Milan Duomo Cathedral in Milan. On foot or by elevator? We conquer the Milan Cathedral. Conditions for visiting the temple

One of the most famous monuments 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 structure, 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 at that time was chosen, but also an 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 was significantly accelerated. 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 is occupied by one seemingly inconspicuous statue. 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;
• construction was carried out not with church money, 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. The historical era forever left its mark on the majestic architecture of the Duomo, which absorbed the entire history of Italy and Milan.

The Milan Cathedral or Duomo is located on the famous) and is an inimitable masterpiece of Italian architecture in the Flamboyant style ("Flaming Gothic"). Its façade is decorated great amount amazing sculptures, thin columns, towers and spiers, which gives the cathedral so much grace and sophisticated Gothic beauty.

The impressive size of the Duomo makes it one of the largest Christian churches in the world: its capacity reaches 4,000 people.

Built entirely of snow-white marble, the cathedral is stunning at any time of the day and in any light. And in its interior decoration, art lovers will find a real treasure trove of priceless treasures.

The history of the Milan Cathedral

Construction of the Milan Cathedral began in 1386 under Gian Galeazzo Visconti and was completed only in 1813.

The very place where the Milan Cathedral was erected has been filled with the energy of sacred buildings from time immemorial. So, during the time of Celtic culture there was a sanctuary here, during the Roman Empire - the Temple of Minerva, from the 4th to 6th centuries - the Church of Santa Tecla, then the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore was built on this site. The last church had to be destroyed in order to build the Milan Cathedral.

Construction of the cathedral

The original design of the cathedral in the Gothic style belongs to the Italian Simone de Orsenigo. Then the architects constantly changed and in 1470 Guniforte Solari became the architect, under whom decorative elements of the early Renaissance were added to the Gothic appearance of the cathedral.

As a result, the cathedral was decorated with an octagonal dome. The completion of the construction of the façade of the cathedral in the 19th century was carried out under the leadership of the architects Amati and Zanoia, commissioned by Napoleon.

The grand opening of the Milan Cathedral took place in 1572 by Cardinal Carlo Borromeo.

Cathedral spire

In 1769, the cathedral was supplemented with a 106-meter spire, on which stands the main attraction of the cathedral - a statue of the Madonna made of gilded bronze. Overall height The cathedral is 158 meters.

Architecture of Milan Cathedral

The facade of the Milan Cathedral amazes with its amazing beauty everyone who sees this piece of architecture for the first time.

Facade

An endless number of decorative elements, spiers, towers, statues of saints, prophets, martyrs with the most important statue towering over the cathedral - the figure of the Madonna. In total, there are 3,400 statues in the exterior and interior of the cathedral.

Milan Cathedral dedicated to Christmas Holy Virgin Mary, is the only cathedral in Europe built entirely of white marble. Thanks to this, the cathedral looks amazing at any time of the day - the white marble reflects the sun's rays during the day and looks mystical on a moonlit night.

Interior

The interior of the Milan Cathedral is a masterpiece of art, and the religious relics stored there make it a place of pilgrimage for Catholic believers.

What is the value of just one nail from the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, according to legend. The sacred nail is kept above the altar. Every year on September 14, when believers celebrate the Exaltation of the Precious Cross of the Lord, the archbishop lowers the nail down using a special elevator in the cloud, and at the end of the celebration they lift it back into place.

The cathedral also houses the famous mausoleum of Gian Jacombe de' Medici. The mausoleum is decorated with three statues, marble slabs and graceful columns. The author of this work of art is Leone Leoni.

Among the main attractions in the interior of the cathedral are also a statue of the martyr St. Bartholomew, an Egyptian bath from the 4th century, which is currently used for baptism, and a bronze candlestick, which is 5 meters long.

On the walls and windows of the Milan Cathedral, enthusiastic art lovers spend hours looking at the numerous skillfully carved wooden choirs and amazing stained glass windows of the 15th century, giving the cathedral a special mystery and grandeur at the same time.

What to see

Of course, spending a day in the Cathedral Square in Milan is the dream of every art lover and admirer of Italian architecture. The Milan Cathedral can be admired at any time of the day; it looks especially mysterious at night, when the moon illuminates the impeccable white marble and countless elegant statues on its façade.

During the day, you should definitely climb to the roof of the Milan Cathedral - a terrace that offers the most stunning views of Milan. You can get to the terraces either by elevator or by walking along the stairs from the street.

If you find yourself in Milan in November or December, then you are doubly lucky. It is at this time that every year the cathedral hosts an exhibition of the quadroni of St. Carlo Borromeo, made by Italian artists in the 17th century. This is a row of 54 very beautiful paintings, depicting scenes from the life of Archbishop Carlo Borromeo.

How to get to Milan Cathedral

Milan Cathedral is located at Piazza Duomo.

The easiest way to get to Milan Cathedral is by metro on lines 1 and 3 - you need to get off at Duomo station. The cathedral can be seen from afar and rises high above the city, as befits the main attraction of the city.

Ticket price for Milan Cathedral

Ticket prices are as of 2019. A visit to the cathedral, the Duomo Museum and the church of San Gottardo, located nearby, is worth:

• 3 Euro for adults;
• 2 Euro for children from 6 to 12 years old;
• free for children under 6 years old.

Entrance to the terrace

The cost of visiting the roof terrace of the cathedral when going up by elevator is:

• 13 Euro for adults;
• 7 Euro for children from 6 to 12 years old.

Walking up the stairs costs 9 Euros for adults and 4.50 Euros for children aged 6 to 12 years.

Combo ticket

You can also buy a combined DUOMO PASS ticket, which allows you to explore the cathedral, roof terraces, Duomo Museum and archaeological area. The cost of this ticket also differs depending on how you plan to climb to the terraces:

• by elevator (DUOMO PASS A) – 16 Euros for adults and 8 Euros for children from 6 to 12 years old;
• on foot (DUOMO PASS B) – 12 Euros for adults and 6 Euros for children from 6 to 12 years old.

The combination ticket is valid for one visit within 72 hours after its validation.

Where is the best place to buy a ticket?

Tickets without long queues can be purchased at the Info Point in the cathedral or at the Museo Duomo, located in the Royal Palace to the right of the Duomo.

Opening hours of Milan Cathedral

Milan Cathedral is open from 8am to 7pm every day. You can go up to the terraces from 9 am to 7 pm every day.

Official website of the Milan Cathedral www.duomomilano.it.

Visit also

The famous Cathedral Square in Milan also houses no less significant attractions of the city: Royal Palace And .

After admiring the exterior and interior decoration of the Milan Cathedral, it is worth visiting the luxurious Royal Palace. And after relaxing with a cup of coffee, you can take a walk through the Vittorio Emmanuele II gallery with many boutiques and shops.

Passing through the glass gallery of Vittorio Emanuele II, you will find yourself in front of, located in Via Filodrammatici, 2. Here you can spend an unforgettable evening enjoying a performance and learning about the history of the famous theater in its museum.

Excursions in Milan

If you want something more interesting than the traditional walk around the city on a map, then try a new format for sightseeing. In modern times, unusual excursions from local residents! After all, who knows the history and the most important things better than a local resident? interesting places Milan?

You can view all excursions and choose the most intriguing one on the website.

The Gothic Milan Cathedral (Duomo) is a grandiose creation of human hands and one of the attractions of Italy, as they say, “must see” - that is, a must-see. To visit Milan and not see the cathedral... It's almost impossible!

Indeed, it is located in the main square of the city, Duomo di Milano, next to the Gallery of Victor Emmanuel II. Highest point Cathedral - the golden statue of the Madonna, reaching into the heavens on the highest of the cathedral spiers, is clearly visible from many parts of the city.

This meticulously designed structure is not only Milan's most important landmark, but also one of the most famous buildings in Europe. Milan Cathedral is the second largest of all Catholic cathedrals in the world.

From the history

Construction of the cathedral began in 1386, although the decision to erect the building was made long before that. For several centuries, two basilicas stood on the site of the Milan Cathedral. However, in 1075 both of them were completely destroyed by a sudden fire.

Work on the cathedral continued for centuries. The main spire, which is crowned with a statue of the Madonna, was erected in 1762. By the way, the entire building is dedicated to Madonna.

A larger amount of work was completed in 1880.

In 2009, a major reconstruction of the cathedral was completed, and the dazzling facade still delights local residents and tourists.

Sights of the Duomo Cathedral

What should tourists pay attention to first?

• On the nail that is located directly above the altar. They say that it was brought from the crucifixion of Christ.
• It is necessary to take a good look at the patroness of Milan - Madonna.
• Don’t forget about the roof of the cathedral - the view from it cannot be compared with any in Milan. You can get to the top using a special staircase or using the elevator.
• The next attraction that can capture your attention is the mausoleum of Gian Giacomo Medici.
• And, of course, we should not forget about the statue of the martyr St. Bartholomew, who underwent terrible ordeals - he was flayed alive.

Following the traditions of the Gothic style, the Milan Cathedral is decorated with an endless number of different sculptures. These are mostly extremely remarkable specimens. For example, the female figures located in the center of the facade are considered to be the prototype of the Statue of Liberty in New York.

Helpful information

Address: Piazza del Duomo, 20122 Milano MI, Italy

Opening hours

Cathedral- daily from 08:00 to 19:00.

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.

Cathedral Museum— daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (closed on Wednesday).

Terrace ( Observation deck) - daily from 9:00 to 19:00.

Baptistery of St. Stefano- daily from 9:00 to 18:00.

Entrance fee:

• "DUOMO PASS" by elevator- € 16.50 (children under 12 years old - € 8.50);
• "DUOMO PASS" by stairs- € 12.50 (children under 12 years old - € 6.50);
• "Elevator Terrace"- € 13.50 (children under 12 years old - € 7.50);
• "Terrace by stairs"– € 9.50 (children under 12 years old – € 5.00);
• "Cathedral + Museum"- € 3.50 (children under 12 years old - € 2.50);
• "Cathedral + Museum + Baptistery"– € 7.50 (children under 12 years old – € 3.50).

Duomo Cathedral on the map of Milan

The Gothic Milan Cathedral (Duomo) is a grandiose creation of human hands and one of the attractions of Italy, as they say, “must see” - that is, a must-see. To visit Milan and not see the cathedral... It's almost impossible!

In fact, it is located in the main square of the city, Duomo di Milano, next to..." />

Milan Duomo at sunset.

Main Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) - Duomo or Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Nascente) was built over 500 years. Construction began in the 14th century and ended at the beginning of the 19th century, with the last door of the temple being installed in 1965.

Initially, on the site of the cathedral there was a Celtic temple. In 1386, by order of Archbishop Antonio Saluzzo, the first stone of the Milan Cathedral was laid, dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The building under construction experienced the joys and misfortunes of the townspeople and became a city symbol - a protector from evil forces.

Construction difficulties

The parameters of the cathedral are impressive: 108 meters high, 158 meters long and 96 wide, the Cathedral is decorated with 150 figures and 135 spiers. It is the third largest cathedral in the world, after St. Peter's and Seville. The cathedral's capacity is 40,000 people.

Gian Galeazzo Visconti, ruler of Milan, who decided to build the cathedral

The ruler of Milan of that era, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, wanted to build a building in a fashionable Gothic style, unusual for Italy. Craftsmen from France and Germany were invited to carry out the work. The main altar was consecrated in 1417.

Construction progressed slowly, rulers succeeded each other, and each made their own changes to the project; the cathedral was to become a symbol of the greatness of the Duke’s power - “the skyscraper of the Middle Ages.” It happened that the new owner ordered the buildings of his predecessor to be rebuilt.

The style of the cathedral is “Flaming Gothic”, the decorations of the creation create the effect of tongues of flame. The style is popular in medieval architecture in France and Germany.

Cathedral in the 1830s (Fig. Angelo Inganni)

During the reign of Ludovico Sforza in the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci took part in the design of the cathedral. The genius of Leonardo proposed “twin doors” (“porta gemella”), that is, a paired door with two arches. The architects supported the idea; they even decided to make a triptych door with a tall, elegant spire. Unfortunately, the idea was not fully realized.

After the fall of the Duke of Sforza, hard times came to Milan, and funding for the construction of the cathedral ceased. Foreign rulers were not interested in such a large-scale project.

On a foggy evening, Milan resembles St. Petersburg (view from the roof of the cathedral)

When it's rainy and gloomy

However, Milan remained a meeting point for great artists; the Milan school of art was valued throughout the world.
In the 16th century, there was a dispute over a site to continue construction; many noble families tried to take away a piece of land in the city center near the Market Square.

Cathedral in the 19th century (Fig. Angelo Inganni)

The construction of the cathedral in the middle of the 16th century was continued by Carlo Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, who gained good fame among the citizens thanks to his charitable activities. Grateful townspeople ensured that their beloved bishop was canonized in the next century.

Portrait of Carlo Borromeo, which is in the Hermitage.
(Fig. Orazio Borgianni)

Archbishop Borromeo's tomb in the cathedral

The cathedral was consecrated by Archbishop Carlo Borromeo in 1572, although it was not yet fully completed.
His brother’s work was continued in the 17th century by Federico Borromeo, who managed to systematize the chaotic design and construction work.

Flaming Gothic enchants

Cathedral at the beginning of the 20th century

He removed the architect Pellegrini from work, who did not even have an exact design for the façade of the cathedral; moreover, the workers were hostile to the architect, the boss delayed their salaries. After the change of construction management, work began to progress more efficiently.

Federico Borromeo insisted that each of the ten columns, almost 20 meters high, be created from a single granite monolith. The idea seemed crazy. It was possible to find a piece of suitable marble, but it broke into three parts when loaded onto a boat for transportation from the mining site.

Federico Borromeo is described in the novel "The Betrothed", he helped the population in the fight against the plague

Only in 1769 did a 106-meter spire with a gilded bronze statue of the Madonna appear. The city passed a law that no building in Milan should obscure the patron saint of the city. Even today, when the Pirelli skyscraper was erected in Milan, an exact copy of the Virgin Mary was installed on its roof.

The cathedral at the beginning of the 19th century, almost ready

Gothic patterns

The architectural concept of Gothic needle-spires was realized only at the beginning of the 19th century. The building was completed in 1813 (although the last door was not installed until 1965).

Napoleon Bonaparte was delighted with the project and generously contributed to financing the completion of the work. In 1805, Napoleon was crowned King of Italy in Milan Cathedral.

The nail with which Jesus Christ was crucified is kept above the altar of the temple. The nail is lowered for parishioners on the day of celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Around the cathedral in the 1830s (Fig. Angelo Inganni)

Legends of the Cathedral

In the vaults of the Duomo there is a famous icon in the city - the Madonna of the Roses. There are no images of flowers on the icon, but its name is associated with a legend.

Madonna of the Roses (painting reproduction)

In 1409, the cruel Duke Gian Maria Visconti ruled in Milan; he was young, handsome and ruthless. The Duke loved war and dogs, which he set against people for entertainment.

Gian Visconti as the holy martyr Domnin, who was depicted with dogs

In May 1409, the townspeople, tired of bloody wars, surrounded the duke’s procession shouting: “Peace! Peace! The angry ruler ordered his soldiers to kill the rebels, and two hundred townspeople died that day. The Duke forbade saying the word “Peace”; even in church services they replaced the Latin word “pacem” (peace) with “tranquillitatem” (peace).

Oscar Wilde mentions Duke Gian Visconti in The Picture of Dorian Green among "those whom Satiation, Vice and Bloodlust have turned into monsters or madmen."

One day, for military purposes, the Duke ordered the plunder of the Duomo construction site. A very pious woman was afraid of heavenly punishment; every day she came to the image of the Virgin Mary with a bouquet of roses and asked to spare the city. One day she found her withered bouquet left a few days ago and began to cry, praying for the salvation of her son, wounded in battle. The roses bloomed again: that’s why the icon received the name – Madonna of the Roses.

In 1412, Duke Gian Visconti, at the age of 23, was assassinated by conspirators on the threshold of the church.

“Gian Maria Visconti, who poisoned people with dogs; when he was killed, his corpse was strewn with roses by the hetera who loved him.”

His brother Philip, also a cruel psychopath, became the ruler of Milan... but that’s another story, to which we will return later.

Milan and Milanese

Until the mid-nineteenth century, Milan's clocks were regulated by the meridian of the Duomo. A hole in the ceiling received a beam of light that fell on the floor, and when the light reached the “noon” mark, a signal was transmitted to ring the bell of Cordusio (Cors Ducis, ducal court), which controlled trade. Trade activities were regulated on the Market Square near the Duomo.

Trade in the square near the cathedral in the 1830s (Fig. Angelo Inganni)

Ghost of the Cathedral

They say that a local ghost, the Bride in Black, haunts the cathedral. This ghost appears in wedding photographs of newlyweds photographed in front of the Duomo.

This mysterious figure is the ghost of a certain Carlina, who lived near Lake Como, where, according to ancient custom, the bride is wrapped in black silk. This disguise helped to deceive the servants of the feudal lord, who often demanded the “Right of the First Night” with the bride.

On a cold and foggy October day, Carlina married her fiancé Renzino. The newlywed wore a traditional black silk outfit. The newlyweds went to Milan for their honeymoon and decided to climb to the roof of the cathedral. Among the spiers covered with fog, statues of chimeras and dragons gradually began to appear, which frightened poor Karlina.

In the evening on the roof of the Duomo, anything can be seen

She was tormented by guilt; Carlina cheated on her fiancé on the eve of the wedding and was pregnant by her lover. She decided not to say anything to her future husband... And these disturbing memories, a quiet place near the sky, where disturbing figures appeared in the haze - all this frightened the newlywed. Carlina let go of the groom's hand and ran among the statues, screaming in fear.

Her horrified husband saw Carlina fall into the void and then disappear, swallowed up by the spiers of the Duomo. Legend has it that the body of the Bride in Black was never found.

Night Cathedral

There are now many accounts of a disturbing black figure with white eyes that appears in photographs behind the newlyweds at the Milan Cathedral.

Don’t be afraid, they say, this is a kind ghost and wishes everyone a happy and peaceful marriage, which did not happen to her.

Foggy morning in Milan, the "City Watch" goes to post

Login information:
Entrance to the cathedral is paid. The line is long. The ticket office is located in the next building, and there is also a queue there. It is better to buy a ticket on the website. https://www.duomomilano.it/en/ticket/

You can enter in the morning for free, calling yourself “Russo pilgrimo” (Russian pilgrim) and listen to Mass, but then you won’t be able to walk around the cathedral and take pictures.

The ticket to the cathedral roof is sold separately, so it is better to buy a combined ticket: cathedral and roof.

Who is not tired

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, and one begins 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 official name in honor of the Virgin Mary, 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 in Milan.

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 dominant 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.

Before the initial stage of 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 historical events it is known that in 1769 the tallest 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 a strange forest of stone, which is very similar to flaming Gothic. Their works became the final stage in the creation of the 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 laboriousness of the process. The total number of years was 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 at the 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, the temple uses an Egyptian bathtub dating back to the 4th century as a font. Also of great importance are the statue of St. Bartholomew and the mausoleum of Gian Giacomo de' Medici.

Third, interior decoration 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 color in the same way as can be seen with personal presence inside the temple.

The design of the cathedral is such that you can walk along the roof and admire the historical center. Some people look at the decoration with statues, some admire the city landscapes, and some take 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 an identical statue of the city’s patroness on the roof of the modern building.

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 you can see the real life of Milan with bustling Italians and guests of the city. 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.