Cathedral of Milan, Italy

The Duomo di Milano is one of the most famous buildings in Europe. It is the third largest Roman Catholic cathedral: only Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome (technically not a cathedral) and the cathedral of Seville are larger. It is 157 meters long— 40,000 people can fit comfortably within. The main spire is 109 meters high. The great windows of the choir were reputed to be the largest in the world. It is a particularly large and elaborate Gothic Cathedral (Duomo ) on the main square in the center of the city of Milan, Italy. (Fergusson 90-109)

History of the building

The first name registered in the documents of the Veneranda Fabbrica archives dates back to the year 1387, when Simone da Orsenigo was appointed Ingegnere generale [ Chief Engineer ] of the Veneranda Fabbrica ; yet he seems to have been the supervisor or master mason rather than the designer, although he offered several working suggestions. Built on the place of the preceding church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the work on the Cathedral Duomo started 1386. It is the most important work of gothic architecture in Italy. (Wilson 130-142) During the construction of five centuries, the style has be influenced by many architects. The façade was started in 1567 and was built in a classic-baroque style with a certain variety of classical and neo gothic elements. 1805 the front works were finished, while the construction of the statues continued through the 19th century. (Fergusson 90-109)

Likely the project of an imposing gothic cathedral must be ascribed to the Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti who was looked for a status symbol of his outstanding prestige. In fact the Duke dictated radical innovations of the Lombard Gothic style taking hints from the grandiose Mitteleuropean Gothic cathedrals and replacing the plain bricwork with the marble of Candoglia . Gian Galeazzo was a generous patron: he granted many immunities and gave the marble quarry of Candoglia, from which the block of pinkish white marble were carried by water through the Lake Maggiore , the Ticino river and the Navigli shipway until the Laghetto little port near the cathedral apse. (Kimball Edgell 114-119)

The Cathedral was the grandiose achievement of the Lombard skilled workers being aware of the european technical progress. There was the clearly expressed solidarity and generous help of all the citizens who since the beginning had considered the Duomo as their own. The enthousiasm of the people was also fostered by the will and the activity of the Archibishop Antonio da Saluzzo who promoted a big fund raisin .Everyone concurred in financing the undertaking . (Burckhardt 112-119)

Location Of The Building

The street plan of Milan, with streets either radiating from the Duomo or circling it, reveals that the Duomo occupies the most important site in Roman Mediolanum. Saint Ambrose's 'New Basilica' was built on this site at the beginning of the 5th century, with an adjoining basilica added in 836. When fire damaged both buildings in 1075, they were rebuilt as the ...