The Duomo is the most breathtaking monument in Milan.

This exceptionally large and elaborate Gothic cathedral on the main square of Milan, is one of the largest cathedrals in Italy and Europe.

I have visited Milan in past years but this last visit to Milan for me was mostly about the Duomo.  I spent several hours both inside and outside this magnificent cathedral.

The Duomo is literally at the centre of Milan. The cathedral occupies a site that has been the most central location in the city since its founding.

Duomo di Milano is one of the most famous buildings in Europe.  Its dazzling white front facade, arguably the world’s most beautiful, dominates the cathedral square.

This is one of the must see sites in Milan. There is usually a line to get in but it moves very quickly so don’t be put off as the Duomo is large enough to hold 40,000 people

The interior is expansive and filled with paintings. Visiting inside the Duomo is free. Take a look at the large stained glass painting depicting many scenes. Look for the horoscope symbols on the floor to the right. You can visit the grotto as well. You can hire a personal head-set to listen to the commentary and spend time listening about  the parts that interest you the most.

It would be easy to spend hours inside. Just sitting in one of the many seating areas and taking it all in, people watching or enjoying the beautiful feel of this cathedral is a lovely way to spend time.

Walk around the exterior of the Duomo as well to see the stunning architecture and the sculptures.

After exploring the inside, we paid a small fee to take a fascinating trip to the Duomo’s roof. The terrace view is amazing. You can choose to take the stairs or to go by elevator. Don’t waste time standing in the long queue at the main ticket office near the entrance as there are several other ticket offices around. One is in the Duomo Museum to the right from the Cathedral. When we were there, getting to the roof cost 7 euro to take the stairs and 12 euro to take the elevator.

The roof climb provides a unique and memorable opportunity to walk high on the roofs of this huge Gothic cathedral. The views are magnificent and the opportunity to see the pinnacles and sculptures close up along the way is worth the climb alone.

You can wander among the countless spires, arches and statues, (I’m told there are 200 spires & 3,400 statues) where stone masons work continuously to repair and replace the intricate facade that took six centuries to complete in the first place.

The roof is quite safe and should pose no problems even for those afraid of heights.

The huge building is made of brick faced with marble from the quarries that Gian Galeazzo Visconti donated in perpetuity to the cathedral chapter.

A truly magnificent building, worthy of the title of “Duomo”. The courtyard stands surrounded by other great architectures such as the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping centre.