Duomo
The Duomo is the real heart of the city, its square is the real centre of the city's life. The enormous naves, the impressive stained glass windows, the towering spires and the golden statue of the Virgin Mary are a view you cannot miss.
You cannot visit Milan without visiting the real heart of the city: the Duomo. The cathedral, like an huge mountain of marble dominates the scene from every direction you are coming from, the profile of its spires against the sky is one the most classic images of the city.
Our tour guides will tell you about the five hundreds years of history needed to build its complex structure. The church is located upon an area used for a pagan temple and where, in the 4th century AD, the basilicas of S.Maria Maggiore, S.Tecla and the baptistery of S.Giovanni alle Fonti were built. Upon orders by the duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, since 1386 these structures had been demolished to leave space for the massive building site that absorbed for centuries the best artists in the city and was closed only in 1813, when the facade was finally completed. Thousands of workers and artisans, dozens of architects and engineers coming from all over Europe were involved to the building of the Duomo. In order to resolve the enormous static problems of this huge structure of marble were gathered the best minds of the time, among them the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. The result of this endless work is a magnificent stone building, able to touch the viewer thanks to the whiteness of its marbles and, more important, thanks to more than 3400 statues and countless carvings and decorations.
Inside it is possible to visit the Duomo's treasure, the Saint Charles Borromeo's tomb, the archaeological area with the remains of the baptistery of S.Giovanni alle Fonti and the foundations of the S.Tecla church.
We organize special visits to the terraces. Did you know the Duomo is the only Gothic cathedral in the world in which the roofs had been replaced by terraces? From those balconies you have breathtaking views of the city and the surrounding chain of the Alps mountains. Contacts us and we will provide you with more informations.
Opening time
The cathedral is open every days from 9 am to 7pm. Guided tours are forbidden during religious services.
Audioguides are mandatory for groups larger than 7 persons.
Terraces
Winter opening time: October the 25th – February the 7th
9.00am -4.45pm (last admittance 4.20pm).
Extended winter opening time: February the 8th – March the 31st
9.00am -5.45pm (last admittance 5.20pm).
Summer opening time: March the 28th – October the 24th :
9.00am - 10.00pm
Terraces will be closed on Christmas day and on May Day.
Fares: Elevator 8.00 €
Stairs Є 5.00 / family entrance ticket 10.00 €(2 parents+ 1-2 children up to 14 years old; extra children 5 € each)
Group entrance (15 people) 2.50 € each
Archaeological area:
Monday to Sunday 9.30am - 5.30pm
Fares: 4,00 €, students, 2,00 €
Duomo's treasure
Monday to Friday: 9.00am -1.00pm / 2.00pm-6.00pm
Saturday: 9.30am-1.30pm / 2.00pm-5.00pm
Sunday and bank holidays: 1.30pm-3.30pm
Fares: 1 €
