Milan Cathedral Duomo of Milan history, facts, and curiosities

Milan Cathedral is one of the city’s more accessible features.

While recently browsing through photos, I came across a succinctly titled catalogue, The Cathedral in Milan, which didn’t tell me much at first. However, as soon as I saw its contents, I remembered that long ago I promised you to describe this incredible, monumental monument standing right in the heart of Milan.

Milan Cathedral first contact with temple Duomo

Well, as they say, better late than never. And that’s why today I’ll take you on an unbelievable journey to one of Milan’s greatest attractions, undoubtedly the Duomo di Milano, or as we call it, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascent.

Upon arriving in Milan and exiting the metro station, what caught my eye first was the crowd of people of all colours and languages. There were so many of them that I thought there must be some unusual event happening in the city at that moment.

The same scene unfolds in the cathedral square. The Duomo Cathedral in Milan and the crowds of people in front of it are the norm and everyday life, especially during peak tourist seasons. Be prepared for it and don’t worry too much; the cathedral authorities have everything well organized, and everything runs smoothly and relatively quickly.

Piazza del Duomo square, or what we saw in front of the Milan Cathedral

It seemed to me that on the Piazza del Duomo in front of the famous cathedral in Milan, everyone who had a camera, a video camera, or at least a phone with them had shown up that morning.

Luckily, we arrived early in front of the cathedral, thanks to the foresight of my wife, Ewa, who woke me up very early. I advise you to do the same because in the middle of the day, it’s literally difficult to squeeze onto the square, let alone into the cathedral. This is evidenced by the fact that after leaving the cathedral, the number of people waiting to begin the tour was four times greater.

Ah, the queue for the cathedral! You must be prepared for it; it’s long, or even longer, very, very long.

So long that standing in it, you can learn at least a few foreign languages from the people waiting in it, at least to a communicative degree. The snail’s pace is due to the principle here: the safety of visitors is paramount. A thorough metal detector check awaits anyone who wants to get inside.

You should be prepared for a bag, backpack, and photographic equipment check without complaining because the heavily armed soldiers, judging by their expressions, don’t usually engage in arguments with complainers.

I, too, was checked for a good five minutes because something kept beeping on me, causing impatient sounds from the next person waiting. In the end, everything that triggered the detector coil was pulled out, and we were allowed inside.

Milan Cathedral Duomo di Milano and its history

As is often the case with religious buildings, the Duomo Cathedral in Milan was not the first temple in this location, as can be seen in the cathedral’s underground, but more on that shortly.

The actual cathedral, which we can admire today on the Piazza del Duomo, began construction in 1386 when Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the ruler of Milan, Verona, Bergamo, Brescia, and 21 other cities, arrived in the centre of Milan. In the presence of many officials, he drove the first shovel into the soft ground, followed by a fiery speech about how beautiful the church that would rise here would be.

What else did he say? I don’t know, but I suspect he instructed architects and engineers to make the building perfect because its memory depends on it, and also not to cost too much. The construction should be completed quickly enough for him to boast about it during his lifetime.

Initially, the plan was to finish the work in 20 years. Today, we know that didn’t happen. Not only did the builders did not finish their work, but neither did their children or subsequent generations. The construction turned out to be much more costly than initially anticipated, and as we know, without money, nothing gets done.

However, over time, spires, and altars appeared, and eventually, the Duomo Cathedral was completed silently in 1805. It was completed enough to host the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte, during which the Emperor donned the traditional iron crown of the King of Italy before thousands of people.

However, the definitive year of completion is considered to be 1965 when the final decorative elements were added, meaning, if we don’t count, it took almost 600 years to build it!

Archaeological zone in the Duomo di Milano Cathedral

Upon entering the cathedral and getting accustomed to the first overwhelming impression caused by the incredible vastness of the Milan Cathedral, Ewa grabbed the map we received with our tickets. He decreed that we would start exploring the monument from the archaeological section located in the underground. It is there, as I mentioned earlier, that we can see the original ground level where the previous places of worship stood; the Santa Maria Maggiore cathedral and even earlier, the church of Saint Thecla.

It’s a strange and somewhat overwhelming feeling when you realize that above you is the largest church in Europe. One can only hope that the builders knew their craft well, and the Duomo Cathedral in Milan won’t suddenly collapse. Subconsciously, however, we hastened to move to the upper level, which is decidedly richer and much more spectacular than what can be seen in the underground.

Milan Cathedral and its rich interiors

Taking photos gave me the opportunity to scrutinize the details of the interior of the Duomo Cathedral in Milan, which are wonderful and incredibly precise. Everything is well-thought-out and placed exactly where it should be, and the decorations and intricate details truly make a big impression.

The sculptures are particularly impressive, and there are supposedly as many as, 3600 in the Duomo Cathedral. They all look as if, as soon as the cathedral doors are closed, they would step down from their pedestals and move around to rest after many hours of standing still.

Speaking of sculptures, the one that made the biggest impression on me was the sculpture of Saint Bartholomew by Marco d’Agrate from 1562. It depicts the skinned martyr holding his skin in his hands like a rolled-up cloak. The way d’Agrate sculpted the muscles and stoic calm of the saint is incredible and stays in memory for a long time. Moreover, the author himself was convinced of the quality of his life’s work, as he signed the sculpture with these words:

I wasn’t made by Praxiteles, but by Marco d’Agrate.

(Praxiteles was one of the best sculptors of Ancient Greece).

While strolling through the interior of the Duomo Cathedral in Milan, there are several notable relics to pay attention to. Chief among them is the nail that purportedly served to crucify Jesus on the cross. However, as is often the case with relics, nobody knows for sure if it’s the original piece of metal that was once embedded in Jesus’ body. If you wish to see it for yourself, you should visit the cathedral during the time when it is publicly displayed, which occurs on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, falling on September 14th.

During your visit to the Duomo Cathedral, it’s worth admiring the beautiful organs, which were funded by Benito Mussolini himself. Given the dictator’s penchant for grandeur, it’s no surprise that the organs are immense. They consist of 5 keyboards and a staggering 15,350 pipes.

Milan Cathedral and a trip to the roof of the temple Duomo

Once you’ve marvelled at the treasures housed within the Duomo Cathedral, it’s time to ascend to its rooftop. To reach it, you must exit the building and head towards the entrance, which, like the one leading into the cathedral, is guarded by armed soldiers. There, once again, security will check to ensure you’re not a crazed terrorist. After your tickets are inspected, the stairs leading to the cathedral’s rooftop will be open before you.

You could, of course, opt for the elevator, but conquering such heights isn’t done that way, so a few steps won’t faze you. Granted, I admit, I was a bit winded during the climb. After a few short breaks, I finally reached the top of the temple and could gaze out at the surroundings, which are quite a sight to behold.

The spires of the cathedral make a giant impression, with saints carved in stone gazing solemnly into the distance. However, it turns out that not only holy men occupy places atop the Duomo Cathedral. Upon closer inspection, you’ll find that the cathedral’s façade is adorned with dragons, devils, and other legendary creatures. The legend explaining why the temple is decorated with such sculptures will be told at the end of the article.

In addition to the sculptures, spires, and views of all of Milan, there’s another interesting aspect worth noting: tourist behaviour. The Duomo Cathedral in Milan, especially its rooftop, is a place where almost everyone takes a photo. Most often, it’s young girls who, in addition to taking selfies, put on a veritable fashion show here.

It appears that taking photos on top of the Duomo Cathedral in Milan is contagious. From what I observed, anyone who sees a girl posing for a photo does the same. Well, in the world we live in, if you’re not in a picture of the attraction you visited, it means you weren’t there at all.

Cathedral museum of the Duomo Cathedral in Milan

I’m not particularly fond of religious art. It tends to be lavish and lacking in restraint, frequently repetitive and simply dull. With such an attitude, I entered the Duomo Cathedral in Milan. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the cathedral’s appearance and its history. Nevertheless, it was the Duomo Cathedral Museum that turned out to be the most interesting place in the entire temple.

All the artefacts were displayed in an intriguing manner and illuminated masterfully, leaving a very positive impression on me. Therefore, I encourage you to include this place in your travel plans; believe me, it’s really worth it.

The cathedral’s model was absolutely fantastic, allowing you to closely examine the monument and appreciate the skill with which it was designed and executed.

Summary of our visit to the Duomo Milan Cathedral

Is it worth visiting the Duomo in its entirety, even with the gigantic queues, and making a detour to the Cathedral Museum? Oh, it’s definitely worth it! Furthermore, there are so many attractions and fascinating nooks here that we probably only saw a fraction of it all. I hope you, dear reader, will write to us about what you know and what we should add to our text.

Practical information may be useful when visiting the Duomo Milan Cathedral

Visiting the Duomo Cathedral in Milan is a pure pleasure and an extraordinary adventure. However, you should remember a few things that can effectively disrupt your plans. The most important thing is to arm yourself with patience, especially during peak tourist months, when real crowds gather in front of the cathedral. You’ll have to wait in line, and nothing will change that.

Another thing to consider is tickets, which you must buy in advance, preferably ones with skip-the-line options for priority entry. There are also tickets with a guide, which I highly recommend, especially for those who like to know more than others about the places they visit.

If possible, avoid bringing large luggage on your trip to the cathedral. Soldiers at the gates will have less work during checks, and it will be much more convenient for you to stroll through the crowded interior of the historic church.

Milan Cathedral and safety while visiting

To facilitate public safety supervision for access to the cathedral, you must be prepared to empty pockets of metal items and open backpacks. Entry to the Cathedral with head coverings, glass items, and suitcases is prohibited. I also advise against bringing large bags as entry may be problematic.

Milan Cathedral Interesting facts

• The Duomo di Milano is the fifth-largest church in the world. It is surpassed only by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil, St. John the Divine in New York City, and the Cathedral of Seville.
• The cathedral occupies an impressive area of 12,000 square meters. Its size is even more impressive considering it is the oldest church among the largest ones.
• The vaults of the Cathedral are the highest in the world, reaching precisely 45 meters.
• Inside the building, up to 40,000 people can fit.
• The cathedral boasts 135 spires, with the tallest one supporting the statue of the Virgin Mary, measuring 108 meters. Interestingly, no building in Milan can surpass the height of the Madonna.
• The marble used for the cathedral’s construction was sourced from the glacial Lake Maggiore, located north of Milan. To transport it from the quarries, canals were built, some of which remain to this day.
• The number of sculptures is staggering. Over the centuries, 3,400 statues and 135 gargoyles have been crafted. Interestingly, a figure of Napoleon Bonaparte was placed on one of the towers.
• At the entrance to the cathedral, a sundial is placed on the floor. Sun rays shine onto it from a hole in the opposite wall during the winter and summer solstices.
• The number of tourists visiting the Duomo exceeds 100,000 people weekly, totalling an astonishing figure of over 6,000,000 tourists annually.
• The entire cathedral weighs approximately 325,000 tons.

Polish version