The Duomo (Milan Cathedral) is the largest attraction not only in Italy, but also in Europe as a whole. Its appeal lies not only in its scale and history, but also in the smallest architectural details, sculptural compositions, their depth and elaboration.
The Basilica of the Duomo is a kind of symbol of Milan. Like the cathedral, it also has an official name - Santa Maria Nachente. The roof of the building is decorated with the figure of the Madonna, which can be seen from anywhere in the city. The building is a huge white marble cathedral with many spiers, in the architectural style "Gothic". The church can accommodate 4,000 people at a time. Its interior decoration is striking - there are more than 3,000 statues alone, and it is impossible to count the elements of stucco decoration on the walls and ceiling at all.
Duomo history
The construction of the Duomo Cathedral took over 500 years. The first stone of white marble in its foundation was laid in 1387 by order of the then ruler Giano Galeazzo Visconti. In order to speed up the construction as much as possible and prevent theft of the unique material, Visconti ordered to exempt the quarries where it was mined from taxes and to mark each stone. The main milestones in the construction of the Duomo are:
- development and approval of the project - 1386-1387,
- consecration of the cathedral by Cardinal Borromeo in 1577,
- installation of the statue of the Madonna on the main spire of the Duomo in 1774,
- completion of work on the facade, already under the leadership of Napoleon - 1805,
- opening of the cathedral for tourists in 1965,
- reconstruction from 2003 to 2009.
At the moment, this landmark is a unique architectural ensemble that combines several styles at once - Gothic, French and German, Renaissance, North Italian and classics. Experts believe that this "mix" is a consequence of the construction that has been dragged out for almost 600 years. It is also interesting that to this day something is constantly changing, new elements of interior decoration and exterior decoration appear.
The exact address of the Duomo and a list of excursions
In cultural and tourist guides, the exact address of the Duomo (Milan Cathedral) is indicated - Duomo di Milano, Piazza Duomo, Milan Italy. The cathedral is located in the very center of Milan, visible from any point of it, and tourists can easily find it. You can get there by metro, focusing on the lines that pass through the Duomo station.
The opening hours (access for tourists) of the cathedral can be found on its official website, at the hotel or from the guides who conduct excursions in it. As a rule, the Duomo is open from 8 am to 5 pm, and the time for visiting its most significant parts is limited - you can go to the terraces and the roof of the cathedral one hour after its opening, that is, at 9 am.
It is important to know that you cannot enter the cathedral with open knees, shoulders and belly, and even as part of an excursion group. Most tourists come here as "savages", simply by buying a ticket at one of the ticket offices. But it is best to use the services of a guide. Groups form in hotels in the city or at the entrance to the Duomo. The ticket price is not much higher than for those who inspect the cathedral on their own, but there are much more impressions.
