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Every city has its symbol, a landmark loved by its inhabitants and well known among tourists. In Milano this symbol is the city’s cathedral, the Duomo. One of the most impressive buildings in Italy, this unique church is the third biggest cathedral in the world, second only to St. Peter’s in Rome and the Cathedral of Seville in Spain. But what really makes the Duomo of Milan interesting is the incredible story of its building process, and the fact that to this day the church is technically still under construction.



In the year 1386 Gian Galeazzo Visconti was appointed duke of Milano and ordered the building of a cathedral that would become the symbol of Milano’s grandeur and power. To transport the marble necessary for the building Leonardo Da Vinci designed and realized a network of canals so that barges could reach the center of Milano and deliver the materials at the construction site. The “fabbrica del Duomo” (the Duomo factory, as the Milanese affectionately still call it) produced great results, and in 1402, when the duke died, more than half of the cathedral had been built.

However, after his death, construction stalled for eighty years, until the new ruling family of Milano, the Sforzas, invested more money and time in the Duomo. By the mid 1500s, during the Spanish domination, the church was usable, although largely unfinished inside. After three more centuries of decorating, the façade still wasn’t done. In 1805 Napoleon, about to be crowned king of Italy, ordered the completion of the front of the church, and throughout the 1800s and 1900s more details, such as statues and bas-reliefs, were added to the Duomo, shaping it to what we can admire today.

Visiting the Duomo is an absolute must-do when in Milano, something I like to do every time I happen to be in town, no matter how many times I’ve already done it before. This time was no different: as I walked down the central nave I couldn’t help but feel the same immense pride every Milanese feels when admiring the grandiose and impressive beauty of our Cathedral. Entering the Duomo, to the right, a few notice that there’s a circular hole forty feet up the East wall of the church. The small aperture is actually a solar clock: every day, at noon, a beam of light shined through the hole on the marble floor indicating exactly what day and month it is.

Poets Shelley and Lord Tennyson used to seek peace and quiet in the Gothic aisles of the Duomo. Today young and old alike seem to find the same relief in the church, although the aisles are now invaded by –usually respectful and quiet- tourists with cameras.



As incredible as the interior is, my favorite thing about the Duomo is that it’s possible for a small fee, to climb it and see the whole city of Milano from the roof. At six Euros the elevator to the top is a bargain; however, the lift is for sissies, and at four Euros, the stairs are an even better bargain. Ever since I was a kid I tried to count the endless steps that bring you up to the very top. Unfortunately I always lose count, and this time was no different.

The first part of the stairs is steep, tight and doesn’t have a view, but it’s worth suffering for a few minutes. When I reached the first level I already had a great view of the piazza underneath and the entrance to the chic Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade. However, this first level is just the beginning. I walked along the lower edge of the roof, admiring the marble statues and pinnacles, and then climbed more steps to the very top of the Duomo, where the view of the city and the Alps was truly breathtaking.

On the highest peak of the church a golden statue of the Virgin Mary, the Madonnina, has beamed and protected the city of Milano and the Milanese since 1774, and it’s the one of the city’s most beloved landmarks.

As I watched over my town, with its ancient churches, modern skyscrapers, red roofs and chaotic traffic, I felt a jolt of love and pride for this incredible maze of streets and buildings and for the energetic and hard-working people that make Milano one of the best cities in the world.