The cathedral in Milan is dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente. The Gothic structure took 6 centuries to complete. This won’t come as a surprise to anyone standing in front of it.
The cathedral was begun in 1386 by Archbishop Antonio da Saluzza. The marble was quarried from Candoglia. Various architects and engineers worked on the building, including Frenchman, Nicholas de Bonaventure, giving the cathedral distinct French style. Napoleon also had a hand in the construction, much later on, in 1805, when he insisted that the facade be completed. He was crowned king of Italy in the cathedral.
The fact that it is still standing for us to admire is a miracle. Much of Milan was bombed in WWII, but the cathedral escaped the bombing and stood firmly in place.
It has been cleaned recently and it is looking magnificent, even on a dark, misty morning.
The interior is very grand.
The stained glass windows are glorious.
The souvenir stand seems a little out of place…..a spaceship appears to have landed.
I find the exterior absolutely fascinating. Have a look at some of the sculpture which covers the building.
The bronze doors tell many stories.
To get a wonderful view of the roof, go to the terrace of the Rinascente department store.
It is particularly lovely at sunset.
