Duomo Cathedral (Milan)

The Duomo is an immense Gothic style cathedral that dominates the landscape of central Milan. The largest such cathedral of its kind in the world, it took an amazing 500 years to fully complete its construction and visitors on cheap city breaks in Milan will feel it was certainly worth the wait. Measuring over 500 feet in length, it can accommodate over 40,000 worshippers comfortably. A must is to climb to its rooftop for fantastic views of the city and even the snow-capped Alps on a clear day. You can take an elevator, however climbing its stairs offers the chance to see beautifully carved pinnacles and sculptures up close along the way.

 

The interior is more austere than many other Italian cathedrals, but there is still a great deal of interest for art and history buffs. The cathedral treasury is well worth a browse for its medieval art and elaborate decoration and it has some of the largest stained glass windows in the world. Admire the three monumental altars designed by celebrated architect Pelligrini and the famous St. Bartholomew statue, arguably the most notable piece of art inside the church. On short breaks in Milan, you can see over 3,000 statutes, including classical Romanesque busts and grotesque looking gargoyles.

 

A walk around the cathedral is needed to really appreciate its scale and the beauty of its marble facade, which comprises an amazing 135 steeples, topped by the golden Madonna steeple which rises so high, it is often covered in early morning mist. Each November, there is the annual exhibition of the Quadroni – a series of vibrant religious paintings held in the nave to coincide with the birthday of Saint Charles Borromeo, one of the Duomo’s most prominent early archbishops. The Duomo is also the focus of celebrations during Christmas city breaks in Milan and features a full program of choral concerts, recitals and solemn street processions.