One of the most famous monuments in Italy is 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 building, 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 in those days was chosen, but also 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 accelerated significantly. 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, erected 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, one seemingly inconspicuous statue occupies a place. 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.
On the main square of Milan rises the main attraction of the city - the Duomo ( Duomo di Milano) or the Cathedral. This Cathedral is famous all over the world and is the fourth largest in Europe. The Milan Duomo is truly grandiose: decorated with white marble, decorated with hundreds of turrets, statues and carved cornices.
The Milan Cathedral is at once huge, majestic and lacy, soaring. I definitely recommend going up to the roof of the Duomo, because it offers a magnificent view of Milan, and you can also see elements of the architecture of the Cathedral.
How to get to Milan Cathedral (Milan Duomo)
Milan Cathedral is located in the historical part of Milan, a stone's throw from the Duomo metro station. This metro station can be reached by the yellow line M3 (convenient direct access from Milan Central Station - Milano Centrale) or the red line M1 (convenient direct access from another train station, Cadorna station). From Garibaldi station you need to take the green line M2 and change at Cadorna station to the red line M1 and get to Duomo station.
Opening hours of the Milan Cathedral and cost of entry, climbing to the roof
The cathedral is open daily from 7:00 to 19:00
Entrance to the Cathedral is free, photography costs 2 euros.
Access to the roof is possible from 9:00 to 19:00
You can get to the roof of the Cathedral by elevator (12 euros) or on foot along the stairs (67 euros).
Here's more detailed information (on the official website).
Milan Cathedral Map
Download map
History and architecture of Milan Cathedral
Like most significant Cathedrals in Europe, the Milan Duomo was not built “in an open field,” but on the site of a destroyed basilica (and before it there were Celtic and Roman sanctuaries). Construction of the new Cathedral began in 1386 after a severe fire in the basilica, and was completed only in 1880. Several centuries of construction could not but affect the architectural appearance of the Cathedral: from Gothic to elements inherent in the Renaissance, classicism, and modernity. But still, the Duomo style is usually called flaming Gothic.
Gothic architecture arose in France due to economic development, as a result of which socio-political trends came to the fore.
The first example of Gothic elements can be seen in a church from the period of Romanesque maturity, this is a reconstruction (c. 1140) of the abbey church of Saint Denis, commissioned by Suger Abbott. Soon, the Gothic style of the Ile-de-France spread throughout France, Germany and the Czech Republic, and then to England and Spain. In Italy, Gothic appeared in central regions almost a century later, mainly in Tuscany and Umbria, but in a more balanced form and with an emphasis on decorative display of subjects that looked less dramatic.
The construction of the Duomo in Milan was in full swing when the fashion for Gothic appeared; it was built in accordance with the stylistic features of Lombardy Gothic.
In the second half of 1387, Prince Gian Galeazzo Visconti decided to personally supervise the project, because the Duomo was to become a symbol of his rule, setting an example for the rest of the churches of Europe.
Over the course of about twenty years, hundreds and hundreds of foreigners joined the local workers, making suggestions based on their experience. This is how the unique Gothic style of the cathedral arose.
The Duomo became a place where different European cultures mixed together.
During those years there was a massive immigration of thousands of workers from north to south to contribute to the construction of Milan Cathedral, which for this reason can be considered the most European of all Gothic cathedrals.
There is a legend that the Milan Cathedral was built in honor of the Madonna, who helped save the women of Milan from infertility. Or to be more precise, from the widespread birth of girls.
Climbing to the roof of Milan Cathedral
Despite the fact that we only had a few hours to walk in Milan, I was determined to climb to the roof of the Cathedral.
You can get to the roof on foot, or you can play around and take a ride in the elevator. In order to find the entrance to the elevator, you need to start walking around the Cathedral from the central facade on the left or right sides (if you are facing it). Just around the corner you will see an entrance with a cash register. If you want to go up on foot, you need to go along the right side of the main facade (download the map)
The roof of Milan's Duomo is a huge, multi-tiered space, so set aside at least 40 minutes for it.
It’s very cool to walk along the lacy turrets of the Cathedral and look at the sculptures up close.
The chimeras at the Cathedral are simply beautiful
Cathedral in Milan (Duomo di Milano) May 20th, 2013
It all started with this photo. Experts on Europe may be aware, but I tried to imagine what kind of structure this is. This is usually how the fantastic architecture of another civilization is depicted. However, everything turned out to be much closer :-)
The ancient temple of the Celts was destroyed on this site. The same fate befell the Temple of Minerva, which stood here during the Roman Empire. For some time there were two churches here (Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Tecla), which were replaced by a grandiose building in gothic style.
The most famous monument of Italian Milan subsequently became this Cathedral, whose full name is "Santa Maria Nascente". This magnificent building of Gothic architecture is even called the symbol of Milan, because it is located right in the city center. See Milan Cathedral with my own eyes- this is not what you see in photographs, although they convey its grace and beauty.
The first stones for the construction of this Gothic temple were laid by Gian Galeazzo Visconti in 1386, and the design of the facade was approved by Napoleon in 1805. The cathedral is the only one in Europe built of white marble.
At the site of the construction of the Duomo (as the cathedral in Milan is called), in early times there was a sanctuary of the Celts, during the Roman Empire - the Temple of Minerva, later the Church of Santa Tecla (IV-VI centuries), from the 7th century - the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore ( it was demolished to make way for a new cathedral).
Specialists were invited from Germany and France to build the temple in the Gothic style, although the Italian architect Simone de’Orsenigo was initially involved in the project. In 1470, Guniforte Solari was invited to the post of chief architect. He invited Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci to help him, and they proposed combining the Gothic style with the Renaissance, resulting in an octagonal dome.
In 1417, the unfinished cathedral was consecrated by Pope Martin V. The opening of the temple took place in 1572, it was solemnly consecrated by Saint Charles Borromeo.
In 1769, a 104-meter spire was built with a gilded statue of the Madonna at the end. After this, Milan passed a law that no building should obscure the patroness of the city. In the 19th century, a “stone forest” was built of 135 marble spiers pointing into the sky.
During the construction of the Cathedral, many generations of people took part in its construction. And they understood perfectly well that they were not destined to see the completion of construction.
Not only Italian masters took part in the construction of this magnificence, but also French and German architects. And even now you can constantly see forests and other structures there - after all, the Cathedral has to be constantly renovated.
The structure is simply grandiose, decorated with numerous spiers and turrets all over the top, carved decorations, which makes it look like weightless lace. The facade of the Cathedral is impressive, delicate milky white color with a slight pinkish tint.
The height of the cathedral building reaches 157 meters. It is the second largest Gothic Cathedral in the world in terms of capacity, after the Seville Cathedral, which was rebuilt from a mosque. The internal area of the Milan Cathedral is 11,700 square meters.
The Milan Duomo is dedicated to the Holy Madonna. Her gilded statue is installed on the highest spire, at a height of 108.5 meters.
Milan suffered significant damage during the German bombing of World War II. More than 60 percent of city buildings were destroyed. Among the surviving and untouched buildings was the Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente.
Churches of the Gothic era are traditionally decorated with numerous sculptures, because endless details are considered the main decorations of Gothic buildings. 
So, the Milan Cathedral has 2245 different and very remarkable sculptures. These include statues of saints, depictions of scenes from biblical stories, and strange phantasmagoric animals. The details decorating the building depict many medieval faces. It can be logically assumed that most of them are construction sponsors and their families.
Some female figures located on the central balcony of the facade are very similar to the New York Statue of Liberty, and are quite reasonably considered its prototypes.
There are also many figures on the spiers. It is these details that perfectly convey the peculiarity of the Cathedral, even better than general standard views.
Another amazing feature of the Milan Cathedral is that its roof, equipped as a terrace, can be reached by elevator or stairs. All 135 spiers rise around – a real stone forest.
You can walk around the entire perimeter of the roof and see statues of angels, chimeras, and biblical characters in great detail from different angles. Every sculpture, facial expressions, facial expressions, and details of clothing are so elegantly executed that you just want to stand and admire this real art.
The magnificent facade of the Cathedral hides no less splendor behind it. The central entrance to the Cathedral is most often closed, so you need to enter through the right side portal. There is the tomb of the Archbishop of Milan 1018-1045 Ariberto da Intimiano.
A brass strip runs along the entire front wall. At noon, its secret is revealed - this is the meridian, onto which at that time, through a hole made in the roof, falls sunbeam.
There is also a descent into the remains of the early Basilica of Santa Tecla, which stood on this site before the construction of the Cathedral. At this place in 387, the bishop and patron saint of Milan, Saint Ambrose, baptized the future father of the church, Saint Augustine.
The white marble floor is inlaid with baroque patterns of black and red marble, embodying the fantasies of the famous Italian painter Pellegrino Tibaldi.
The work of the statue of St. Bartholomew, the patron saint of fishermen, who was flayed alive, is unique. It is in this naturalistic form, reminiscent of an anatomical model, that Saint Bartholomew was captured by the sculptor Marco d'Agrate.
Amazing high ceilings and vaults, columns and the famous huge organ of the Duomo, which includes 180 stops and 13,200 pipes.
The stained glass windows of the Milan Duomo took several centuries to create. Of these, the oldest is more than 500 years old, this stained glass window is one of the most beautiful - it depicts the life of Christ. And the last stained glass window was installed not so long ago - in 1988. The stained glass window with the image of St. Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine I the Great, which is located above the small Chapel of the Cross, is also skillfully made. The largest of all stained glass windows of the Middle Ages are also located in the Milan Cathedral - stained glass windows in the apse created by the Bertini brothers in the 19th century, depicting scenes from the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Apocalypse.
Dozens of relics are collected in the Milan Cathedral. Among them is a wooden crucifix, specially made for the procession of 1576, during the plague. The tombstone-mausoleum of Gian Giacomo Medici, made by the sculptor Leoni Leoni, is also impressive. This is the most famous tomb in this Cathedral, commissioned by Pope Pius IY, brother of Giacomo. On the tomb between two allegorical figures of Peace and War, Giacomo Medici himself, who lived from 1495 to 1555, is depicted.
The Milan Cathedral houses a relic - one of the nails with which Christ was nailed to the cross. There were three nails in total. One of them, thrown into the sea, calmed the storm. The second nail is in the Cathedral in Monza. The third nail was converted into a horse bit for the emperor. Later, Emperor Theodosius presented the Holy Nail, converted into a bit, to Bishop Ambrose of Milan. Now this relic is located above the main altar in the very center of the Cathedral, placed in a precious tabernacle, consisting of a dome with the figure of a triumphant Christ above eight bronze gilded columns.
Twice a year the Holy Nail is available for viewing by parishioners. Using a special device, which was invented by Leonardo da Vinci, the Milanese bishop rises to the niche behind the nail. The rest of the time, the nail symbolizes a red ray on the wall.
The main altar, made of marble and bronze, was created by Pellegrino Tibaldi. Behind it, in 1560, a canopy was erected in the shape of a temple, resting on twelve columns symbolizing the apostles.
Nearby stands the masterpiece of the Lorraine master Nicola da Verdun from the 12th century - the famous bronze candlestick five meters high. The candlestick rests on four dragons, which are the center of the composition. And the bronze leg of the magnificent candelabra is decorated with allegorical figures and biblical characters.
On one of the walls of the Cathedral hangs a huge stone table with an engraved list of the names and surnames of all the archbishops of Milan since 51 to the present. There are still empty spaces left on it for the names of future archbishops.
It is important to note that women cannot visit Milan's main attraction with bare shoulders and a low-cut T-shirt.
During the first days of summer, visiting times have changed
- June 1 07:00-12:00;
- June 2 14:00-19:00;
- June 3 09:00-19:00.
Operating hours of the observation deck
Mon-Sun 09:00-21:30;
Cost of visiting the elevator
adult – 12 €, reduced price – 6 € (children 6-12 years old, persons over 65 years old, groups of students).
Cost of visiting on foot
adult – 7 €, reduced price – 3.50 € (children 6-12 years old, persons over 65 years old, groups of students).
– 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 your inspection with the 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 on the magnificent city from the spiers and turrets. 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 façade of the temple to be completed. 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 the 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 haunts me, 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. The path leading upstairs is quite narrow and not picturesque. spiral staircase. 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 viewing platform 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 :)
The Milan Cathedral represents the true pride of all Italians, but its beauty lies not so much in the scale of its scope as in the smallest details. It is these nuances that are the real decoration of the building, made in the Gothic style. One has only to look at the numerous faces, biblical motifs, sculptural compositions, you begin to understand the depth of elaboration of each line, as well as the reasons for such a long construction and decoration.
Other names for Milan Cathedral
The Basilica is the most popular attraction of the city, so the current name appears more during excursion programs. In fact, it is the symbol of Milan, which is why it was nicknamed Duomo di Milano. Residents of Italy prefer to call their sanctuary Duomo, which translates as “cathedral.” 
The church also has an official name in honor of the Virgin Mary, the patroness of the city. It sounds like Santa Maria Nascente. On the roof of the cathedral there is a statue of Saint Madonna, which can be seen from different points Milana. 
General characteristics of the basilica
The architectural monument is located in the central part of Milan. The square in front of the Milan Cathedral is called the Cathedral, from here there is a stunning view of the structure with many spiers. Despite the combination of styles, the overwhelming style is Gothic, and the entire cathedral is made of white marble, which is almost never found in other similar buildings in Europe. 
The massive church took more than 570 years to build, but now it can accommodate about 40,000 people. The length of the cathedral is 158 m and the width is 92 m. The tallest spire reaches 106 m into the sky. And although the size of the facades is impressive, what is much more interesting is how many sculptures were created to decorate them. The number of statues is about 3,400 units, and the stucco decoration is even more. 
Historical milestones of the Duomo
History has given few medieval temples, because most of them were destroyed over the following centuries. The Milan Cathedral is one of the representatives of that century, although it is difficult to tell from the architecture. The basilica is considered a real long-term construction project, since the foundation for it began to be laid back in 1386. 
To initial stage During construction, other sanctuaries stood on the site of the future basilica, replacing each other as the territory was conquered different peoples. Among the predecessors are known:
- Celtic temple;
- Roman temple of the goddess Minerva;
- Church of Santa Takla;
- Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
During the reign of Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti, it was decided to create a new creation in the Gothic style, since nothing like it had yet existed in this part of Europe. The first architect was Simone de Orsenigo, but he had difficulty coping with the task assigned to him. Several times the creators of the project changed one after another: first the Germans, then the French, then returned to the Italians. By 1417, the main altar was already ready, which was consecrated even before the full structure of the temple was erected. 
In 1470, the important post for the construction of the cathedral went to Guniforte Sopari. To bring uniqueness to the building, the architect often turned to Donato Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci for advice. As a result, it was decided to dilute the strict Gothic style with Renaissance elements that were in fashion at that time. Only a hundred years later, in 1572, the opening of the Milan Cathedral took place, although it was still not fully decorated. From descriptions of historical events it is known that in 1769 the highest spire was installed, and a gilded statue of the Madonna 4 m high also appeared. 
During the reign of Napoleon, Carlo Amati and Giuseppe Zanoia were appointed architects, who worked on the design of the facade facing Cathedral Square. The new craftsmen followed the general idea of the main project, resulting in more than a hundred marble spiers. These “needles” resembled an outlandish forest of stone, which is very similar to flaming Gothic. Their works became the final stage in the creation cathedral. True, some of the decorations were added later. 
Many people are interested in how many years it took to build the Milan Cathedral, taking into account all the decorative work, because the abundance of details confirms the labor-intensive nature of the process. Total number years amounted to 579. Few buildings can boast of such a serious and long-term approach to creating a unique work of art. 
Architecture of the famous cathedral
The Duomo is able to surprise every tourist with its unusual performance. You can spend hours looking at its facades with thousands of sculptures and entire compositions from the Bible, which are so skillfully made that each character seems to be imbued with life. It is very difficult to study all the decorations of the cathedral, since many of them are located high, but the pictures will help you get a better look external design. On one of the walls there is a space allocated for the names of the city’s archbishops, a list of which has been kept for a very long time. However, there are still places to make new entries for future representatives of the church. 
Many surprises are hidden inside the Milan Cathedral. Firstly, there is an unusual attraction here - the nail with which Jesus was crucified. When holding a service in honor of the Exaltation of the Precious Cross of the Lord, a cloud with a nail descends over the altar to give the event greater symbolism. 
Secondly, in the temple it is used as a font. Egyptian bath, dating from the 4th century. Also of great importance are the statue of St. Bartholomew and the mausoleum of Gian Giacomo de' Medici. 
Thirdly, the interior decoration is so rich and elegant that it is simply impossible not to pay attention to it. Huge columns go far up, there are paintings and stucco everywhere. The main beauty lies in the windows, where there are stained glass windows created in the 15th century. Photographs are not able to convey the play of colors as seen when you are personally present inside the temple. 
The design of the cathedral is such that you can walk along the roof and admire the historical center. Some look at the decoration with statues, some admire the city landscapes, and some do various photos surrounded by filigree marble spiers. 
In Milan, there is a special decree prohibiting buildings from blocking the statue of the Madonna. During the construction of the skyscraper, Pirelli had to neglect the condition, but in order to circumvent the law, it was decided to install it on the roof modern building an identical statue of the city's patroness. 
On the floor of the temple there are marble tiles with images of the signs of the Zodiac. It is believed that a ray of sunlight falls on the picture whose patron is dominant during a certain period of the year. Based on the messages received, today there is some discrepancy with the real numbers, which is associated with subsidence of the base. 
There is an entrance fee to the Milan Cathedral, but a ticket with an elevator costs almost twice as much. True, it is impossible to refuse the spectacle from the roof, because from there it opens real life Milan with bustling Italians and city guests. Do not forget that this is not just a tourist attraction, but, above all, a religious place, where women must cover their shoulders and knees, and low-cut T-shirts are also prohibited.
