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I was overwhelmed when I visited the Duomo of Milan (Duomo di Milano). This incredible structure that I had seen in photos all my life was more than I bargained for. My jaw dropped when I stepped out onto Piazza del Duomo and saw it for the first time.
Inside was just as breathtaking and I couldn’t process everything there was to see. Just like my visits to Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, it will take one or two more visits to fully appreciate everything the Duomo has to offer.
History
Construction of the Duomo of Milan dates back to 1386 when the first stone was laid. As the centuries passed by, work continued to drag on so much that the architectural style of the cathedral changed several times. By the time it was completed in 1965, nearly 600 years later, it had witnessed historic events such as the crowning of Napoleon as King of Italy in 1805 and was damaged during the Allied bombing of Milan during WWII.
Details
The Duomo of Milan is the third largest church in the world and the largest in Italy. It has a capacity of 40,000 worshippers. The building is topped by 135 spires and adorned with 3,400 statues, many of which you can see more closely by heading up to the terraces.
Doors
Before entering the building you can admire the heavy bronze doors. Some have relief sculptures of important events while others have designs and figures.
Interior
Stepping inside, I was awestruck at the size of the 40 columns that supported the cavernous interior.
I slowly walked along the chapels and altars on the side of the Duomo until I made it to the main altar. Along the way, I could admire the Chapel of San Giovanni Bono (Capella di San Giovanni Bono) just to the left of the main altar.
At the main altar, I was able to see the gigantic organ and artwork hanging above. If you look closely at the first photo below, above the altar there’s a small red light that indicates the place where a nail purportedly from the Crucifixion of Christ is kept. The organ is the largest in all of Italy.
To the right of the altar is the most famous statue in the entire building, the haunting Saint Bartholomew Flayed. It was created in 1562 by Marco d’Agrate and depicts the saint wearing his flayed skin like a cloak.
Also to the right of the altar is the entrance to the crypt, which was closed to visitors while I was there, and a look at the stained glass windows at the rear of the church.
Archaeological Area
Inside the building, you can find the entrance to the archaeological area, which is not included in a basic ticket. You can read about that and other things in my entry Duomo of Milan: Extras.
Next Time
On a future visit, I plan to pay more attention to the finer details of the building. That way, I can give you more info about things most people don’t notice on their first visit (like me!).
