Here are some interesting facts about Milan Cathedral. Everything you need to know before visiting the Duomo.
Milan’s cathedral isn’t just another pretty church. The Duomo is an absolute monster of architecture, history, and human ambition. We’re talking about nearly six centuries of construction, thousands of statues, and enough marble to make your head spin.
The Duomo is the largest Gothic cathedral in Italy and the fifth largest Christian church in the world.
Construction officially kicked off in 1386, sponsored by Gian Galeazzo Visconti (Milan’s lord at the time) and Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo.
In 1387, they created the “Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo,” a unique institution dedicated exclusively to managing the cathedral’s construction. Plot twist? It’s still active today, almost 640 years later.
Despite starting in 1386, the cathedral was consecrated in 1418—and it still wasn’t finished. That’s like moving into a house while they’re still building the roof.
The construction lasted almost six centuries, with constant interruptions due to wars and economic crises. It symbolically ended in 1965 when the last door was installed.
Napoleon Bonaparte pushed hard for the façade’s completion in the early 19th century (around 1811) because he wanted it ready for his coronation. As a thank you, a statue of Napoleon was placed on one of the spires.
The Duomo is primarily International Gothic in style, but because it took so long to build, it blends multiple architectural styles, Renaissance contributions and a Neoclassical façade included.
The cathedral features 135 spires or pinnacles rising toward the sky.
It can hold 40,000 people inside. That’s a small stadium’s worth of worshippers.
The building covers 11,700 m², stretches about 158 meters long, and the central nave reaches a height of 45 meters.
Big names worked on this project. Architects like Simone da Orsenigo and Nicolas de Bonaventure handled the early stages, and even Leonardo da Vinci was consulted on the design of the tiburium (the dome).
The roof terraces span more than 8,000 m² and are accessible to visitors. If you’re up for it, you can climb 251 steps to reach unique views of Milan from above.
The Duomo houses one of Christianity’s most important relics: a nail believed to be from the crucifixion of Christ, stored high up in the dome.
This relic is only shown to the public once a year during the “Rite of the Nivola” in mid-September.
During this ritual, the archbishop ascends to retrieve the relic using the “Nivola,” a historic cloud-shaped elevator. Yes, you read that right, a cloud-shaped lift.
A small red light above the high altar marks the exact spot where the Holy Nail is kept year-round.
According to tradition, the nail was brought to Milan in the 4th century by Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine.
Legend says Leonardo da Vinci invented a special elevator so the archbishop wouldn’t have to climb a ladder to reach the relic. Whether that’s true or not, it’s a great story.
The interior features 55 stained glass windows spanning different periods (14th to 20th centuries), often called the “Bible of the Poor” because they told biblical stories to those who couldn’t read.
One of the most striking statues is Saint Bartholomew the Flayed (16th century), which shows the martyred saint literally carrying his own skin. It’s unsettling and unforgettable.
The Duomo has a monumental organ with thousands of pipes, making it one of the largest in Italy.
Beneath the cathedral, you can explore the Archaeological Area, which contains remains of the original 4th-century early Christian baptistery.
Inside, 52 marble pillars support the structure—one for each week of the year.
That 4th-century baptistery is where Saint Ambrose baptized the future Saint Augustine in 387 AD. You’re literally walking through a pivotal moment in Christian history.
The entire cathedral is built from a unique pinkish-white marble quarried in Candoglia, Piedmont.
This marble was transported to Milan using a system of canals (the “Navigli”), a massive logistical achievement for the time.
Even today, when restoration requires new blocks, they’re still transported by water from the same quarry, just like during the Renaissance.
The Veneranda Fabbrica had historical tax exemptions for transporting this marble, which helped keep the project moving.
The Candoglia quarry is still active today, extracting marble exclusively for the Duomo’s restoration and maintenance.
The Duomo holds the world record for the building with the most statues: over 3,400 in total.
These sculptures depict saints, historical figures, gargoyles, and fantastical motifs. Hidden among them are curious figures like the dragon Tarantasio and even modern additions like a boxer, added during recent restorations.
The golden statue on the central spire (the tallest) is called “La Madonnina” (the Little Madonna) and serves as Milan’s protective symbol.
She was installed in the 18th century and stands over 4 meters tall.
For decades, an unwritten (and later official) law said no building in Milan could be taller than the Madonnina (108.5 m).
When modern skyscrapers broke that rule, replicas of the Madonnina were placed on their rooftops (like on the Pirelli Tower) to maintain the symbolic hierarchy. Milan doesn’t mess around with tradition.
The cathedral floor houses a sundial installed in the 18th century. A small hole in the ceiling projects a ray of light onto a brass line on the floor, accurately marking solar noon and the signs of the zodiac.
This sundial was so accurate it was used to synchronize clocks throughout Milan for a long time.
The Veneranda Fabbrica runs a fundraising program where you can symbolically “adopt” a statue, gargoyle, or even an entire spire to help pay for its restoration. Want your name connected to a 600-year-old cathedral? Now’s your chance.
TICKETS
When you visit the Duomo in Milan, this ticket gives you access to important attraction. The ticket is valid for three days from the date you…
Duomo Milan tickets with terrace access >
TRAVELER INFORMATION
The main cathedral and the archaeological area are open every day from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Duomo Milan’s opening hours are the same…
DUOMO MILAN INFORMATION
The Duomo di Milano also known as the Milan Cathedral is an amazing architectural wonder. It is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals…
