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Milan Cathedral is the largest church in Italy and the fifth largest in the world, took nearly six centuries to build, and carries more statues than any other building on earth. Construction began in 1386 under Gian Galeazzo Visconti and was not finished until 1965. The cathedral holds around 3,400 statues, 135 marble spires and 52 interior pillars said to represent the 52 weeks of the year, along with a relic believed to be a nail from the Crucifixion, Italy’s largest pipe organ, and a working zodiac sundial set into the floor.
Duomo di Milano is one of the most iconic cathedrals in the world and the largest church in Italy. This attraction witnesses hundreds of visitors every day, each coming to explore its marble spires, rooftop terraces, stained-glass windows, and archaeological area.
The cathedral is filled with interesting stories, hidden historical details, and centuries-old traditions that many visitors do not know about before visiting this place. From taking nearly six centuries to complete to being a home to thousands of statues and one of the world’s largest Gothic facades, these facts about Milan Cathedral will simply surprise you.
In this article, we will discuss the top 12 facts about Milan Cathedral that will help you understand the cathedral’s history and importance in a better way.
1. Milan Cathedral is the largest church in Italy and the 5th largest church in the world.
One of the most impressive Duomo di Milano facts is its massive size. The cathedral is the largest church in Italy and the fifth-largest church in the world, covering an area of approximately 11,700 square metres. This cathedral can accommodate up to 40,000 people at a time, making it one of Milan and Italy’s most significant places of worship.
Many worshippers mistakenly believe that St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest church in Italy, but St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City is technically located in an independent country, making Milan Cathedral the largest church within Italy.
2. It took 6 centuries to be fully built.
It took six centuries to build this massive cathedral. The construction of this building began in 1386 under the rule of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the Duke of Milan, and he had the vision of building one of Europe’s grandest cathedrals.
The cathedral was built by multiple generations of architects, sculptors, and craftsmen, and besides this, the project continued through changing rulers, wars, financial challenges, and evolving architectural styles before the cathedral was finally completed in 1965.
3. The Cathedral houses a Holy Nail believed to be from the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
The Milan Duomo preserves what is traditionally believed to be one of the Holy Nails from the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is called the Sacro Chiodo, the holy nail, and is believed to have been brought to Milan after being discovered by Saint Helena in the 4th century.
Today, this relic is preserved high, almost 45 meters above the cathedral’s main altar, where it remains on display throughout the year. But a religious ceremony, the Rite of the Nivola, is hosted every September, during which the Archbishop of Milan ascends in a historic cloud-shaped lift to retrieve the relic for veneration among the public.
4. The Duomo has more than 3,400 statues; This is more than any other building in the world.
There are nearly 3400 statues in the Milan Cathedral, which belong to saints, martyrs, prophets, angels, historical figures, mythical creatures, and symbolic characters.
In addition to the statues, the cathedral also features 135 marble spires, around 150 gargoyles, and dozens of other carved decorative elements, giving the Duomo its amazing Gothic skyline. This is the reason why Duomo di Milano is immensely praised for its Gothic architecture across the globe.
5. The Duomo has an underground Archaeological Area and Crypt.
There is a lesser-known Milan Cathedral fact that many visitors do not know about: beneath the main floor is the Milan Cathedral Archaeological Area, where you can explore the remains of earlier Christian structures. There is an entire underground section beneath the main floor of the cathedral, called the Archaeological Area, where you can explore the remains of the Basilica of Santa Tecla and the Baptistery of San Giovanni alle Fonti, which were the two early Christian structures that stood on the site centuries before the Duomo was built.
Another interesting thing that is found beneath the Milan Cathedral is the Crypt of St. Charles, also known as San Carlo Borromeo, one of Milan’s most revered archbishops. His remains are preserved inside an ornate crystal and silver shrine, and this makes the crypt both a prominent landmark inside the cathedral and a place of worship.
6. Leonardo da Vinci and Napoleon contributed to the making of the Duomo.
Leonardo, in the 15th Century, was invited to join a group of architects and engineers to discuss ideas for completing the cathedral’s central dome, and even though he may have contributed to the sketches and design, the Duomo di Milan was finished using a totally different architectural plan.
After him, Napoleon Bonaparte played another important role in the making of the Duomo, where he financially aided in completing this landmark.
7. The Cathedral has a working sundial with zodiac signs right at the main entrance.
Not many people know about the working sundial with zodiac signs at the main entrance of the cathedral, and this is one of the most overlooked facts about Milan Cathedral. There is a sundial with 12 zodiac signs built on the marble floor and was installed in 1786 by astronomers from the Brera Astronomical Observatory.
There is a small opening high on the southern wall from where the sunlight enters and falls on this sundial. As the sun moves throughout the year, the light reaches different zodiac symbols, allowing people to identify the season and accurately measure solar noon.
8. One of the Duomo statues may have inspired the Statue of Liberty.
A statue on the cathedral’s facade is believed to have inspired the Statue of Liberty in New York. While this is not proven, the similarity between the two monuments has made it one of the most popular facts about Duomo di Milano that many people do not know about.
This statue, known as the Statue of the New Law (La Legge Nuova), is located above the left side of the cathedral’s main entrance. It shows a female figure holding a torch high in the air. The statue feels very similar to the Statue of Liberty in the USA, so many historians and visitors believe that Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the French sculptor who designed the Statue of Liberty, drew inspiration from this sculpture after visiting Milan in the 19th century.
9. The Madonnina stands 108.5 metres above Milan.
Madonnina is a gilded copper statue of the Virgin Mary, and it is perched at a height of 108.5 metres above Milan. It was installed in 1774 and was the highest and most recognisable landmark in Milan.
It is believed that the Madonnina was the tallest point in Milan, and an unofficial tradition developed that no building should be built taller than the statue out of respect for the city’s patron figure. However, today, there are many modern skyscrapers that have exceeded this height easily. When the Pirelli skyscraper was built in Milan, a replica of the statue was put on the tower.
10. The Duomo’s pink marble rooftop is one of the few you can walk on
The rooftop terraces of the Duomo are constructed using a pink marble, also known as the Candoglia marble. Even today, the same quarry continues to supply marble for ongoing conservation work.
Visitors can walk on the rooftop terraces of the Duomo, which features a remarkable forest of 135 Gothic spires, each decorated with carvings and crowned by statues or ornamental pinnacles. From the terraces, visitors can admire the cathedral’s Gothic details from just a few feet away and also enjoy panoramic views of Milan. If you want to learn more about visiting the terraces, see our guide to the Milan Cathedral rooftop.
11. Italy’s largest pipe organ is housed in the Duomo di Milano.
The largest organ is located in the Milan Cathedral. This instrument has more than 15,800 pipes, five manuals (keyboards), and a pedalboard, making it one of Italy’s most significant musical instruments.
The organ is not kept as a museum piece, but rather is still used today during Eucharistic Celebrations, major religious ceremonies, and special concerts held inside the cathedral. One fact about Duomo Milan’s organ that visitors would not know is that the instrument has been expanded and modernised over the centuries, reflecting the cathedral’s long musical and liturgical tradition.
12. There are 52 pillars at Duomo di Milano, which are associated with 52 weeks of the year.
The interior of the cathedral has 52 pillars, a number traditionally associated with the 52 weeks of the year. All of these pillars are up to 24 metres high, and beyond their architectural purpose, the pillars are often seen as a symbolic reminder of the passing weeks, months, and years. As you walk through the cathedral’s interior, you will also see stained glass windows that add up to the cathedral’s beauty. To explore more of the cathedral’s interior highlights, see our guide on what to see in Milan Cathedral.
FAQs Visitors Have About Milan Cathedral
1. Who is buried in Milan Duomo?
Saint Charles Borromeo is buried under the Milan Duomo. He was a Cardinal Archbishop of Milan during the 16th century, and his remains are held in a crystal and silver coffin.
2. How old is Duomo di Milano?
Milan Cathedral is almost 640 years old, and it took six generations to complete the entire architecture of this cathedral.
3. What makes the Duomo special?
Duomo is one of the most important Gothic cathedrals in the world, and it holds cultural and artistic value to date. Duomo is special for its stained glass windows, 3400+ statues, and a fine collection of Renaissance art.
4. Is the Milan Duomo the largest in the world?
Milan Duomo is the largest cathedral in Milan, Italy, and the fifth-largest cathedral in the world.
5. Did Da Vinci work on the Duomo Milan?
Yes, Leonardo da Vinci worked on the sketches for the towers of the cathedral. However, the construction of Milan Cathedral proceeded as per other architectural plans.
6. What is under the Duomo in Milan?
There is an archaeological area beneath the Milan Xathedral. In this area, there are remains of some tombs of prominent people and traces of an ancient three-apse hall.
7. How many stairs are there in the Duomo in Milan?
There are a total of 256 stairs in the Duomo in Milan to reach the rooftop. Visitors also have to climb an additional 90 steps to reach level two of the rooftop terraces.
8. What relics are inside the Milan Duomo?
You’ll find several sarcophagi of archbishops within the Milan Duomo. Among them, the main ones are Archbishop Alberto da Intimiano’s sarcophagus and those of archbishops Ottone Visconti and Giovanni Visconti, which were created in the 14th century.