Milan Cathedral is the largest church in Italy and the fourth largest in the world, an accumulation of construction that probably began in 1386 and, in the strictest sense, never really stopped; the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, founded in 1387 to oversee the work, still maintains it today.
Its Candoglia marble facade and 135 spires reflect centuries of shifting architects and styles, from French Gothic ambitions to a Napoleon-ordered facade completion in the early 19th century. On top, the golden Madonnina statue has watched over the city since 1774 and was, for generations, the tallest point Milanese building codes allowed anyone to build past. The real reason to visit is the roof: walkways across the marble terraces put visitors face to face with spires and statues never meant to be seen up close, with the Alps visible on a clear day beyond the modern skyline.
Sources and citations (3)
- Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di MilanoThe CathedralOpening historyRead source
- Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di MilanoGuardians of the CathedralInstitutional roleRead source
- Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di MilanoDuomo's Construction SiteCurrent worksiteRead source
