Milan Cathedral (Duomo)
Ideal: Ideal for architecture, city views, Gothic buildings, and first-time Milan visitors.
Foundations were laid in 1386, the last stone placed in 1965 — a construction site of roughly six centuries. It carries 3,400 sculptures and 135 spires; the pinkish Candoglia marble still comes from the quarry the Visconti donated to the cathedral and continues to be cut for ongoing repair. You can climb to the roof terrace and walk among spires and buttresses. The gilded Madonnina at the top was placed at 108.5 metres in 1774.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1386
- Architect
- Simone da Orsenigo
- Architectural style
- Italian Gothic architecture
- Height
- 109 m
- Annual visitors
- 2.1 million
- Heritage status
- Italian national heritage
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
How long did the cathedral take to build?
Work began in 1386 and the final doors were installed in 1965 — roughly six centuries. Milanese still use an expression comparing any never-ending job to the building of the Duomo.
Can you go up onto the roof?
Yes — the terraces are open to visitors and give one of the best views in the city. They also reveal hundreds of statues visible only from above: the building carries more than 3,400 in total.
What is the long metal strip in the floor?
A meridian line installed in 1786. A sunbeam entering through a small hole in the roof crosses this brass line at solar noon each day, marking the season — and city clocks were set by it for a long time.
Why go?
- To see Milan's most iconic building
- To examine Gothic details and the marble façade up close
- To view Milan from the roof terrace
Travel tip
Definitely consider the roof terrace; the experience is much better in clear weather.
