My visit to the Duomo Cathedral in Milan during a transfer between flights in Italy, as well as where to buy tickets and their cost.
On my first trip to Milan, I only managed to see the main attractions of the city, which I wrote about in the article. This time we had only a couple of hours in the city and this time was dedicated to the Milan Cathedral.
Tickets to Milan Duomo Cathedral
On my first visit, I didn’t get into the cathedral because I didn’t have time to stand in line for tickets, and it can be very long. But that’s not all, after purchasing tickets there will be a second line to go through security, although it moves quickly, and the screening itself does not take much time.
But before writing about Milansky Cathedral I’ll tell you about tickets and where to buy them.
Tickets at the Box Office
The longest option, since you will have to stand in line at the ticket office, which is located on the right side of the entrance to the cathedral. There is a paid toilet right next to the ticket office, so it can come in handy if there is a long line.
The only advantage of the box office is that they sell the cheapest tickets for 3 €, which cannot be bought on the Internet. The price of this ticket includes a visit to the cathedral itself and the Duomo Museum, which is located in the building next door.
With a ticket for 3 €, access is only granted to the first floor of the cathedral and the mausoleum of Gian Giacomo de' Medici. You can get to the roof of the cathedral and the basement with more expensive tickets.
In addition to simple tickets for 3 €, the box office sells various combined tickets with additional visits to various places in Milan. But most of all it is worth paying attention to the tickets with which you can get to the roof of the cathedral and to the basement. They cost from 9 to 15 € depending on whether you take the elevator or walk up.
Tickets Online
All tickets sold on the Internet are more expensive, but they have one big advantage - the absence of queues. This is especially true in the summer, when you have to stand in the heat under the sun or in the cold in winter.
Tickets are not sold on the official website of the cathedral; I can suggest as an option a website where a ticket costs 14 €. The ticket price includes access to the cathedral, the roof and the basement where archaeological excavations are being carried out. Also a bonus to the ticket is access to the Church of St. Gottardo in Corte, which is located 10-15 minutes away by public transport.
Excursion to Milan Cathedral
The cathedral offers excursions in Russian several times a week, and if you want to learn the whole history and secrets of the cathedral, you can book one.
Duomo Cathedral
Milan Cathedral– the center of Milan, its symbol and main attraction. The official name is the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but many call it the Duomo or simply the Milan Cathedral. It took five centuries to build it, with stops due to lack of budget. They were built of white marble and decorated with thousands of statues.
The cathedral is located on Duomo Square in the city center. If you face the cathedral, then on the left there will be the famous Gallery of Victor Emmanuel II, on the right the royal palace, and in front of the cathedral (behind the back) there is a monument to Victor Emmanuel II.
Just seeing the cathedral from the outside is not enough; it’s worth looking inside. Inside the cathedral is a little gloomy, its space is filled with the same gloomy sounds of the organ. This is what the central nave looks like.
If you look closely at the previous photo, you can see a small red dot above the main altar, right near the ceiling. This is the main relic of the cathedral - one of the nails with which Jesus was crucified. This nail is lowered only once a year.
Some statues you can't walk past, this is the statue of St. Bartholomew. His body looks like this because he suffered martyrdom, his skin was removed. What hangs on the saint’s shoulders is not a cloak or anything else, it is his skin.
The central altar and one of several additional ones, as well as stained glass windows.
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It is probably difficult to meet a person who would be indifferent to the luxurious Gothic building of the Milan Cathedral. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Nascente (or simply Duomo) is the largest in the world, it can accommodate up to forty thousand people at a time, and it has no equal in the beauty of its external and internal decoration.
The cathedral is located on the main square of Milan, and if you look at the city from a bird's eye view, it is this building that first catches your eye; all the old Milanese streets lead to it.
A little history
The Duomo (translated from Italian as cathedral) began to be built at the dawn of the 14th century, and the grandiose construction was completed only in 1813. But the project for its construction has not changed, which is why the building is so harmonious. It represents best example Gothic style, which cannot be surpassed.
Architecture of the Duomo
Absolutely everything in the appearance of the cathedral is striking - more than a hundred spiers, the main one of which is crowned with the figure of the Madonna - heavenly patroness Milan, thousands of sculptural compositions on marble walls, illustrating biblical scenes, scenes from the lives of saints, and there are also images of angels and even fantastic, unprecedented animals. The beauty and grandeur of these creations simply cannot be expressed in words.
Cathedral interiors
But the Duomo is even more impressive for its interior decoration. Once inside the cathedral, you lose your sense of reality; it seems that the ceilings and arches cannot be so high, the columns so graceful and powerful at the same time, and the walls so skillfully decorated. Special attention The stained glass windows are of extraordinary beauty; they create a special atmosphere of solemnity and at the same time mystery. Amazingly, the oldest of them is more than five centuries old.
Also inside the cathedral it is impossible not to notice the figure of St. Bartholomew, the patron saint of all fishermen, who died a martyr's death - he was skinned alive. The sculptor Marco d'Agrate was able to achieve maximum anatomical similarity in his work, and this sculpture looks simply unrealistically believable. It is also interesting to look at the tombstones of saints, decorated wooden slabs, on which pictures from the life of St. Ambrose are carved, count the names of all the archbishops of Milan since the 1st century, carved in stone, or listen to one of the best organs in the world.
In conclusion, you should definitely climb onto the roof of the cathedral (this can be done either along the ancient stairs or via the elevator), the view from there is simply fantastic.
The cathedral is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00 with a break from 12:00 to 14:30, admission is free.
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 façade, ordered the decoration to be completed and the doors to be opened for parishioners, falls on early XIX 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 developed the design exterior finishing 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. Worked as performers under his leadership: the best masters Lombardy. 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 those 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, in its design and design, a variety of design techniques were mixed. Since construction in different times led by different architects, each of them brought something of their own 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. So, Gabriele Stornaloco calculated optimal height for the nave in the center (no more than 45 meters) and came up with the ideal arrangement 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 central authority, 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 transformations, despite the fact that the overall construction progress was still far from complete, Charles Borromeo held the consecration ceremony of the 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 at the 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, when for the first time in its long history it began to function and receive parishioners in full force. 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 are crafted to 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 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 marble finish Duomo and take great photos.
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. Desired station bears 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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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 along the top with numerous turrets and spiers, carved cornices, the cathedral seems weightless, lacy.
There are repeated examples in history that the design of the façade of a Gothic cathedral is completed 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 until the middle of the 19th century, 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. There are 2245 marble statues built on the sides.
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.
The Gothic style involved 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) (the central entrance is 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 falls at astronomical noon. sunbeam. 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.Porphyritic Egyptian bath IV 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 from the noble Borromeo family 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)
Duomo Milan, also known as the Milan Cathedral or, if you prefer, the Milan Cathedral is the main symbol of the most fashionable city in Italy. People come here to do grand shopping and look at the legendary Duomo di Milano. In terms of popularity among churches, the Duomo Cathedral in Milan is second only to two: Barcelona's Sagrada Familia and Paris' Notre Dame.
Duomo Milan is the only white marble Catholic cathedral in the world, the second largest Italian temple after St. Peter's, the fifth largest temple in the whole world. It looks majestic in person, so it’s really better to see it once. At least once! Find flights to Milan at https://ifly.ua.
Photographs, even the most skillful ones, cannot convey all the splendor of the temple. Every year hundreds of thousands of people come to admire the Milan Cathedral. The Duomo Cathedral in Milan is unique, and this is not an exaggeration. I will try to convince you to visit the temple, I will tell you about the history and modernity of the Duomo, the most interesting places and objects in the temple. At the end of the article there is useful information: opening hours, ticket prices, ways to get to the symbol of Milan.
The first blocks of the temple's foundation were laid in 1386. But even before that, on the modern Piazza del Duomo in Milan there were sanctuaries and basilicas:
- 7th century BC e. - a Celtic temple dedicated to pagan gods.
- 1st century BC e. - Roman Temple of Minerva in Mediolanum.
- IV century – Church of Santa Tecla or Church of Saint Thecla.
- 7th century - Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
In the 14th century, under the rule of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, a grandiose cathedral began to be built in Milan. The Church of the Virgin Mary was demolished, and craftsmen from Germany and France were invited to build the Gothic temple. The main author of the Duomo Milan project was the Italian Simone de Orsenigo. Until 1470, construction was slow, there was not enough money, and architects changed frequently.
A century after the start of work, Guniforte Solari took up the project. To help himself, he called not just anyone, but the masters Bramante and Leonardo - yes, that same da Vinci. Consultants advised diluting gothic style elements of the Renaissance, this is how the main dome appeared. The Duomo Cathedral was finally consecrated by Carlo Borromeo in 1572 - the future saint was buried here.
The temple received its modern appearance only 19th century. In 1769, its main symbol appeared on the building - a spire 106 meters high with a four-meter statue of the Madonna. By decree of the authorities, no building should obscure the statue, so there is an exact copy of it on the Pirelli skyscraper. The Duomo Cathedral in Milan was completed under Napoleon; in 1813, the famous forest of 135 marble needles appeared on the façade.
The Duomo today
The final decoration of the cathedral was completed in the 1960s. In 2009, the Milan authorities carried out restoration, so the cathedral looks impressive. From the outside, the most noticeable thing is the hundreds of stone spiers on the façade. There are 2,300 statues on the needles and walls, and another 1,100 are inside the Milan Cathedral. What is most striking about the interior is the forest of columns, there are 52 of them. The columns go up to the vaulted Gothic ceiling.
I’ll tell you what you should definitely see in the Duomo.
The most interesting places and objects of the Duomo
The cathedral itself is already impressive, both outside and inside. It's easy to get lost, so I've prepared a list of the most interesting places. Entrance to the cathedral costs 3 euros, but read more about prices at the end.
Mausoleum of Gian Giacomo Medici
The dead, influential people of their time, were often buried inside Catholic cathedrals. At the end of the 16th century, Charles Borromeo ordered that all burials be removed from the Duomo so as not to spread the plague. Gian Giacomo de' Medici was the last person to be buried and left inside the Duomo (Milan).
Until the 20th century, the mausoleum of the Marquis from the Medici family was considered the work of Michelangelo. It was actually built by Leone Leoni, the leader of Italian Mannerism. Under the mausoleum there is a crypt of Charles Borromeo himself - here lie the relics of the saint who opened the temple in 1572.
Excavations and Baptistery of St. Stephen
Under the cathedral are basements and catacombs. They remain from the time of the Church of the Virgin Mary, which was demolished to build a temple. Archaeological excavations are being carried out below, and on the already cleared site stands the Baptistery of St. Stephen. Milan's Duomo Cathedral offers a look at the collected treasures in the Baptistery - it's free. But entry to the active excavations costs 7 euros.
Nail from the cross of Jesus Christ
In the main hall of the cathedral, above the altar, you will probably notice a red dot. It marks the location of a nail - one of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The relic is located at an altitude of 45 meters in a container under the dome. Every year on September 14, the Duomo Cathedral celebrates the Exaltation. On this day, the bishop rises to the nail on a special elevator in the form of a cloud, brings it down and goes around the entire cathedral for consecration.
Statue of Saint Bartholomew
To the right of the altar there is a statue of one of the apostles of Christ - St. Bartholomew. According to legend, the inquisitors flayed the martyr alive. The author of the statue, Marco d’Agrate, created the creation in 1562. He did it masterfully; every muscle on the saint’s body is visible. What appears at first to be a cloak on Bartholomew's shoulders is actually his own skin!
Rooftop observation deck
When with inspection interior spaces If you have finished the cathedral, I advise you to go up to the roof. Opens from the terrace interesting view on the Duomo Cathedral in Milan and the city itself, framed by marble needles on the facade of the building. You can go up for 9 euros on foot along spiral staircase, it is located near the northern wall. For 13 euros you can ride the elevator, which is located near the apse.
Duomo Museum
The entrance ticket to the cathedral - 3 euros - also includes a visit to the Duomo Museum. It is located next to the main entrance, on the right. The museum, in 26 halls, contains paintings, stained glass windows, jewelry, and models of the cathedral throughout its history since 1386. Along with the museum, you can also visit the Church of St. Godegard. It is located south of Piazza del Duomo and is interesting for its bell tower with the first mechanical watch in Milan.
Church of the Annunciation of St. Mary
Just behind the main temple there is another small church. It is dedicated to the Mother of God, but stands still former cemetery Duomo Milan. The church was built in the Baroque style, there is an organ inside and services are regularly held under it. You can enter for free, and no one will kick you out of the mass. A good opportunity to listen to the organ in Milan - they usually charge money for it.
Useful information for visiting the Duomo
Official website of the cathedral: duomomilano.it (there is a version on English). I advise you to check the information below on the website, just in case. I make changes if opening hours or ticket prices change, but it’s not always possible to do this promptly.
Opening hours of the main cathedral, museum and other attractions:
- Duomo: daily from 8:00 to 19:00 (ticket office closes at 18:00), except December 25, January 1 and May 1.
- Mausoleum of Gian Giacomo de' Medici and Crypt of St. Charles: Monday-Friday - from 11:00 to 17:30, Saturday - from 11:00 to 17:00, Sunday - from 13:30 to 15:30.
- Baptistery of St. Stephen: daily from 9:00 to 18:00.
- Excavations under the baptistery: daily from 9:00 to 19:00.
- Rooftop observation deck: daily from 9:00 to 19:00.
- Duomo Museum: every day except Wednesday from 10:00 to 18:00.
- Church of St. Godegard: every day except Wednesday from 10:00 to 18:00.
- Church of the Annunciation of St. Mary: daily from 9:00 to 18:00.
Regular admission ticket prices
- Cathedral, Duomo Museum, Church of St. Godegard: 3 euros for adults, 2 euros for children 6-12 years old, school and pilgrimage groups. In the cathedral, with this ticket you can see the mausoleum of Gian Giacomo Medici, the crypt of St. Charles, and the Baptistery of St. Stephen. The price of the museum includes all rooms.
- Excavations under the Baptistery of St. Stephen: 7 euros for adults, 3 euros for visitors under 26 years of age, school and pilgrimage groups. This is an expanded version of the first point, that is, it already includes an entrance ticket to the cathedral itself, the Duomo Museum and the Church of St. Godegard.
- Observation deck on the roof: on foot - 9 euros for adults and 4.5 euros for children, by elevator - 13 euros for adults and 7 euros for children.
Children under 6 years old and people with disabilities, military personnel in uniform, tour guides.
Cost of complex tickets
- Pass to Duomo A (cathedral, Duomo Museum, St. Godegard's Church and lift access to the observation deck): 16 euros for adults and 8 euros for children.
- Pass to Duomo B (Cathedral, Duomo Museum, Church of St. Godegard and ascent to the observation deck on foot): 12 euros for adults and 6 euros for children.
Complex tickets are convenient because they are valid for 72 hours. That is, you can go to the cathedral one day and go up to the observation deck, and on another day you can return to the square and go to the museum.
