The Duomo is the cathedral of Milan, bearing the name of Santa Maria Nasciente. This Gothic temple was built over nearly six centuries, and today is the fifth largest cathedral in the world and the largest in Italy. The Duomo is located on the site where the centre of the ancient Roman Mediolanum was once located, as evidenced by the fact that the city's modern streets either diverge from or surround the cathedral. Under the Duomo you can see the early Christian baptistery, built as early as 335th year - it is one of the oldest Christian baptisteries in Europe.
History of the Duomo
In 1386 Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo began the construction of the cathedral, which coincided with the coming to power in Milan Gian Galeazzo Visconti. The first architect for the project was Simone da Orsenigo, who planned to build the cathedral in the Lombard Gothic style. However, Visconti wanted to follow the fashionable trends of European architecture, and so he invited the French engineer Nicolas de Bonaventure, who added the "radiant Gothic" style, a French style not typical of Italy. He also decided that the brick structure should be finished in marble. In 1402 Gian Galeazzo died - by this time the cathedral was only half completed, and construction was "frozen" until almost the end of the century.
In the early 16th century, during the reign of Ludovico Sforza, the dome of the temple was completed, and its interiors were decorated with 15 statues depicting saints, preachers, soothsayers and other characters of the Bible. The exterior of the cathedral remained undecorated for a long time, with the exception of the Guglietto del Amadeo ("Amadeo's Little Spire"), a Renaissance element that harmonised well with the Gothic appearance of the church. Although unfinished, the cathedral was actively used for its intended purpose during the Spanish rule in Milan. In 1552 Giacomo Antegnati was commissioned to build a large organ for the church choirs, while Giuseppe Meda worked on the decoration of the altarpiece. A little later, the famous 12th-century Trivulzio candelabrum appeared here.
After Carlo Borromeo became Archbishop of Milan, all non-ecclesiastical elements were removed from the Duomo, including the tombs of Giovanni, Barnabo and Filippo Maria Visconti, Francesco I and his wife, Ludovico Sforza and other former rulers of the city. Pellegrino Pellegrini was appointed chief architect - together with the archbishop they wanted to give the cathedral a Renaissance appearance, which would reinforce its Italian origin, and "suppress" the Gothic architecture, which was perceived as alien at the time. As the façade of the cathedral was still unfinished, Pellegrini designed it in Romanesque style with columns, obelisks and a large tympanum. However, this project was never destined to be realised.
At the end of the 16th century, the Duomo was rebuilt with a presbytery and new altars and baptistery, and in 1614 Francesco Brambilla made wooden choirs for the throne.
At the beginning of the 17th century, the foundation of the Duomo's new facade was laid, the work continued until 1638: five portals and two central windows were erected, and ten years later a revolutionary decision was made to return the cathedral to its original Gothic appearance. In 1762 the Cathedral of Milan acquired one of its outstanding details - the Madonnina spire, which rose to a dizzying height of 108.5 metres. Interestingly, today the city's inhabitants determine the weather by this spire - if it is clearly visible from a distance, it means the weather is good (given Milan's damp climate, the spire is usually hidden in fog).
It was not until the early 19th century that the Duomo's facade was finally completed - this was thanks to Napoleon, who was to be crowned in the cathedral as King of Italy. The architect Carlo Pellicani the Younger added several neo-Gothic details to the façade and a statue of Napoleon on top of one of the spires. Subsequently, the missing arches and spires were completed, statues were installed on the south wall, and in the mid-19th century the old windows were replaced with new ones. The final touches to the Duomo's appearance were added in the 20th century: on 6 January 1965 the last gates were opened - this date is considered the official date of the cathedral's completion.
On a side note
- Location: Piazza del Duomo, Milano
- Nearest metro station: "Duomo".
- Official website: http://www.duomomilano.it/en/
- Opening hours: roof - daily 7.00-19.00; crypt - daily 9.00-12.30 and 14.30-18.00; baptistery - daily 10.00-12.30 and 15.00-17.00 (Monday - weekend); museum - daily 9.30-12.30 and 15.00-18.00 (Monday - weekend); cathedral open daily 9.00-12.00 and 14.30-18.00.
- Tickets: climbing the roof - 5 euros, visiting the crypt - 1.55 euros, baptistery - 1.55 euros, museum - 3 euros, free entrance to the cathedral.
