QUICK ANSWER
Inside Duomo di Milano, the things worth stopping for are the 52 Gothic marble pillars dividing the five aisles, the Holy Nail displayed high above the high altar, stained glass windows, and more. Beyond the interior, the complex also includes the walkable rooftop terraces, the underground Archaeological Area, and the Duomo Museum, each requiring a ticket that covers it.
Most visitors spend a long time photographing the facade and the terraces, then walk through the cathedral interior in fifteen minutes without knowing what they are looking at. The inside of Duomo di Milano holds some of the most interesting things in the entire complex, and they are easy to miss if you do not know where to look.
The cathedral is the largest in Italy, with an interior stretching almost 160 metres and 52 stone pillars dividing five aisles, one for each week of the year. Inside you will find the statues, stained glass windows and more.
This guide walks you through everything worth stopping for inside Duomo di Milano, what each thing is, and where to find it, so you know what you are looking at instead of walking past it.
Gothic Marble Columns
Duomo di Milano features 52 huge Gothic pillars in the main cathedral that support the ceiling. These columns are arranged in rows to divide the five broad naves of the cathedral floor. The pillars represent 52 weeks of the year. The top of each pillar is decorated with eight different statues.
Patterned Floor
The patterned floor is symmetrical and is covered with geometric designs and decorative motifs created using light and dark marble. Different sections of the floor were completed over many centuries, and this makes it one of the most important artworks in the Duomo di Milano.
Nave & High Altar
The nave in the cathedral has five grand aisles that lead to the high altar, where religious ceremonies are hosted. The altar is surrounded by a richly decorated choir, and right behind the altar is one of the cathedral’s most sacred treasures, the Holy Nail. It is believed that this was one of the nails used during the crucifixion of Christ. It is displayed only once a year in the month of September, during the Rite of the Nivola, the oldest religious tradition in Milan that gathers large crowds.
Rooftop Terrace
If you are visiting Duomo di Milano, you should also head to the terrace to get a closer look a the the cathedral architecture. Seeing Milano Duomo terraces is one of the most exciting things visitors can ever be a part of. They offer a totally different perspective of the cathedral. One moment you are outside the cathedral and looking up at the spires, and within a few minutes, you’ll be walking up on the marble rooftop with pinnacles and statues. Here you should not miss the Marble Spires and Pinnacles, Madonnina Ststua and more.
Stained Glass Windows
While you walk across the cathedral interiors, you’ll spot the stained glass windows, around 55 of them in total. These fill the cathedral with colour, especially those behind the High Altar. Some windows depict scenes from the Bible, the lives of saints, and important moments in Christian history.
Archaeological Area
The Duomo di Milano Archaeological Area is an underground section beneath the main cathedral premises, and can only be visited if your ticket has access to it. Once beneath, you will walk through the remains of Milan’s early Christian churches. You can visit the Baptistery of San Giovanni alle Fonti, Basilica of Santa Tecla, ancient mosaics and more in this region.
The Music Chapel & Organ
The Musical Chapel in Duomo di Milano is among the oldest in the world. Even today, it remains the only cathedral choir school of its kind active in Italy. This musical chapel is known for preserving sacred choral music.
The organ, a musical instrument at the Duomo, is the largest organ in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. It has 15,800 pipes, five consoles, and monumental decorated organ cases. If you’re visiting Duomo during a Mass or a special performance, you’ll see the musical chapel active and also have the chance to hear the choir and the organ together.
The Meridian Sundial
Exactly at the main entrance, you’ll find the famous Meridian Sundial, installed in 1786 by astronomers from the Brera Observatory. It consists of a brass line set into the cathedral floor, marked with the 12 zodiac signs representing different periods of the year. The sundial helped determine true solar noon and regulate Milan’s clocks with remarkable accuracy.
Look closely at the cathedral wall and you’ll notice a small opening high above the floor. At solar noon, sunlight passes through this opening and falls onto the brass line, marking the Sun’s position and accurately indicating solar time.
Saint Bartholomew Statue & Other Important Sculptures
In the south transept of the cathedral, you’ll see the statue of Saint Bartholomew. This statue has received widespread attention from visitors as it shows the saint holding a knife, which is ideally the symbol of his martyrdom. The saint is also wearing the skin that was removed from his body and is draped over him.
Visitors may know that Duomo di Milano is home to 3400 statues, and this makes it one of the most decorative cathedrals in the world. Many statues are found on the exterior of the cathedral, whereas hundreds of the statues can also be seen inside, carved into the columns, altars, monuments, and side chapels. As you walk through the nave, you’ll notice statues of saints, bishops, prophets, and biblical figures around you. For more unusual details about the building, its history, architecture, and traditions, explore our Milan Cathedral facts.
FAQS About What to see in Milan Cathedral
1. What to see in the Milan Cathedral?
The Milan Cathedral has many details that you should not miss. Explore its rooftop terraces, which are accessible, spot the Statue of St. Bartholomew, visit the underground archaeological area that is well preserved, and look for the Holy Nail perched high above the main altar inside the cathedral.
2.Who is buried in the Duomo in Milan?
Archbishop Saint Charles Borromeo is buried in the Duomo of Milan. His remains are displayed in a rock-crystal and silver coffin in the Scurolo di San Carlo, also known as the underground crypt.
3. What to see at the Duomo in Milan?
Explore Duomo di Milano’s rooftop terraces, underground archaeological area, Duomo Museum, and the main cathedral interiors to make the most of your visit here. Don’t forget to book your tickets in advance.
4. What is the Duomo in Milan famous for?
Everyone who leaves Duomo di Milano praises its rooftop terraces. Besides their accessible rooftop terraces, Duomo di Milano is also famous for its capacity for more than 40,000 people and its ranking as the largest Gothic cathedral in Italy and the 5th largest in the entire world.
5. What’s inside Duomo di Milano?
Duomo di Milano bears a history traced back six centuries. It also contains 3000+ statues, 135 spires on the rooftop, sculptures, paintings, sundials, stained-glass windows, tapestries, architectural models, and terracotta casts.
6. Are there any tombs inside the Duomo in Milan?
Yes, the cathedral houses the tombs of founding leaders like Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Ottone Visconti, and Giovanni Visconti. Among them, Gian Galeazzo Visconti was the founder of the Duomo and the first Duke of Milan, and his tomb is located in the apse.