Walking among the spires of the Gothic cathedral
The Duomo di Milano is one of the largest churches in the world and the symbol of the city. Begun in 1386 at the wish of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, it took almost six centuries to complete: the last bronze door was installed in 1965. Built of pink-veined white Candoglia marble, it bristles with 135 spires and over 3,400 statues, more than any other building in the world.
Inside, the five naves are separated by gigantic pillars and lit by huge stained glass windows, some from the fifteenth century. Above the altar a red light marks the place where a Holy Nail of the Cross is kept. The most unforgettable experience, however, is to climb to the terraces, by lift or by stairs: you walk on the marble roof among pinnacles, flying buttresses and gargoyles, up to the foot of the main spire with the gilded statue of the Madonnina, the protector of the city. On clear days the view reaches the Alps.
Tip: buy a combined ticket online for cathedral and terraces; at sunset the marble turns pink. The archaeological area beneath the square shows the remains of the early Christian baptistery.
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