VisitaMilano

Milan Cathedral

The Cathedral is the church that symbolises the entire city. Dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente and commissioned by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, it rises up on the site of the late-medieval basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Built entirely in Candoglia marble, the works commenced in 1386. It is fascinating due to its imposing structure, its sculpted decorations and its splendid windows. It is Italy's most significant testimony of international gothic architecture, it is unique and incomparable due to its blend of Nordic features and Lombard elements. The facade is characterised by large classic design windows and neo-gothic style coping. On the inside, the presbytery area is particularly interesting, it was restored during the second half of the 1500's. At the top of the apsidal vault there is the relic of the Sacred Nail of the Cross. On the outside, the grandiose mass of the building is crowned by the main spire with its famous statue of Our Lady, which is made of gold-plated copper, it is 4 metres high and was created in 1774. A climb to the terraces will allow you to enjoy a view over the city and the Alps when the weather is fine.
The very rich embellishment of sculptures includes 3,500 statues, including the 96 giant gargoyles. The church is 157 metres long on the outside, it is 92 metres wide at the transept. The highest steeple measures 108.50 metres and is surmounted by the "Madonnina".

Details

architect:  Simone da Orsenigo (not. end of the 14th century)
architect:  Nicolas de Bonaventure (n. end of the 14th century)
architect:  Gabriele Stornaloco (not. end of the 14th century)
architect:  Heinrich Parler (not. end of the 14th century)
architect:  Giovannino De' Grassi (not. 1400-after 1450)
architect:  Filippino degli Organi (not. 1400-after 1450)
architect:  Jean Mignot (not. end of the 14th century, beninning of the 15th century)
architect:  Marco da Carona (not. 1387-1404)
architect:  Giovanni (c.1400-84) and Guiniforte (1429-81) Solari
architect:  Filarete (c. 1400-c.1469)
architect:  Johannes Nexenperger (second half of 14th century)
architect:  Giovanni Antonio Amadeo (1447-1522)
architect:  Gian Giacomo Dolcebuono (1440-1506)
architect:  Cristoforo Lombardo ( not. 1510-59)
architect:  Vincenzo Seregni (1509-94), Pellegrino Tibaldi (1527-96)
architect:  Martino Bassi (1542-91), Lelio Buzzi (1553-after 1603)
architect:  Francesco Maria Richini (1584-1658)
architect:  Carlo Buzzi (not. 1638-m. 1658)
architect:  Girolamo Quadrio (not. 1658-m.1679)
architect:  Francesco Castelli (not. 1648-90), Francesco Croce (1696-1780)
architect:  Luigi Cagnola (1762-1833), Carlo Felice Soave (1749-1803)
architect:  Leopoldo Pollack (1751-1806), Giuseppe Zanoia (1752-1817)
architect:  Carlo Amati (1776-1852), Carlo Ferrari da Passano (not. 1981-86)
art period:  gothic (Flowered Gothic Style). Façade: from classicism to neo-gothic
area sm:   11.700

Notes

DUOMO INFO POINT Information, audioguide rental, bookshop, ticket office for the roof, services for groups Open every day Hours 9.00>18.30 Via Arcivescovado 1, Milano (behind the cathedral).