there is a marking with a number of symbols, numbers and images of zodiac signs. This is a meridian sundial installed here in the 18th century. With their help, you can accurately determine when noon occurs and which constellation patronizes the current month.
In addition, during its operation, the miracle device turned out to be useful in another, completely unexpected way. In the 20th century, his readings began to regularly go wrong, and so experts realized that the foundation of the building began to move and began to sag. Appropriate measures were taken; today the integrity of the temple is not threatened, and the clock is closely monitored.
Having visited the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, you can also see memorial burials of famous figures of past eras. In particular, the body of Archbishop Alberto de Intimiano rests in a stone cabinet with a bizarre cruciform ornament; sarcophagi of the 14th century contain the remains of Archbishops Ottone and Giovanni Visconti.
The mausoleum of Gian Giacomo Medici was also erected here, whose decoration amazes with its splendor and skillful decoration. The statues and columns were made at such a level of professionalism that for a long time Michelangelo himself was considered the creator of the complex. In the 20th century, after a series of examinations, it was established that the author of this architectural miracle was Leone Leoni, a talented sculptor and goldsmith from Italy who lived in the 14th century.
The Medici Memorial is a burial place inside the cathedral, one of the last built under its arches. Since the end of the 16th century, the remains of the dead, regardless of the merits and nobility of the person during life, were prohibited from being buried within the walls of the temple. The reason is to avoid the spread of epidemics, including the plague, among parishioners and ministers.
You should definitely visit the Milan Cathedral in autumn and early winter. Every year from November to December there is a traditional exhibition dedicated to Charles Borromeo. The exhibition includes 54 paintings, the subjects of which depict different aspects of the life of the holy reformer of the Catholic Church. The canvases were painted by famous Italian artists of the 17th century especially for the Duomo.
As a separate attraction, it is worth noting the observation deck located on the roof of the cathedral, or rather the view from it. It’s definitely worth visiting this “corner” of the temple, especially since you don’t have to climb the stairs. The building has an elevator that will quickly take you to the very top. Once on the roof, you can not only enjoy the panorama of Milan, but also take a closer look at the elements of the marble decoration of the Duomo and take great photographs.
Finding the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Milan will not be difficult: in addition to a purely visual orientation to the spire in Cathedral Square (Piazza Duomo), you should remember that the first and third metro lines lead here. The required station has the same name - Duomo.
Official website: www.duomomilano.it
Address: Piazza del Duomo, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Metro: MISSORI, DUOMO M3, DUOMO M1.
Location map:
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The heart of the city of Milan is the large Cathedral Square. She is like a silver tray on which the main pearls of Milan sparkle - the Duomo Cathedral, Royal Palace and the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery.
The Duomo Cathedral in Milan is truly unique monument architecture in the Flaming Gothic style (Flamboyant).
Formation of appearance
Milan Cathedral was dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which the architects skillfully played with in the process of exterior decoration of the building. Francesco Croce carried out the calculations and drew up a design for a 102-meter-long spire. This spire occupies a central place above the dome of the Duomo Cathedral, crowned by a 4-meter gilded sculpture of the Virgin Mary (La Madonina). This saint is the patroness of the city.
Another century and a half has passed since then, during which the finishing of external and internal surfaces continued. It was only in 1965 that the construction of the cathedral was officially completed and it began to function at full capacity. From the middle of the 16th century until this moment, the church was partially open to parishioners; rituals were performed there only in exceptional cases. The latest work on the reconstruction of the cathedral was carried out in 2003-09.
What is Milan Cathedral famous for?
This magnificent Gothic-Renaissance monument in the heart of Milan has a number of striking features. If we look at the numbers, the cathedral has a decent capacity, about 40 thousand parishioners, which is somewhat inferior to the volume of St. Paul's Cathedral in Rome. 
If you look at the building from a bird's eye view, it becomes clear that it resembles a Catholic cross, whose vertical is 158 m and the horizontal nave is 92 m. The highest point of the cathedral is the spire, decorated with a statue of the Virgin Mary, the combined height of which is 106 m However, the first acquaintance with the Duomo begins not with dry statistics, but with visual perception. And in this regard, the building has something to boast about; the snow-white bulk of the cathedral grows in width and height as you approach it. With every step, a person who finds himself on Cathedral Square will discover new beauties of this church. The five-nave basilica shoots sharp spears of 135 spiers into the sky. Each of them is intricately decorated with stucco in the late Gothic style.
The facade of the building, its spiers and interior spaces, are decorated with an unimaginable number of statues - 3400. This number includes images of historical figures, saints, martyrs, prophets and other biblical characters. Not without the true symbols of the Middle Ages - gargoyles and chimeras. They, like true attributes of Gothic style, nestled on the walls of the building, driving away evil spirits. Among the exterior decoration of the building there are some very interesting specimens, for example, an image of Mussolini or an ancient prototype of the Statue of Liberty, which now stands in the USA.
Another highlight of the Duomo is the appearance of white and pink marble in different lighting. Some people like the cathedral in the rays of the dawn sun, others prefer the soft glow of the sunset. The famous German poet Heine argued that there is nothing more mystical and beautiful than the Milan Duomo, illuminated by silver moonlight.
Visitors who step outside the Duomo Cathedral are greeted with coolness and dim light. Many colorful stained glass windows illustrate biblical scenes, reflections of blue, red and yellow glass are fancifully reflected on the floors and walls of the church. And above the central altar, high under the dome, there is a large relic - the nail with which Jesus Christ was crucified.
Once a year, on September 14, on the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Archbishop of Milan rises to the ceiling in order to remove the nail and present it to the parishioners.
Towards the end of the 18th century, a sundial, a meridian, was installed in the cathedral, designed to mark the onset of noon. This device looks like a metal strip fixed to the floor of the building. It stretched from the entrance to the cathedral through the entire church. The strip contains images of zodiac signs and corresponding markings. At exactly noon, a ray of sunlight touching the metal ruler will point to the constellation that is characteristic of the current month. In addition to its main purpose, the miracle meridian pointed to an invisible danger threatening the integrity of the Duomo. Systematic errors in the instrument readings, discovered in the 20th century, indirectly indicated subsidence of the building’s foundation.
Inside the cathedral you can admire the elaborately decorated sarcophagi of famous people of the past. Thus, the body of Archbishop Alberto de Intimiano is kept in a stone cabinet lined with thin copper plates forming a crucifix-shaped ornament. You can also see the mausoleum of Gian Giacomo Medici, decorated with three magnificent statues, columns and marble slabs.
The mentioned mausoleum was one of the last burials inside the cathedral. At the end of the 16th century, a decree was issued prohibiting the storage of the remains of the dead within the walls of the church, in order to avoid the occurrence of epidemics and the spread of diseases.
If you are lucky enough to visit Milan at the end of autumn, be sure to visit the Duomo Cathedral. In November and December of each year, the Quadroni of Saint Charles Borromeo is exhibited within its walls - a series of 54 paintings illustrating the life and deeds of this person. A whole galaxy of famous Italian masters of the brush painted canvases specifically for the Milan Cathedral.
A separate attraction of the Duomo is the breathtaking view from the terrace located on the roof of the building. Conveniently arranged observation deck allows you to move freely on the roof of the cathedral. A real gift for all visitors, because best view the city is simply impossible to find in all of Milan. And, in addition, visitors will be able to see up close the openwork lace of the spiers, the external decoration of the cathedral, the chiseled silhouettes of the statues and appreciate all the splendor of the cathedral, which is 7 centuries old.
Address
The Duomo Cathedral is located at: Milan, Cathedral Square (Piazza Duomo).
The most convenient way to get to this amazing attraction is by metro. The first and third lines are suitable, exit at Duomo station.
Opening hours and ticket prices
The Duomo is open to the public every day from 7:00 to 19:00, with the last group of visitors leaving no later than 18:45. A visit to the cathedral itself is free for believers in the morning; obligatory condition is observance of decency in dress and behavior.
A ticket for tourists costs 3 euros, you can enter from 8 am.
Visitors can also take photographs inside the cathedral, but identification documents must be provided in advance (price: 2 euros). All photographic materials must not be used for personal gain. On Saturday and Sunday, the cathedral's opening hours are from 8:30 to 18:00. On church holidays there are special operating hours. Ascent to the terraces in the Winter season is carried out from 9:00 to 19:00, the last loading of the elevator is at 18:10. Opening of the winter season on September 16.
There are different types of tickets for visiting the cathedral, crypts and observation deck, ranging from 3 to 25 euros. The differences between the tickets are shown in the photo below:
There are also combination ticket options:
A full ticket with access to all parts of the cathedral without a queue and going up to the terraces by elevator will cost 26.5 euros. Must be purchased in advance.
Climbing to the terraces
From Monday to Wednesday - from 9:00 to 19:00, last lift at 18:10. From Thursday to Sunday - from 9:00 to 21:00, last lift at 20:10. The beginning of the Summer season is April 10.
Cost of visiting the terraces: with elevator – 14 euros; walk up the stairs, for the strongest and thrifty tourists, will cost 10 euros per person. If you don’t want to stand in lines at the box office, which can last up to an hour during the season, then I advise you to purchase tickets +1.5 euros in advance online.
Tickets can be purchased at the official ticket offices www.ticketone.it. We go to the events page in the cathedral and select, for example, the elevator ride (Ascensore), click Acquista ora.
Choose the date you need, tickets are on sale for the next six months. For example, I’m in April, I know that I’ll fly to Milan in September and plan a cultural program in advance.
Click – add to cart (Metti nel carello). We check the date and time. The cost of three tickets was 36.50 + 2.50 euros for online reservation. Click – payment (Procedi con l`acquisto).
Next, you need to enter your login password on the site or create a new account - it’s intuitively simple, but if you suddenly have any difficulties, then here it is. After payment, tickets will be sent to you by email and will always be available in your personal account. All you have to do is come to the entrance at the appointed time, bypassing all the queues.
In addition, for a fee you can visit the Treasury of the Duomo Cathedral (3 euros), as well as the Baptistery of St. Giovanni alle Fonti (4 euros). It is possible to purchase combined tickets at a reduced price.
- Official website of the Duomo Cathedral in English, current prices tickets and opening hours: www.duomomilano.it
- Individual excursions in Milan in Russian:
- Group excursions to the cathedral in English: www.tiqets.com – 27 euros, one and a half hours, elevator tickets are already included in the price.
Nearby attractions – what to see?
As noted above, there are other interesting buildings on Cathedral Square, in addition to the cathedral.
If we implement walking through the glass passage with many boutiques and luxury shops dedicated to Vittorio Emmanuelle II, you can soon reach Via Filodrammatici, 2. At this address is the most famous opera house in the world, as well as the museum located next to it. Although the exterior of the theater building cannot be compared with the dazzling decoration of the Duomo, its interiors can also bring surprises. And the main value of La Scala is in the action that takes place on its stage.
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Milan is somewhat reminiscent of Moscow: the same radial-ring principle of urban planning, according to which roads diverge from the center in different directions, simultaneously crossing the rings of former fortress walls. In the center of the city is the Most Important Square with the Most Important Building. In Milan, this is the Duomo Cathedral, located on the square of the same name. By the way, this city also has its own “Kremlin” - the Sforza Castle, in the image and likeness of which the Moscow one was built. One of the castle museums also houses part of the Duomo's treasures.
Among all the city's attractions, the cathedral occupies a special place. The point here is not only its popularity among tourists (every year up to 700,000 people climb to its terraces alone).
Duomo Cathedral in Milan- This is a unique building, which has no analogues. Firstly, this is the only Catholic church built of white marble. Secondly, it is the only Italian cathedral originally built in the Flamboyant Gothic style. Thirdly, it is the fifth largest temple in the world, capable of accommodating up to 40,000 people.
Helpful tip: From this article you will learn the most important things for visiting the Duomo. But if your interests in Milan are not limited to the cathedral, download our audio guide to the city center for iPhone [link] to go through the entire route of 60 main attractions.
The audio guide works even without the Internet, and the built-in map with GPS will help you easily navigate the city. In the free trial version, the first 5 points are available to try, and full version will cost only 5 Euro. This is much cheaper than even the most budget excursions.
Duomo in Milan: Middle Ages and Renaissance
There has always been a square in the center of Milan, and there has always been a temple in this square. The Celts, who founded a settlement near the spurs of the Alps in the 7th century. BC, they built a sanctuary here. The Romans, who gave this settlement its name - Mediolanum - built the Temple of Minerva.
In the 4th century. on the ruins of this temple the Church of St. Tekla (Thekla) arose. After 2 centuries, the church was destroyed by the Lombards, and rebuilt again in the 7th century. as the Basilica of the Virgin Mary - Santa Maria Maggiore.
In the XIV century. almost all of Italy was exhausted by incessant wars and epidemics. But in order to show external and internal enemies that Milan is still one of the strongest and richest cities in Europe, Duke Giangaleazzo Visconti (1351-1402) ordered the construction of a cathedral of unprecedented beauty, size and... value on the main square.
Since in those days secular rulers were not authorized to give such orders regarding land owned by the Catholic Church, the order was signed by Bishop Antonio Saluzzo.
In the center of Milan there has always been a square where a temple has always stood
The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore was demolished, and on May 23, 1386, construction of a cathedral dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin began in the main square of the city.
But an unprecedented thing: not recognized Italian architects, but German and French masters, were involved in the creation of the project. This has never happened before in history. After all, Italians have always been quite skeptical about “barbarian” Gothic, despite the fact that its first examples appeared thanks to the Normans back in the 11th century. However, already in 1387 the Italian Simone da Orsenigo was appointed chief engineer.
It was originally planned that the temple would be built from specially fired bricks; the remains of brickwork dating back to around the end of the 14th century remain to this day. But soon the Duke ordered the use of Cantolian marble from his own quarry near Lago Maggiore for construction.
To facilitate the transport of marble from the quarry to the construction site in Milan, deep channels were dug. The Duke did not take a penny from the Holy See for the material, but soon construction was stopped anyway due to the lack of the necessary funds from the church.
The spiritual authorities, despite all their influence, never found the opportunity to continue the construction of the temple. Duomo Cathedral in Milan had to be handed over to secular rulers, who were quickly able to collect appropriate tribute from wealthy citizens. Construction has resumed.
In 1417, the first consecration of the cathedral, or more precisely, its main altar, took place. The oldest stained glass windows created in Tyrol date back to approximately the same years.
The Duomo Cathedral is decorated with 45 huge stained glass panels
For almost a century, the design of the cathedral was carried out alternately by the Germans and the Italians, until in 1470 Gianiforte Solari, who gravitated towards Renaissance forms, was appointed chief architect. At the same time, he also carried out work on the construction of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. In 1492, the construction of this church was undertaken by Donato Bramante, who invited Leonardo to paint it.
It was Bramante and Leonardo, who was always interested in everything, and not just the one he was working on at the time, who suggested Solari modernize the project.
So the Duomo Cathedral in Milan acquired an unusual octagonal dome. In 1572, the main construction was completed, after which the cathedral was solemnly consecrated by Cardinal Saint Carlo Borromeo (1538-1584), who, by the way, was buried in one of the cathedral crypts.
Duomo Cathedral in Milan: from modern times to the present day
The Duomo Cathedral in Milan acquired its modern appearance much later: in the 18th-19th centuries. In 1769, it was decorated with a 104 m high spire with a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary, 4.16 m high and weighing almost a ton. The townspeople immediately nicknamed her in their own manner - Madonnina ("Madonna"), and the Spanish Habsburgs, who ruled Milan in those years, immediately hastened to issue a decree according to which not a single building in the city should be higher than the spire of the cathedral.
Soon the Duomo Cathedral in Milan acquired another curiosity. The metal strip along the entrance is nothing more than an astronomical clock from the late 18th century. By the way, the columns of the temple are also a kind of “calendar”: there are 52 of them in total, according to the number of weeks in the year.
In 1769, the Cathedral was decorated with a hundred-meter spire with a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary
The whimsical openwork façade of the cathedral, which immediately attracts attention, is only worth seeing Duomo square in Milan, appeared thanks to Napoleon.
Napoleon, who by that time wished to become the king of Italy, decided that the coronation ceremony would take place in this cathedral. This is what happened in 1805. However, the famous “stone forest” in the neo-Gothic style (135 spiers) was completed only by 1813. The construction of the new facade was supervised by the architect Carlo Amati.
There are 2,300 statues on the outer walls and spiers of the Duomo
Work on decorating the cathedral continued until the 60s. last century. In the creation of stained glass and sculptures during the XV-XX centuries. Almost all famous Italian masters took part. Currently, there are 2,300 statues on its outer walls and spiers, and another 1,100 in the interior.
Duomo in sunny days, which are by no means rare in this city, is also a real “kaleidoscope”: its walls and architectural elements are decorated with 45 huge stained glass panels.
Opening hours and tickets
The famous German romantic poet Heine believed that examining Duomo square in Milan and the cathedral is best viewed on a clear moonlit night. It is on such a night that the white marble building looks truly beautiful.
It is impossible in our time to check whether this is true or not: the Duomo Cathedral in Milan, like thousands of other attractions around the world, in dark time day is illuminated from all sides. The spectacle, however, is amazing. However, at night the cathedral is closed, and it’s better not to walk around the city alone at this time.
Every winter the quadroni of St. Carlo Borromeo are exhibited in the cathedral
The cathedral is also closed during Christmas, January 1 and May 1. On other days, access to the Duomo is possible from 8:00 to 19:00. Ticket price for adults is 3 Euros, for children from 6 to 12 years old – 2 Euros and under 6 years old – free.
With a ticket to the Duomo you can also see the Duomo Museum and the Church of San Gottardo.
There is a type of ticket that additionally includes the Archaeological Zone of the Duomo, but they cost more – 7 Euros. For visitors under 26 years of age there is a discount on these tickets - they will cost 3 Euros.
Tickets for the Milan Cathedral Terrace
Another popular attraction at the Cathedral is to get onto its terraces. The cost of a walk through the “stone forest” depends on whether you decide to climb to the roof via a spiral marble staircase (€9) or by elevator (€13). There is a discount for children from 6 to 12 years old - for them tickets will cost 4.5 and 7 Euros, respectively.
The terraces are open daily from 9:00 to 19:00, but the ticket office is open until 18:00, and the last visitors are admitted at 18:10.
Duomo Pass
You can combine a visit to the Cathedral and the Terrace using the Duomo Pass. It combines the benefits of an extended ticket for the Duomo (with access to the Archaeological Zone) as well as access to the Terrace by lift.
The main convenience of the Duomo Pass is the ability to avoid queues on site, which can sometimes be quite long. In addition, the Duomo Pass is issued without reference to the date and specific time of visit. That is, you can use it on any day convenient for you until the end of the year.
You can learn more about the Duomo Pass and purchase it online on this page.
How to get to the Duomo and notable events
The easiest way to get to Milan Cathedral is to take the metro (yellow line 3) from (train station). The cathedral is located in the very center of the city, and the station you need is called Duomo.
If you are in Milan for just a few days, it may be more convenient to find a hotel in close proximity to the Duomo. The largest selection of such hotels can be found
