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On a visit to the Duomo of Milan (Duomo di Milano), one thing that’s well worth paying the admission for is a visit to the terraces. You can get a great appreciation of the building as well as some great views of Milan.
Taking the Lift
You can go up to the terraces of the Duomo of Milan on foot or with the lift. We decided to take the lift. First, we had to go through a security check before being shuttled to the top. After walking out of the lift, we could get a good look towards Piazza del Duomo and the some of the 135 spires on the side of the building.
Flying Buttresses
After that, we followed the path past the spires and flying buttresses. The flying buttresses are topped with flowers. In addition to supporting the weight of the building, they have the added purpose of collecting rainwater.
The Rooftop
The path continued along the side of the building until some steep stairways. Once at the top, there were excellent views of Piazza del Duomo down below.
On the rooftop of the building, we could get a good look at the crowning figure of the Duomo, a golden figure called La Madonnina. It was raised onto the main spire of the building in December 1774 and is a symbol of the city. The statue stands 4.16m tall and is covered in pure gold foil.
By tradition, no building in Milan is supposed to be taller than La Madonnina. When skyscrapers are built in the city, they always place a replica of La Madonnina on top of their building.
Also from the rooftop, we could spot other landmarks nearby. They include the Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) and Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II). We were even able to see the Alps in the distance.
