Indie Places

Milan is known for many different sights and attractions, but one of the most unique and historical is the Duomo, a huge cathedral.  The Duomo is the world’s second largest Catholic cathedral; the only larger cathedral is the cathedral of Seville.  The Duomo can easily hold 40,000 people without feeling crowded!

The Duomo Cathedral is located on the Piazza del Duomo, and if you’re planning on spending a day at the cathedral, you may want to book one of the hotels in Milan near it so you can walk.  Walking through Milan is a joy, anyway, so even if your hotel is a dozen or more blocks away, you should take the time to stroll through this historic city.

The first thing you’ll see is the Duomo’s amazing exterior.  The entire building is made of brick with a marble face.  Its main spire stretches 109 meters into the air.  The architectural style is an interesting blend between the classical Gothic and the neo-Gothic look.  This is because construction on the western section of the Guomo started in 1616 and wasn’t finished until after 1800.  Some Baroque and Neo-Classical influences can also be seen.  Since 1900, parts of the cathedral that were less Gothic in style were replaced with Gothic designs by Giuseppe Brentano.

Once you step inside the Duomo, you’ll find a lofty roof, wide aisles and hallways, and strong round pillars.  There are a number of interesting stained glass windows, statues, and paintings within the Duomo.  It is a bit dark, as most older cathedrals tend to be.