No visitor should miss the city’s main landmark, the Duomo cathedral, situated in the very heart of the metropolis.

Officially known as the ‘Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary’, this Catholic church is the fifth-largest cathedral and the largest in Italy, and the second-largest on the Apennine Peninsula after St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

The Duomo di Milano is one of the largest Gothic churches in the world and can accommodate up to 40,000 people. It is also the most significant Gothic monument in Italy, a country which otherwise tends to favour Baroque or Renaissance architecture.

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A Gothic gem built over the centuries

Construction of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Milan began in 1386, when Giano Galeazzo Visconti came to power.

He was keen to follow the latest trends in European architecture, and so he commissioned the French architect Nicolas de Bonaventure. From the very beginning, de Bonaventure imbued the Milan Cathedral with the Rayonnant Gothic style, which is considered the pinnacle of this architectural movement.

Work was constantly delayed, whether due to a lack of funds or protracted architectural competitions for the completion of the cathedral. The greatest progress was made during the 16th century, when Archbishop Carlo Borromeo pushed through the decoration of the façade in the Renaissance Roman-Italian style, but in 1649, the new chief architect, Carlo Buzzi, insisted on the façade being redesigned once again in a purely Gothic style.

The cathedral was not fully completed until 1965.

An interesting fact is that, at first glance, the cathedral appears to have no prominent dome or tower. Its dimensions are so vast that even the 108-metre-high central tower is practically lost when viewed from the front or the side, thus creating the impression of a slender structure.

The cathedral’s interior

The purely Gothic interior feels cold and dark, but the huge 15th-century stained-glass windows immediately catch the eye; on sunny days, they create a colourful play of light.

Among the most significant artefacts in the interior is a statue of St Bartholomew, who was flayed alive – a fact that this sculpture depicts quite faithfully.

A visit to the impressive roof

Milan Cathedral is famous for the opportunity to visit its roof, which offers magnificent and highly unusual views of the city. The cathedral’s roof is, in fact, very richly decorated. You will find more than 3,400 statues and 135 turrets of various sizes here.

A one-way walkway with a railing runs along the edges of the roof; there’s no need to worry, as the path is well secured and you can even take a lift up there. On a clear day, you can easily see as far as the Alps from here.

Admission and opening hours

The cathedral is open to the public every day from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm, although last admission is at 6.00 pm.

Ticket pricesare as follows:

• Cathedral interior + museum – 10 eur (under 18s: 5 eur)
• Interior + roof via the stairs + museum – 20 eur (under 18s: 10 eur)
• Interior + roof via stairs + museum – 25 eur (under 18s: 12,50 eur)
• Roof only via stairs – 16 eur (under 18s: 8 eur)
• Roof only via lift – 14 eur (under 18s: 7 eur)

To avoid queues, we recommend buying tickets online via the official website atticket.duomomilano.it/en.

Piazza del Duomo

The large square in front of the cathedral is generally regarded as the centre of Milan and the city’s main public space. The square is dominated by a huge equestrian statue of Vittorio Emanuele II.

On the northern side of Piazza del Duomo lies the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade , which opens out at the La Scala opera house.

Accommodation near the cathedral

If you want to stay right in the centre of Milan, look for hotels in the immediate vicinity of Milan Cathedral. However, you’ll have to be prepared to pay higher prices, starting at 186 eur per night. Among the cheapest hotels in the area are the Hotel Rio and the Aparthotel dei Mercanti.

Right on the square, you can stay at the highly rated designer hotel STRAF.

How do you get to the cathedral?

The cathedral is situated right in the centre of Milan and is within a 20-minute walk of many attractions and the main railway station.

The nearest metro station:

• Duomo– right on the square, where lines 1 and 3 intersect

Nearest tram stops:

• Duomo– right on the square, lines 2, 3, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19
• Piazza Fontana– approx. 80 metres from the rear of the cathedral, lines 24, 27

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Milan.