No one should miss the city's main landmark, the Duomo, located in the heart of the metropolis.

Officially called the "Cathedral of the Nativity", this Catholic church is the fifth largest cathedral and the largest in Italy, or the second largest on the Apennine Peninsula after St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

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The Duomo di Milano is one of the largest Gothic churches in the world and can hold up to 40,000 people. It is also the most important Gothic monument in Italy, which otherwise favors more Baroque or Renaissance buildings.

A Gothic jewel built over centuries

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

He had the ambition to follow the latest trends in European architecture and therefore approached the French architect Nicolas de Bonaventure. From the very beginning, he imprinted the Milanese cathedral with the style of the Raisonante Gothic style, which is considered the pinnacle of this architectural trend.

The work was constantly delayed, either due to lack of money or lengthy architectural competitions for the completion. The most progress was made during the 16th century, when Archbishop Carlo Borromeo pushed for the facade to be decorated in the Renaissance Roman-Italian style, but in 1649 the new chief architect, Carlo Buzzi, pushed for the facade to be rebuilt again in a purely Gothic style.

The cathedral was not completely finished until 1965.

Interestingly, at first glance the cathedral has no significant dome or tower. Its dimensions are so large that even the 108-metre high central tower practically disappears when viewed from the front and side, giving the impression of a subtle building.

Piazza del Duomo

Aerial view of the Duomo

The interior of the cathedral

The purely Gothic interior looks cold and dark, but the huge 15th century mosaic windows, which create a colourful play of light when the weather is sunny, catch the eye.

One of the most significant artefacts of the interior is the statue of St Bartholomew, who was flayed alive, which this sculpture reflects quite faithfully.

A visit to the impressive roof

The Milan Cathedral is famous for the opportunity to visit the rooftop with its spectacular and very unusual views of the city. In fact, the roof of the cathedral is very richly decorated. You will find more than 3,400 statues and 135 smaller or larger towers.

A one-way walkway with railings runs along the edges of the roof, there is nothing to be afraid of, the path is well secured and you can even take the lift up here. In good visibility you can easily see the Alps from here.

View from the roof of the dome

Roof of the dome

Entrance fees and opening hours

The cathedral is open to the public every day from 9:00 to 19:00, but the last entry is at 18:00.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Cathedral interior + museum - 10 eur (under 18 for 5 eur)
Interior + staircase roof + museum - 20 eur (under 18 for 10 eur)
Interior + elevator roof + museum - 25 eur (under 18 for 12,50 eur)
Stair roof only - 16 eur (under 18 for 8 eur)
Roof lift only - 14 eur (under 18 for 7 eur)

To eliminate queues, we recommend buying tickets online at the official website tickets.duomomilano.it/en.

Piazza del Duomo

The large square in front of the cathedral is generally considered the centre of Milan and the city's main open space. The square is dominated by the huge equestrian statue of Vittorio Emanuele II.

Piazza del Duomo

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

Accommodation at the Duomo

If you want to stay in Milan right in the city centre, then look for hotels right around Milan Cathedral. However, you'll have to settle for higher prices starting at 165 eur per night. Some of the cheapest hotels in the area include Hotel Rio or Aparthotel dei Mercanti.

Right on the piazza, then, you can stay at the highly rated design hotel STRAF.