Address: Italy, Milan
Start of construction: 1386
Start of construction: 1965
Coordinates: 45°27"51.4"N 9°11"29.9"E
Duomo di Milano - symbol of Milan, dedicated to the birth of the Virgin Mary
Grandiose, stunning, magnificent, inimitable, luxurious, delightful... - whatever high-flown epithets are bestowed on the Duomo di Milano - the cathedral located on the main (eponymous) square of Milan!
Bird's eye view of Milan Cathedral
But even they are unable to convey the feelings and impressions that people experience when they see it for the first time.
A gigantic white marble cathedral, made in the ornate style of Flamboyant Gothic (late gothic architecture), became a symbol of Milan and one of the most famous buildings in the world. Official name Cathedral - Santa Maria Nascente, it is dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but more often it is called simply Milan Cathedral.
When starting to talk about it, guides first of all mention the following facts: Duomo di Milano is the largest Gothic and 4th largest Catholic cathedral in the world after Notre-Dame de la Paix in Yamoussoukro (Côte d'Ivoire), St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London. In terms of its capacity, it is second only to St. Peter's Cathedral (Rome), among Gothic ones - to the Cathedral of Maria de la Sede (Seville). sq. m, height - 106.5 m. In clear weather, the peaks of the Alpine mountains are visible from the roof of the cathedral.
A more detailed acquaintance with the Milan Cathedral may take a long time, since its impressive size is far from its only advantage.
Cathedral facade
The history of the construction of the cathedral - a road length of... 5 centuries
The first stone of the future cathedral was laid by Archbishop Antonio di Saluzzo in 1386. In the times preceding this event, a Celtic settlement, the Temple of Minerva, the churches of Santa Tecla and Santa Maria Maggiore had already visited the same place. The last of them was demolished to clear the site for the Duomo di Milano.
This great structure was built from the best marble mined in the Candoglia quarries, located near the town of Mergozzo in Piedmont. Used for good purposes, this one is very valuable building material by order of Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti, who then came to power, was not subject to taxation. However, despite the simply enormous popular and governmental enthusiasm that accompanied the construction of the cathedral, it lasted for for many years, decades and even centuries.
The initial development of the architectural project belonged to the Italian architect Simone de Orsenigo. Craftsmen from other countries (Germany, France) were invited to build the cathedral, since complex Gothic facades were more typical of France than of Italy. After 3 years, the Italian architect was replaced by a Frenchman - Nicolas de Bonaventure. Another 10 years later he was replaced by another Frenchman - Jean Mignot.
View of the cathedral from Piazza Milano
In total, more than a dozen famous European architects managed to take part in the construction of the Milan Cathedral before 1470, in which the construction was headed by Guniforte Solari. During this time, the cathedral turned from a 3-nave structure into a 5-nave structure, chapels disappeared from the project, and other significant and minor changes were made. Solari and his consultants Donato Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci contributed to the creation architectural appearance The cathedral made a very significant contribution: they decided to modernize the Gothic style, diluting it with individual Renaissance elements. This is how the famous octagonal dome arose.
In subsequent centuries, the temple slowly but surely continued to grow, be completed and decorated. The 106-meter central spire with a 4-meter statue of the Madonna, made of bronze and gilded, was installed, for example, only in 1769. (The spire was designed by Francesco Croce, the statue by Giuseppe Perego). At the same time, by the way, a decree was issued banning the construction in Milan of buildings that obscured its patron saint (alas, modernity has already begun to make its own adjustments to it - the first exception was the Pirelli skyscraper, the roof of which was decorated with an exact copy of the Madonna statue).
And so it turned out that work began on the creation of this white marble masterpiece of architecture in 1386, and was completed (and even then not completely) only in the 19th century, when the architects Carl Amati and Giuseppe Zanoia, on the personal orders of Napoleon, urgently completed the design of the facade. The main altar of the Duomo di Milano, when it was not even completed, in 1417, was consecrated by Pope Martin V.
The temple opened its doors to parishioners in 1572. grand opening conducted by Cardinal Charles Borromeo, who later became a saint of the Catholic Church.
The remaining construction and finishing work were completed in the cathedral building until the 2nd half of the last century. All this time, the cathedral was being completed, more and more decorative elements and stained glass windows found space on its luxurious Gothic façade, and the main gates were built. And only in 1965 the construction of the temple was officially completed. However, even now there are still individual blocks of the facade that have yet to be turned into sculptures.
Fragment of the cathedral facade
Despite the frequent change of architects, each of whom sought to bring something of their own to the building, the Milan Cathedral is still an absolutely integral work of art, which at the same time has a completely unique appearance. On the one hand, it has a distinct Gothic style that cannot be confused with any other. On the other hand, in its facade one can feel the Northern Italian, and more precisely, the Lombard influence, thanks to which the cathedral acquired a certain “earthliness” and heaviness.
The eighth wonder of the world and its attractions
The late Gothic building of Milan Cathedral is different a huge amount graceful spiers (135 marble needles), pointed turrets and columns connected by many soaring supports, exquisite facades and an abundance of sculptures, of which there are more than 3 thousand outside and inside the cathedral. There are statues of biblical characters, chimeras, historical figures(Napoleon, Mussolini, etc.). The roof of the cathedral offers stunning panoramic views of Milan; it is recommended to climb here for every visitor who wants to get a full understanding of this architectural masterpiece in particular and Milan in general. You can climb it either by stairs from the northern wall of the temple or by a special elevator.
On the roofs of the cathedral
The Duomo di Milano is able to amaze the imagination not only with its external appearance, but also with its internal decoration: an interior characteristic of the late Gothic style, mausoleums full of grandeur, unique wooden choirs of the 16th century (the work of Francesco Brambiglia), the highest cross vaults, huge arched windows with incredible stained glass windows, some of which have survived since the 15th century, and much more. The temple looks huge and very solemn.
The interior space of the temple, capable of simultaneously accommodating up to 40 thousand people, consists of 5 naves, separated by forty 25-meter columns. In front of the altar stands a 5-meter-tall bronze Trivulzio candlestick with a very elegant bronze vine base, made in the 12th century by Nicolas Verdun. And above the altar, under the very dome, the main shrine of the cathedral is kept - the sacred nail, which, according to legend, was taken directly from the Holy Crucifixion (from the cross of the Savior). Every year, on the Saturday closest to September 14, the nail is subject to ceremonial removal - this action is performed by the archbishop, who rises to the nail on a lift designed, as legend has it, by Leonardo da Vinci himself.
The cathedral also houses the sarcophagi of several archbishops of Milan, dating back to the 14th-18th centuries and made by famous Italian masters. Noticeable distinctive feature The cathedral contains, at first glance, an innumerable number of statues: only the interior of the octagonal dome has statues in 4 rows of 15 pieces in each! The most famous in the cathedral is the statue of St. Bartholomew, created by Marco d'Agrate in 1562. Noteworthy are the sculptures of Gian Giacomo Medici (Leone Leoni, 16th century), Martin V (Jacopino da Tradate, 15th century), Vladimir Monomakh.
Among other attractions of the temple, it is worth noting the “Meridian” - a sundial with the signs of the Zodiac (the sign corresponding to the current month at exactly noon is unmistakably indicated by a sunbeam); two large organs; three unique altars by Pellegrino Pellegrini; a 6th-century Egyptian bath used as a baptismal font, and other works of art.
Milan Cathedral in the 21st century
Several years at the beginning of this century (until 2009) - Milan Cathedral was closed for reconstruction. Until this moment, restoration work was carried out only once - after World War II, when the temple building was damaged by air raids. Now all the work has been completed, and the facade of the building has once again appeared before the residents and numerous guests of Milan in all its mighty glory.
One of the most famous monuments Italy is the Milan Cathedral. The majestic building, located in the very center of the city of the same name, amazes with its elegance of form and fundamentality at the same time. There are many interesting facts associated with the history of the cathedral.
Place and timing of construction
Milan was built over 4 centuries; not every world architectural monument can boast of such a significant time investment. The official start date for work was the distant year 1386. In the first half of the 19th century, all major activities were completed, but some work continued to be carried out at a later time. So, in 1965 the latest innovations were implemented. Since that time, the construction of the cathedral has been fully completed.
A special place was chosen for the construction of the cathedral. Over the course of several centuries, various sanctuaries, temples and churches were built here. The very first local building is considered to be a Celtic structure, and several centuries later the Romans erected a temple of Minerva on the same site.
Reason for the construction of the cathedral
The fourteenth century was a difficult time for Italy and Europe. drowned in wars, famines and The construction of such a large cathedral became in its own way a symbol confirming the strength, power and fortress of the city of Milan and its inhabitants, who were not afraid of even the most terrible world troubles. Basilica built in honor Holy Mother of God, allowed residents to tirelessly pray to their patroness and not lose hope for the best. It is believed that the city is not allowed to build buildings higher than the highest point of the cathedral. To this day, the townspeople sacredly revere the image of the Mother of God and often come to the Duomo to pray to her.
Milan Cathedral in faces
The order to begin construction of the city's largest cathedral was given by Duke Giangaleazzo Visconti. The initial project was developed by local architect Simone de Orsenigo, then European specialists from France and Germany became involved in the work, which was quite rare for the construction of those times. The Italians considered immigrants from them to be barbarians who knew nothing about art. More than 10 famous architects and the same number of assistants supervised the building during its entire construction. For the construction of the cathedral, not only a style that was rare at that time was chosen, but also an unusual material - white marble. True, initially they planned to use brick for the construction of the cathedral, but later it was decided to abandon this idea.
Napoleon had a great influence on the construction of the Milan Duomo; thanks to his efforts, construction work was significantly accelerated. Perhaps that is why a statue of the famous emperor also decorated one of the spiers.
Features of the external decoration
The Milan Cathedral harmoniously absorbed many different architectural styles, the main one being the Gothic style. The building is decorated with a huge number of details, there are carvings, sculptures, and sophisticated spiers rising into the Italian sky. One of the most notable statues is the beautiful Madonna, and it was in her honor that construction began. The figure, 4 meters high and weighing about a ton, is made of bronze and covered with gold. A recognizable element of the cathedral is the central roof with an endless number of spiers, built back in 1404 and perfectly preserved to this day.
From the roof of the Milan Cathedral there is an amazing view of the surrounding city. Having climbed to the upper platform of the building by stairs or elevator, you will be able to appreciate the gallery named after Victor Emmanuel II, the world-famous La Scala opera, and admire the amazing roofs of Milanese houses.
Features of the interior decoration
The Milan Cathedral is famous not only for its magnificent exterior, but also for its equally beautiful interior decoration. The basilica is significant in size and is considered to be the second largest in Italy. About 40 thousand people can be in the cathedral at the same time, the highest point reaches one hundred and six and a half meters, and the length of the building is 158 meters. The decoration of the cathedral is striking in its fundamentality and symbolism. There are 52 columns inside, corresponding to the number of weeks in the year. A special place among the objects of the basilica is occupied by one seemingly inconspicuous statue. in the Milan Cathedral is revered and loved by millions of Catholics. This great martyr suffered cruelly for his faith; his skin was torn off while still alive.
The Milan Cathedral in Italy has another world relic. Near the altar there is a nail, which, according to legend, was driven into the palm of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, the general public is given only one day a year to see it, September 14th. Tourists also quite often visit the Egyptian bathroom, where the baptism ceremony is held, numerous colorful choirs and the mausoleum-tomb of D. D. Medici.
The Duomo - Milan Cathedral - has one more feature. Near its central entrance they are located in the form of a metal strip.
What is unique about the Milan Cathedral?
The Milan Cathedral is unique in many ways, here are just a few facts by which one can judge its unusualness:
- the white marble from which the cathedral was built was not used for the construction of any other religious buildings in Europe;
- was the first to be planned and implemented in the unique architectural style of Flamboyant Gothic;
- is one of the largest in Italy and Europe;
- the construction was carried out not with the money of the church, but with donations from the nobility, which was quite unusual in those days;
- Architects from all over Europe took part in the design and construction;
- long construction period;
- Every year more than 700 thousand people come to Milan to admire the unusual beauty of the city's cathedral. Historical era forever left its mark on the majestic architecture of the Duomo, which absorbed the entire history of Italy and Milan.
– 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. It is the fourth largest cathedral in Europe, an enormously sized temple of white carved marble, rising in 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, a museum and an area of 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 inspection with interior decoration, and only then, having bought water and incredibly delicious 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 from the spiers and turrets onto the magnificent city. 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 extending into an endless ceiling, amazing sculptures and dark canvases - all these are details inner world a cathedral in which you get lost and dissolve.
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 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 observation deck 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 :)
A variety of circumstances can bring a person to Milan. It would be a big loss not to take a tour of the ancient Italian city, filled with many attractions with a rich history. The heart of the city is the large Cathedral Square. She is like a silver tray on which the main pearls of Milan sparkle - cathedral Duomo, Royal Palace and Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II.
The Duomo Cathedral in Milan (Duomo di Milano) is a truly unique architectural monument in the Flamboyant style.
Formation of the external appearance of the Duomo Cathedral
The 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. 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. Latest works reconstruction of the cathedral were 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 Cathedral, illuminated by silver moonlight.
Interesting facts and myths of the Duomo Cathedral
Visitors who step outside the Duomo Cathedral are greeted with coolness and dim light. Many colorful stained glass windows illustrate biblical stories, 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 the 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 brushes 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. A conveniently arranged observation deck allows you to move freely along 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.
Find a hotel near the DuomoDuomo opening hours and ticket prices
Milan's Duomo Cathedral is open to the public every day from 7:00 to 19:00. last group visitors starts no later than 18:45. Visiting the cathedral itself is free, prerequisite- observance of decency in dress and behavior. 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.
Ascent to the terraces in the Summer season:
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 May 16. The cost of visiting the terraces with an elevator is 12 euros; a walk up the stairs will cost 7 euros per person. In addition, for a fee you can visit the Treasury of the Duomo Cathedral (2 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 ticket prices and opening hours: www.duomomilano.it
Booking excursions with a photographer guide in Milan: www.cheezz.me/ru/fotograf-v-milane/
Attractions near the Duomo Cathedral
As noted above, there are other interesting buildings on Cathedral Square, in addition to the cathedral.
If you take a walk through the glass arcade with many boutiques and luxury shops dedicated to Vittorio Emmanuelle II, you can soon get to 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. A main value La Scala in the action that takes place on its stage.
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Santa Maria Nascente.
The full name of the Milan Cathedral sounds like “Santa Maria Nascente”, but few people call it anything other than Domsky or Milanese. The cathedral is the most famous architectural monument and symbol of Milan. It is located in the city center and is a grandiose and complex structure of Gothic architecture. Lined with white marble, decorated on top with numerous turrets and spiers, carved cornices, the cathedral seems weightless, lacy.
There are repeated examples in history that the design of the facade gothic cathedral ends last, usually after the building has already begun to fulfill its religious functions.
Work on the Duomo took a long time, and only thanks to Napoleon, who dreamed of holding his coronation as an Italian monarch in this cathedral, construction was eventually completed. But even after the coronation, work on the interior continued for another 150 years: bronze doors and stained glass windows, made according to original drawings of the 15th century, were installed.
Its construction lasted from 1386 to mid-19th centuries, and even now the cathedral is renovated from time to time, so this “eternal construction” has become a proverb among the Italians. In addition to Italian architects, German and French masters took part in its construction.
In terms of size, the Milan Cathedral is the third largest in the world. The height of the building reaches 157 meters, and its internal area is 11,700 m2. The highest spire, on which the statue of the Madonna is installed, reaches 108.5 meters in height.
In total, the Milan Cathedral has 135 spiers. 2245 built on the sides marble statues.
Legend claims that the cathedral was built as a sign of gratitude of the Milanese to the Madonna for freeing the women of the city from infertility. It wasn’t really infertility, it was just that only girls were born in Milan. There was nothing bad about it, but during the Middle Ages women were not very favored. The Milanese fell into despair.The famous gilded Madonna on the spire of Milan Cathedral.
They began to pray to the Madonna because, firstly, the Italians revere her very much, and secondly, because she gave birth to a son. Therefore, when, after long prayers addressed to the Madonna, the long-awaited sons finally began to appear, the Milanese decided, as a sign of gratitude, to build a cathedral of extraordinary beauty, placing a gilded Madonna on the top. During the Second World War, the whole of Milan suffered greatly from fascist bombing. Almost 60% of the city's buildings were destroyed. But the Dome Cathedral was among the untouched buildings. Madonna helped Milan again.
Gothic style envisioned decorating the cathedral with sculptures. A lot of effort was invested in their production, so they alone are of great interest. The most colorful cultural composition can be called a pair of female figures on the central balcony of the facade. They are considered the prototype of the American Statue of Liberty. In addition, the author of the Statue of Liberty, Auguste Vartholdi, visited Milan more than once.Main portal "Life of the Virgin Mary".
Main portal "Life of the Virgin Mary".
Main portal "Life of the Virgin Mary".
Behind the impressive façade are hidden wonderful masterpieces of art, an encounter with which promises many impressions. Entering the cathedral through the right side portal (1) ( central entrance most often closed), you first see the tomb of Ariberto da Intimiano (2) with a precious crucifix (the original is in the Cathedral Museum). Ariberto, who was Archbishop of Milan from 1018 to 1045, had a strong influence on the policy of the German Kaisers Henry II and Conrad II towards Italy: at first he supported them, and later waged a fierce struggle with them.Tomb of Archbishop Ariberto da Intimiano
A brass strip (3) is visible on the floor, which stretches along the entire front wall. Closer to noon, visitors will immediately understand what it means: this is the meridian on which the sun’s ray falls at astronomical noon. This phenomenon can be observed thanks to a hole made in the roof of the cathedral.
Next to the portal there is a descent leading to the remains of the early Christian Basilica of Santa Tecla (Basilica Santa Tecla) (4), the predecessor church of the current temple. Here in 387 Saint Ambrose, patron and bishop of Milan, baptized the church father Augustine. This bishop, highly respected by the people, created a number of works devoted to the interpretation of the Bible and dogma, as well as the first Christian ethics. The basilica complex included a separate baptistery and an episcopal palace.The 16th-century marble floor embodied the fantasies of Pellegrino Tibaldi. Slabs of white marble from Candoglia are inlaid with intricate baroque patterns of red and black marble brought from Tessin and Varenna. The cathedral's construction workshop regularly carries out restoration, ensuring that the patterns are preserved.
The font (5) in the northern side longitudinal nave, made from a Roman porphyry bowl, looks original. During late antiquity and the early Byzantine period, this valuable material was kept in reserve for the creation of imperial statues and structures.Porphyry Egyptian bath from the 4th century, which is used as a baptismal font.
The cathedral became famous for its skillfully made stained glass windows. One of the most beautiful and oldest stained glass windows (1470–1475) depicts the life of Christ (6). The stained glass window over the small chapel of the Cross with the image of the mother of Emperor Constantine I the Great also belongs to the pinnacle of this type of art: “The Finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena” (7) (1570–1577).
A notable feature of the Milan Cathedral is the approximately 6 m high encircling rings on the pilasters instead of the usual capitals. At the top they are decorated with monumental figures of saints.The most famous tomb in the cathedral is the mausoleum of Gian Giacomo de' Medici (8), nicknamed Medeghino. In 1563, his brother, Pope Pius IV, commissioned the creation of this tomb from the sculptor Leone Leoni. It depicts Gian Giacomo de' Medici (1495–1555) between two allegorical female figures of War and Peace and bronze reliefs of the river gods Adda and Tessin. He himself is dressed like a commander and is wrapped in a wide cloak to hide his mutilated left leg.
Tomba del Medeghino.Tombstone of Gian Giacomo Medici, Medeghino
In the south transverse nave there is a statue of St. Bartholomew (9) (1562), patron saint of fishermen. According to legend, this saint was flayed alive. This is exactly what it looks like in the Milan Cathedral. The sculptor was very proud of his work of art, so he wrote on the pedestal “It was not Praxiteles who created me, but Marco d’Agrate.” This work is naturalistic and resembles an anatomical model.
From the first stage of construction of the cathedral, when the leading architect was Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the basement reliefs on the portal of the southern sacristy (10) (1393) by the Rhenish master Hans von Fernach have also been preserved.
The crypt (11) of the cathedral contains wonderful treasures, as well as the coffin of St. Carlo Borromeo (1538–1584) in rock crystal (in the octagonal chapel). This cardinal is from noble family Borromeo led a decisive struggle against Protestantism, and in 1565 he became Archbishop of Milan.San Carlo Borromeo's crypt in the Milan Duomo.
The main altar (12) in the choir of the cathedral (where only priests can enter) was created by Pellegrino Tibaldi. He began work on this creation of marble and bronze in 1581, but it was completed only in 1927 by the architect Zacchi from Cesena. Above the altar is the tabernacle - a sanctuary consisting of eight gilded bronze columns and a dome with the figure of a triumphant Christ. This work was made by Pellizzoni based on a sketch by Tibaldi. Behind the main altar, a temple-shaped canopy appeared in 1560, which rests on 12 columns, symbolizing the 12 apostles. Here the relief shows scenes from the life of Christ.
Wooden choirs consist of an upper and lower row (13). The seats in the top row were reserved for canons. Paintings by Giuseppe Meda, Camilo Procaccini and Ambrosius Figini depict episodes from the life of Saint Ambrose. The fine wood carvings on the choir are due to the Taurin brothers from Rouen, as well as Paolo de Gazzis and Virgilio del Conte.The stained glass windows in the apse, created in the 19th century by the Bertini brothers, are perhaps the largest medieval stained glass windows known. They depict scenes from the Old Testament (14), the Apocalypse (15) and the New Testament (16).
"Old Testament"
"New Testament"
The portal of the northern sacristy (17), completed in 1389, is decorated with the painting “Christ our Lord and Judge.”In front of the altar of the “Madonna of the Tree” in the Rococo style by Lelio Buzzi stands the famous black Trivulzio candlestick (18), a Romanesque bronze seven-branched candlestick 5 meters high (12th century). The author of this masterpiece is considered to be the Lorraine master Nicola da Verdun. The bronze leg of the candelabra is decorated with biblical figures from the Old and New Testaments (among them the three wise men in front of Mary and Child seated on a throne) and allegorical figures (including cardinal virtues and arts). The center of the composition is four dragons on which the candlestick rests. It received its name in honor of Giovanni Battista Trivulzio, who donated it to the cathedral in 1562.
In the Milan Cathedral there is one of the nails with which, according to legend, Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross. There have been only three nails in history. All of them were found by Saint Helena, who gave them to her son, Emperor Constantine. The first nail was thrown into the sea to pacify the elements, the second is in the cathedral in Monza, the third was attached to a horseshoe on Constantine’s horse. The last nail was lost for some time, and then Saint Ambrose found it in one of his cousins, bought it for a small fee and put it in a precious tabernacle. A niche was specially left for her in the apse during the construction of the cathedral. The nail can be seen only two days a year; on other days, instead of it, only a red beam is visible on the wall. To get the nail itself, a special device, invented by Leonardo, is used, with the help of which the Milanese bishop climbs to the niche.Rodwell, G. F. “South by East Notes of Travel in Southern Europe” (1877)