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Milan has the third largest cathedral in the world.

The Duomo is the third largest cathedral in the world after St. Peter’s in Rome and the Cathedral of Seville. Taking over over 500 years to complete, today the Duomo of Milano is constantly being repaired and maintained.

The Milan Duomo is the third largest cathedral in the world after St. Peter’s in Rome and the Cathedral of Seville.

Rooftop of Duomo Milan Cathedral

 

Looking at a map of Milan, you can see that Milan’s city streets follow a spider web pattern with the Duomo being the center point. All roads either run towards or around the great cathedral. When searching for an address, it is always helpful to know where the Duomo is in relation to the street, the lower street addresses are always at the end closest to the Duomo.

Visit the Duomo Milano and rooftop terrace
Skip the line and rooftop guided tour

Duomo

Architect: Various
Date: It took over 500 years to complete and today is constantly being repaired and maintained.
Building Type: Cathedral
 

There are guided tours of Milan which include the Duomo Milan, click here for more information.

Duomo of Milan interior

 

The Duomo Milano Cathedral is open everyday from 8:50 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. Holidays: from 8:50 a.m. to 6:55 p.m

For a spectacular view of the city and even of the Alps (on a clear day) you may climb to the top of the Duomo via a spiral stone staircase of 919 steps. An elevator to the top is also available. Tickets and entrance to both the staircase and the elevator are on Corso Vittorio Emanuele (the left side of the Duomo if you are looking at it straight on). Entrance 9.00 – 17.45, cost € 5,00 by elevator, and by stairs: € 3.50.

Click here for to buy tickets for Duomo Milano.

FACTS ABOUT THE MILAN DUOMO

SIZE 157 m long
66 m and 92 m wide
Facade: w. 60m x h. 56 m
Main spire: h. 109 m
Internal area 12,000 sqm
Seating capacity: 40,000
COMPOSITION
  • 145 spires
  • 155 gargoyles
  • 3,159 statues (2,245 exterior)
  • 96 ‘giant’ figures making up the spouts as well as an innumerable amount of unfinished-figures carved in the window frames.
  • 158 satirs to roof
  • 261 stairs to tyburium
  • 500 stairs to terrace of the main spire
TIME LINE
400
 Saint Ambrogio built a chapel and called it Basilica Nova
836
 A small basilica was erected next to The Nova, called Santa Maria Maggiore
1075
 Santa Tecla, another nearby church was victim to a fire which also damaged the Santa Maria Maggiore. The area was partly demolished and rebiulding began.
1288
 Santa Maria Maggiore was namedDuomo which was dirived from Domus Sancti Ambrosil, the Bishop’s palace.
1386
 Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo promoted a new project to build a new structure. Construction began using the marble quaries of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan at the time, from Candoglia, on Lake Maggiore.
1762
 Completed construction of main spire
1858
 Completed construction of last spire erected
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