Milan's Duomo Cathedral is the current Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. This majestic building is covered with white marble and amazes with its architectural grandeur. Its construction began in 1386 by order of Duke Giangalezzo Visconti and was finally completed only in 1965, that is, it lasted almost 600 years! The term "Duomo" has been known since the 12th century. It comes from the Latin word "domus", that is, "house". It means "domus Dei" - "House of God". Some sources also offer other options: "domus ecclesiae" - "house of the church" and "domus episcopi" - "house of the bishop" ". The length of the temple is 158 meters, height is 108 meters, capacity is 40 thousand people.
Changing eras introduced Renaissance elements into the original design of the Gothic cathedral. White pink marble from the Kandoliya quarry was used for cladding. In 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte was consecrated here as King of Italy. He also approved the final design of the facade facing the Cathedral Square. As a result, the Duomo received 135 marble “needles” sticking out to the sky, forming an example of Gothic architecture.
Bombings during World War II destroyed more than half of the city's buildings, but the cathedral miraculously survived.
The majestic Duomo complex is second in size only to three Christian cathedrals in Europe: St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Seville Cathedral in Andalusia and St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
The facade of the Duomo is eclectic with a dominant Gothic style, created over half a millennium. It was originally built in the local Gothic tradition of Lombardy with strict adherence to proportions. That is why the section of the western facade has a triangular shape. During the Counter-Reformation, Milan Cathedral acquired elements of Roman church architecture, and later, in the first half of the 17th century, it was influenced by the Baroque style.
As in all other Gothic cathedrals, the sculptures of the Milan Cathedral are dedicated to the idea of Christian salvation. There are 3,400 sculptures and more than 700 figures in marble bas-reliefs on the facade, spiers and inside the building. They depict historical and biblical characters - patriarchs and prophets, martyrs and saints, as well as cherubs, gargoyles and chimeras.
The sculptures of the Milan Cathedral are not only decoration, but also an integral part of the symbolism of the cathedral. After the war, particularly important statues were moved to the Duomo Museum. By the way, new statues are still being erected in the cathedral. The last time this happened was in 2013.
The main statue of the temple is the figure of the Virgin Mary 4 meters and 16 centimeters high on the central spire:
The Duomo is no less magnificent from the inside. Noteworthy are the astronomical clock on the floor, a 5-meter chandelier from the 12th century and an Egyptian baptismal bath from the 4th century.
The main shrine of the Milan Cathedral is the nail with which Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross. It is enclosed in a 42 meter high crystal box above the main altar. The relic is brought out for viewing by believers only once a year, on September 14. On this day, this nail is knocked down on a cloud-shaped platform with angels, and after the holiday it is returned to its original place. According to legend, the lifting mechanism was created and painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
In the church there is an amazing statue of St. Bartholomew:
According to the report, during the torture the executioners tore off his skin. The sculpture is an excellent example of human anatomy. Its creator in 1562 made the following inscription on the pedestal: “I was not created by Praxiteles, but by Marco d’Argat.”
The Milan Cathedral is decorated with 45 stained glass windows, the oldest of which are more than 500 years old. They depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments, the Apocalypse and the life of Jesus.
Between the two figures representing war and peace is a statue of Giacomo de' Medici, an Italian knight and uncle of Saint Carlo Barromeo, called Megino. Two angels hold a shield with the family coat of arms of the Medici family.
It is also noteworthy that the crypt contains the remains of the Archbishop of Milan, Carlo Barromeo. Barromeo canonized. His name is associated with the liberation of the city from the plague epidemic that raged in Italy in 1575-1578. The archbishop cared for the sick, sent food to those in need, and performed funeral rites. He ordered the holy relic (nail) to be taken out of the temple and personally led the procession of repentance so that the terrible disease would recede.
Another feature of the Duomo is the terrace overlooking the square, which can be reached by elevator or stairs.
To the right of the façade of the Milan Cathedral, on the Piazza Reale, is the Duomo Museum. The museum exposition tells about the centuries-old history of the construction of the temple. Fragments of the cathedral's stained glass windows, paintings, tapestries and copies of statues are exhibited in 26 exhibition halls.
Address of Milan Cathedral: Piazza del Duomo.
Milan Cathedral is open every day:
- from November 1 to April 30: weekdays - 09:30-16:30, weekends and holidays - 09:00-17:00;
- from May 1 to October 31: daily - 09:00-19:00.
Keep in mind that you cannot enter the temple in shorts, miniskirts or bare shoulders. The restriction applies to both men and women.
You will have to register. It is prohibited to carry large bags, as well as pointed or sharp objects.
Ticket price:
- entrance to the Duomo: for adults - 5 euros, for teenagers 6-18 years old - 2 euros;
- ascent to the observation deck area: adult - 10 euros, 6-18 years old - 5 euros;
- elevator ride to the observation deck: for adults - 14 euros, for children 6-18 years old - 7 euros;
- for children under 6 years old - free.
There are also combined tickets that include visits to the cathedral, terrace, Duomo Museum and archaeological area at prices of 10/4 euros, 15/7 euros, 20/9 euros and 26/14 euros.
Tickets can be purchased at the Info Point of the cathedral, at the Duomo Museum box office and online.
How to get there:
- red M1 and yellow M3 metro lines - stop Duomo;
- by tram №24, 27 - stop Piazza Fontana; №2, 3, 14 - stop Via Torino; №12, 16, 19 - stop Via Mazzini.
To buy tickets online and for more information, visit the official website of the Duomo of Milan: https://www.duomomilano.it/en/.
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