Milan Cathedral

The Duomo of Milan is one of the largest and most elaborate Gothic cathedrals in the world, a vast confection of pink-tinged white marble that took six centuries to build, bristling with thousands of statues and a forest of spires crowned by a golden Madonna. Its greatest wonder is the rooftop, where visitors walk among the pinnacles and flying buttresses high above the city.

Background

The church is dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary and serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Milan. It measures 158.6 metres long, 92 metres wide and 108 metres high, with room for 40,000 people. An earlier cathedral, the basilica nova of St Thecla, was completed by 355, and the octagonal baptistery of 335 can still be visited beneath the cathedral. Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo started the current building in 1386. Almost half was complete by 1402, then work nearly stopped until 1480. In 1488 Leonardo da Vinci and Donato Bramante entered models in a competition for the central cupola, which was finished from 1500 to 1510. The final details were done in 1965.

Source: Wikipedia, "Milan Cathedral"

The main sights

• The marble facade - the vast ornate Gothic front bristling with statues.
• The rooftop terraces - the walk among the spires and pinnacles with a city view.
• The interior - the soaring nave and stained glass.
• The Galleria - the grand glass-roofed shopping arcade beside the square.

When to go

Year-round; a clear day for the rooftop terraces, which are the highlight. Book ahead and go early to avoid the security queues and crowds on the square.

Before you go

The rooftop is the star, reached by stairs or a lift for an extra fee, and can queue. The square is busy and plagued by touts and pigeon-feed scammers. The cathedral interior is vast but dim; the marble exterior and roof are the wonder.

Nearby

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and La Scala are alongside; the Last Supper is a short ride.

Key facts