Amazing Facts About Milan’s Duomo

Milan Cathedral 01. The Duomo is the fifth largest Christian church in the world
Outdone by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil, Cathedral of St. John the Divine in
New York and Seville’s Cathedral, Milan Cathedral is still one big church! Covering a surface of 109,641 square feet and an
entire city block, its size is even more impressive considering it’s the oldest church on that list.
Via Carlo Maria Martini, 1
location
20122 Milan
02. It has the most statues
Country Italy They say there are more statues on this gothic-style cathedral than any other building in the world. There are 3,400 statues, 135
gargoyles and 700 figures that decorate Milan Duomo! Climb the stairs or take the lift to the rooftop to fully appreciate the
History
architecture of the most renowned silhouette in the city. From the terrazza you’ll see breathtaking views across Milan and, on
Status Cathedral, minor basilica clear days, the snow-capped peaks of the Alps. You can also see the famous Madonnina, the gold-colored statue of Mary that
stands on the cathedral’s highest spire
Architecture
Functional status Active Overview
The Milan Cathedral, otherwise known as Duomo di Milano in Italian, is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Some people
Simone da Orsenigo feel that as the construction progressed over the centuries, its style shifted to be more similar to Renaissance. In any case, the
Architect(s)
et al.[1] Milan Cathedral is considered to be one of the most famous churches in the world.
Style Gothic Exterior Design
The cathedral was originally going to be built from terracotta brick, but the material was changed to
Groundbreaking 1386 (original building) marble early on in the construction process. The facade of this marble is pink, white and light grey. Since
Completed 1965 the facade was constructed over the span of so many years, its style is notably different from the ground
to the top. The lower level, constructed in the early 1600s, is Renaissance in design, while the higher
portions of the facade, built between 1645 and 1812, follow a Gothic design. Its classical elements include
lower square bases under the buttresses and door and window trims that include a gable

The Gothic roofline is famous for its dense grid of pinnacles and spires supported by flying buttresses. The
Specifications
cathedral contains over 90 gargoyles and about 3,400 statues. At the top of the dome, its height is 65.5
Capacity 40,000 meters. Although, the cathedral is similar in many aspects to other Northern Gothic cathedrals, it is wider
Length 158.6 metres (520 ft) proportionately due to its double side aisles
Width 92 metres (302 ft)
Nave width 16.75 metres (55.0 ft) Interior Design
Height 108 metres (354 ft) Milan Cathedral has two side aisles along each side as opposed to a single aisle which is more
common. This allowed another row of clerestory windows as well as additional floor space.
Other dimensions Facade facing West
Dome height (outer) 65.6 metres (215 ft) The plan is in the shape of the cross and is modular, meaning its dimensions are based on a repeating
Number of spires 135 unit. In this case, the
Spire height 108.5 metres (356 ft) module was 16, which is the width of the side aisle. The width of the nave is double the width of the
Materials Brick with Candoglia marble aisles. The width of the transept and length of the nave are nine times this module
 Florence Cathedral, formally the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
Florence Cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower
• Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
Duomo di Firenze  (Italian)
• Cathedral Sanctae Mariae Floris 

Location Florence, Tuscany

Country Italy

Architectural type Church

Style Italian Gothic, Renaissance,

Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking 9 September 1296
Completed 1436

Specifications
Length 153 metres (502 ft)
Width 90 metres (300 ft)
Nave width 38 metres (125 ft)
Height 114.5 metres (376 ft)
8,300 square metres
Floor area (89,000 sq ft)
Materials Marble, brick