Touring the Milan Duomo, Including the Roof!

While I have at least a dozen Egypt posts to share with you all I am going to break it up as I still have a back log of travel content – I guess that is what happens when you visit 19 countries in one year.   It is also crazy to think we are now closer to the next season of sprint fashion week than we are to the shows that were in the fall – and that means I should really round out those s/S 2020 posts. This one is only tangentially related to fashion week as I rearranged my show schedule this fall in Milan to be able to tour the Duomo, both the inside and the roof. 

We started outside learned about how the solid blocks do marble were constructed and that our expensive tickets went to cover the 30 million euros they spend EVERY year in renovating the giant structure. It has been standing for more than 600 years and the guide did a great job setting the scene for us with facts like it used to only be lit inside by candlelight and it was quite dim with electric lights!

And despite my 10+ years of catholic school I still learned a few things about the Church and it’s buildings. For instance, the difference between a Duomo and a cathedral – the Duomo is the biggest church in the city and the Cathedral has nothing to do with the size, it is the seat of the bishop. There were other elements I definitely did know though – like the purpose of Stained glass windows was to teach the Bible to people who could not read, a technique originally invented in France and beautifully illustrated at Notre Dame.

However, my favourite part of the  Duomo di Milano was the roof.  You can either climb to the top or take the elevator based on which ticket you buy but heading up to the top not only gives you a great view of Milan but also a new appreciation that the entire cathedral is made out of solid blocks of marble.  And given the material and age it is constantly under construction with a 30 million Euro renovation budget annually which is funded by tourist tickets. (There are many options to buy tickets, check them out ahead of time!) 

The guides where also quick to point out that it took 600 years to build and since they have technically not stopped building it, it has ben under construction fro longer than the Sagrada Famila in Barcelona – funny what people get competitive about!  I had a great time walking around the full permitter and getting up close and personal with the spires!

Would you visit the Milan Duomo?