Jeannie's Travel Addiction

October 5, 2016

Milan’s  Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente, or better known as  Milan’s  Duomo , is the most incredible and the most  visited sight in the city.  Building began in 1386 but  was not completely finished until 1965.    Being the  4th largest Cathedral  in Europe,  it  can hold 40,000 people.  The  cathedral has  3500  marble statues, with 2/3 of them on the exterior.  The roof  has  135 carved  stone pinnacles,  135 gargoyles  and interior has 52 gigantic and intricately  carved pillars.  Napoleon crowned himself King here in 1805.

The  famous Madonnina, is  the gilded copper statue of Mary that stands on the cathedral’s highest spire of 354 feet.  Mary  was set in 1774 and measures approximately 13 feet tall.

There is also a  replica of Mary  inside the Cathedral.

Much to be seen inside the Cathedral.  Such as the statue of St. Bartholomew –  draped in his own skin, muscles and  veins are exposed. While creepy it  represents  his martyrdom where he was skinned alive.   And that was the beginning of what they did to him.  If you have the stomach for  it – look up St. Bartholomew for more details.

Always interesting what is on display in these history-filled  churches and cathedrals –  I believe this is an Archbishop of the past.

Just a few of the enormous  52 pillars inside the Duomo.

A zoomed -in  shot of the carving on the pillars.  Each  pillar stands  about 78 feet tall.

The ciborium that holds the tabernacle.

An ancient Roman bathtub is used as the Baptismal of the Duomo.

One of the many statues in the Duomo.

The exterior bronze  doors are also intricately  carved and enormous in size.

A walk on the roof was a real treat.

Thankfully  there was an elevator that took me almost to the top – only 78 steps more after that.

Views from the roof…….

and  of the exterior of the Cathedral……

Love those gargoyles!

Just a tidbit  – supposedly gargoyles do more than act as a drain spouts.  They are also  considered protectors and are  scary looking to frighten off evil spirits.  Thus they were  added  to churches and other important  buildings.

Thanks for reading!