Milan's Cathedral - A Short History

The spires of Milan's cathedral are like gothic fingers reaching for the heavens. From the square below, the sight of its complete, awesome perfection is like a miracle. What's left to aspire to after the magnificence, the grandeur, the detail of this north Italian marvel? Well, of course, there's Florence's Renaissance dome and bell-tower, or Rome's St Peter's Basilica. In fact many, many inspiring sights still beckon, but life will never be quite the same again after a glimpse of Milan's Duomo.

To make way for Milan's cathedral two palaces, that of the Archbishop and the Ordinari Palace, as well as a baptistery, were demolished. Work on the Duomo began in 1385 and another church nearby was quarried for stone to get the project underway. It was a project that eventually took six centuries. The last external gate wasn't fixed in place until the 1960s.

Conceived as a reward to the people of Milan on the death of a tyrannical leader, the architectural style of the Duomo is heavily French. Directed by two French engineers in its early construction, the Rayonnant fashion of the Duomo is high gothic, characterised by lace-like lightness and intricate rose windows.

Still unfinished by the 16th century, architectural trends shifted and plans for a façade with more Roman roots took shape. Only a century later the wind changed again and architect Carlo Buzzi reverted again to gothic design. In the end it was another Frenchman, Napoleon preparing for his coronation as King of Italy, who gave the final impetus, and the funds, for the Duomo's completion. His statue is one of over 3,000 that make up Milan's cathedral detail.

Three altars by Pellegrino Pelligrini, the golden Maddonina statue sitting at 108m at its peak and a nail said to be from the Cruxifiction of Christ, are other unusual details of the cathedral's design. A song about this Madonna has become the unofficial city anthem of Milan and American writer Mark Twain was completely taken by the wonder of the building.