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The Duomo of Milan (Duomo di Milano) is one of Italy’s most iconic buildings and the most important structure in Milan.
History of the Duomo of Milan
The Duomo of Milan, officially the Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Mary (Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana di Santa Maria Nascente) serves as the city’s cathedral and the seat of the Archbishop of Milan.
Construction of the Duomo of Milan began in 1386 when the first stone was laid under the direction of Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo (d. 1401). The first chief engineer, Simone da Orsenigo, planned to build it out of brick in the Lombard Gothic style, but he was replaced in 1389 by French engineer Nicolas de Bonaventure, who introduced the Rayonnant Gothic style.
By 1402, almost half the cathedral was complete, but work came to a halt almost completely until 1480 due to lack of funds and innovation. Work picked up between 1500 and 1510, when the octagonal cupola was completed, but the interior remained largely unfinished throughout the 16th century. As the centuries passed, work continued to drag on so much that the architectural style of the cathedral changed several times. The presbytery was rebuilt between 1575 and 1585, and the wooden choir stalls were built in 1614.
Work on a new façade began in the early 17th century, but new chief architect Carlo Buzzi (c. 1607-1658) decided to return to the original Gothic façade in 1649. The façade was demolished in 1682 and was finally completed in 1813 by Carlo Amati (1776-1852). The addition of statues and spires, however, continued throughout the 19th century. The Duomo witnessed the crowning of Napoleon as King of Italy on May 6, 1805.
The Duomo suffered minor damage during the Allied bombing of Milan during WWII, but it was quickly repaired. The last details were completed on January 6, 1965, nearly 600 years after construction began.
Details of the Duomo of Milan
The Duomo of Milan is the third largest church in the world (as of May 2025) and the largest in Italy. It has a capacity of 40,000 worshippers. The building is 158.6 meters (520 feet) long, 92 meters (302 feet) wide, and stands 108 meters (354 feet) high. It’s topped by 135 spires and adorned with 3,400 statues, many of which you can see more closely by heading up to the terraces.
My Experience at the Duomo of Milan
I was overwhelmed when I visited the Duomo of Milan. 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 is to see.
There are so many important elements of its construction and craftsmanship – both on the interior and exterior – that it could take several visits to fully appreciate what it has to offer. I spent about an hour exploring the cathedral and it wasn’t nearly enough.
Visiting the Duomo of Milan
The Duomo is open daily from 9am to 7pm and there are a few different ticket options for visitors. Tickets are typically valid for three days from the selected visit date. Check the official website for more info.
Keep in mind, full price tickets are for adults over 18, reduced tickets apply to kids age 6-18, and kids under 6 are admitted free of charge. The following prices are current as of May 2025:
- Duomo+Museum (€10 full/€5 reduced): Duomo and Duomo Museum
- Culture Pass (€15 full/€7.50 reduced): Duomo, crypt, archaeological area, and Duomo Museum
- Terraces only (by stairs) (€16 full/€8 reduced)
- Terraces only (by lift) (€18 full/€9 reduced)
- Terraces evening opening (by lift) (€20 full/€10 reduced)
- Combo Stairs (€22 full/€11 reduced): Duomo, Duomo Museum, and the terraces by stairs
- Combo Lift (€26 full/€13 reduced): Duomo, Duomo Museum, and the terraces by stairs
- Fast Track Lift – terraces only (€28 full/€14 reduced): skip-the-line access to the terraces by lift
- Fast Track Pass with terraces by lift (€32 full/€16 reduced): skip-the-line access to the terraces by lift, Duomo, Duomo Museum, archaeological area, and crypt
- Combo Stairs+Pinacoteca Ambrosiana (€36 full/€24 reduced): Duomo, archaeological area, terraces by stairs, Duomo Museum, Ambrosiana Gallery, and St. Sepolcro Crypt
Note: The Duomo Museum, which includes the Church of San Gottardo, is closed Wednesdays. The crypt is closed on Sundays.
Free basic app video guides in ten languages are available for download on the Google Play Store and App Store. The app allows the option to purchase the complete multimedia guide for an additional fee. It can be entirely downloaded onto your smartphone so it can be used without Wi-Fi.
Doors of the Duomo of Milan
Before entering the building you can admire the heavy bronze doors on the five portals. From left to right, the doors are as follows: the Door of the Edict of Constantine, the Gate of St. Ambrose, the Door of Mary, the Gate of the Battle of Legnano, and the Cathedral History Door.
Each door is decorated with impressive reliefs, while each tympanum above contains more reliefs. Other sculptures and reliefs can be found on the bases between the doors.
Nave of the Duomo of Milan
The Duomo of Milan is on a Latin cross plan with a central nave flanked by two aisles on each side. The transept contains three naves.
52 pillars divide the nave from the aisles and support the vaults. Decoration of the floor began in 1584 and was completed between 1914 and 1940.
Chapels and Altars
The outer aisles and transept are lined with chapels, altars, and funerary monuments. I’ve covered just a few of them on the right aisle and south transept.
Altar of the Sacred Heart
The Altar of the Sacred Heart (Altare del Sacro Cuore) was designed by Pellegrino Tibaldi (1527-1596) and features a marble altarpiece made by Edoardo Rubino (1871-1954) placed in 1957. It sits in the sixth span of the outer right aisle.
Altar of St. Agatha
On the right side of the photo above is the Altar of St. Agatha (Altare di Sant’Agata), which was also designed by Tibaldi. The altarpiece, St. Peter visits St. Agatha, was painted in 1597 by Federico Zuccari (c. 1540/41-1609).
Altar of the Virgin
In the eighth span of the outer right aisle is the Altar of the Virgin (Altare della Madonna), which is another Tibaldi creation. The marble altarpiece likely dates to 1393.
Chapel of St. John the Good
In the apse of the south transept is the Chapel of St. John the Good (Capella di San Giovanni il Buono). Cardinal Carlo Borromeo (1538-1584) had it built in the 16th century to preserve the remains of St. John the Good (d. 669), the Archbishop of Milan from 640/41 to 669. Atop the altar is a statue made in 1763 by Elia Vincenzo Buzzi (1708-1780). The reliefs were carved by Carlo Simonetta, Cesare Bussola, Giovanni Battista Dominione, Giuseppe Rusnati, Siro Zanelli, and Giuseppe Bono in the late 17th century. They represent six major events of the saint’s life. The construction of the chapel blocked an entrance on the south wall.
St. Bartholomew Flayed
Also in the south transept is the most famous statue in the entire building, the haunting St. Bartholomew Flayed. It was created in 1562 by Marco d’Agrate and depicts the saint wearing his flayed skin like a cloak.
Altar of St. Agnes
Finally, to the left is the Altar of St. Agnes (Altare di Sant’Agnese), designed by Martino Bassi (1542-1591). It’s decorated with a marble altarpiece representing the Martyrdom of St. Agnes made by Carlo Beretta in 1754.
Presbytery
The presbytery contains two gigantic organs 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.
With 15,800 reeds, the organ system is the largest in all of Italy and one of the largest in the world. It’s controlled by one console. The north organ was built by Gian Giacomo Antegnati between 1533 and 1577 and placed in its current location in 1579. The south organ was built between 1584 and 1590 by Cristoforo Valvassori, replacing the original organ built between 1395 and 1397. The doors of the south organ contain paintings of the Stories of the Virgin and the Old Testament completed on the left side between 1565 and 1581 by Giuseppe Meda (c. 1534-1599), while on the right are the Nativity and the Passage of the Red Sea by Ambrogio Figino (1548/51-1608) and Stories of the Old and New Testament by Camillo Procaccini (1561-1629), completed between 1592 and 1602.
To the right of the presbytery is the entrance to the crypt, which was closed to visitors while I was there. You can also get a good look at the stained glass windows in the ambulatory.
Archaeological Area
Inside the building, you can find the entrance to the archaeological area, which is not included in a basic ticket.
