Milan Cathedral

A white-marble Gothic cathedral bristling with spires and statues, crowned by the golden Madonnina.

It took nearly six centuries to complete: construction began in 1386, and the last portal was opened on 6 January 1965. Milan's streets either run toward the cathedral or circle around it, because it stands where the centre of Roman Milan once was. The Milanese say it is a fair-weather day when the Madonnina can be seen through the mist.

Why did it take so long?

Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo started the work in 1386, partly as a gift to the people of Milan after hard years under their previous ruler. The project also showed how important Milan was, because the new ruler, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, lived in Pavia. A workshop called the Fabbrica del Duomo ran the job. By 1402, almost half the cathedral was complete, but work stalled for decades for lack of money and ideas. Leonardo da Vinci and Donato Bramante made models for the central dome in 1488, and the octagonal dome was finished by 1510.

A site with a long past

There were older churches on this spot long before. The first, the 'new basilica', was completed by the year 355, and an old baptistery from about 335 can still be visited beneath the cathedral. After a fire in 1075 the buildings were rebuilt, and the present cathedral replaced them.

Napoleon and the roof of spires

The front stayed unfinished for centuries. In 1805, before his crowning as King of Italy, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the facade to be finished, and it was completed within seven years. As thanks, a statue of Napoleon was placed on one of the spires. Visitors can walk on the roof, which is famous for its forest of openwork pinnacles and spires on delicate flying buttresses. The cathedral has about 135 spires, and a campaign launched in 2012 invited donors to adopt them.

On the globe

The model shows the pale marble cathedral with its many pointed spires. Look for the tall central spire with the golden statue.