Last updated on September 27th, 2021
If you only have time for one attraction in Milan, let it be the Duomo. A visit to the cathedral and Milan Duomo rooftop is an absolute must.
Although often overlooked (as is most of the time the beautiful Lombardy region), Milan is well worth spending a few days. International tourists, especially when traveling to Italy for the first time, frequently skip Milan to focus on Florence, Rome, and Venice. Sometimes the Cinque Terre or the Amalfi coast. Even many Italians still snub Milan, which is a pity.
Actually, there are countless reasons to visit Milan. There are plenty of things to do in the fashion capital, and you can easily have many beautiful day trips from Milan. However, if you happen to be there for just a few hours and only have time for one or two things, a must-do in Milan is, without doubt, walking on the Duomo rooftop, and Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper. And, of course, visit the Cathedral, which is one of the most famous landmarks in Milan and, for the locals, the symbol of the city.
Tip: To visit Leonardo’s Last Supper in Milan you have to book long in advance on the official website (alas, not particularly user-friendly). Alternatively, you can buy a guided tour, ensuring you’ll be able to admire one of the main landmarks in Milan.
Milan Cathedral, and its never-ending construction
There are many fun facts regarding Italy. One of them is that it took centuries to build Milan’s iconic landmark and a cathedral which is absolutely unique.
The construction of Milan Duomo started in the late 1300s and it took almost 600 years to complete what became a behemoth cathedral. Indeed, Milan cathedral is the largest in Italy and the third in the world in terms of surface (if you wonder which is the largest cathedral in the world, it’s St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome/Vatican City). Renovations are never-ending, as shown in this interesting video.
Mark Twain visited Milan in 1867 and later described his awe in front of the Duomo in Innocents Abroad.
“What a wonder it is! So grand, so solemn, so vast! And yet so delicate, so airy, so graceful! A very world of solid weight, and yet it seems in the soft moonlight only a fairy delusion of frost-work that might vanish with a breath! How sharply its pinnacled angles and its wilderness of spires were cut against the sky, and how richly their shadows fell upon its snowy roof! It was a vision!—a miracle!—an anthem sung in stone, a poem wrought in marble!”
Conversely, a few years later Oscar Wilde expresses his strong disappointment and dislike in a letter to his mother:
“The Cathedral is an awful failure. Outside the design is monstrous and inartistic. The over-elaborated details stuck high up where no one can see them; everything is vile in it; it is, however, imposing and gigantic as a failure, through its great size and elaborate execution.“
Read also: 33 Photos that will make you want to discover Milan
Living in Milan, I’ve seen the Duomo more times than I can recall. It doesn’t matter. Every time I approach, I feel a tingle of excitement and amazement while I look at the forest of spires that seem to touch the sky. And the cathedral is so rich in decorations that I can always spot a new detail I had missed before.
So, if you ask me what’s a must-see in Milan if you have time for only one landmark, this has to be walking on Milan Duomo rooftop and visit the imposing Cathedral.
The interior of the Milan cathedral stands in strong contrast with the facade exterior. Outside, you’ll be amazed by the light-colored marble and the soft shades of pink, orange, and blue. Once inside, you’ll be impressed by the 5 naves, the 52 pillars carved in dark stone, and the stunning floor, with its design in black, pink, and white marble. The light is dim inside the Duomo, filtered by the magnificent stained glass windows with stories from the Old and New Testament.
Walk on Milan Duomo rooftop for a close encounter with spires, statues, carvings, and gargoyles.
Walking on the Milan Duomo terrace is exhilarating, and lets you see many things from a different perspective. The close encounter with the beautiful carvings is simply awe-inspiring. And as you wander, surrounded by pinnacles, it seems like walking through a forest of delicate marble.
** Tip: Milan Duomo Tickets ** Like most landmarks in Italy and Europe, Milan Duomo rooftop and Cathedral receive many visitors, and the long queues can be discouraging (and a waste of time). For that reason, I strongly recommend booking the guided visit to the cathedral and the Duomo terraces in advance. Your visit will be all the most enjoyable and relaxed.
One statue towers over the spires and 3400 sculptures decorating the Duomo: the golden Madonna (Madunina in Milanese dialect), the symbol of Milan.
From above, the perspective on the large square – Piazza del Duomo – and the beautiful geometric decorations of the pavement are stunning.
The people crowding the Piazza at any time of the day and night look like small ants walking around. Most are tourists, roaming at a slow pace, stopping to take pictures, sitting on the stairs, or waiting for the pigeons to fly. If you look a little longer, though, you’ll also spot the locals, including many business people walking fast (the Stock Market and the financial district is right behind the corner), barely looking at the beauty surrounding them.
The design of the square and the style of most of the magnificent buildings surrounding the cathedral date back to the second half of the 19th century, including the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and its magnificent glass-vaulted arcades.
Italy is not short of beautiful squares, and Milan Piazza del Duomo is certainly one of the most impressive.
If you are lucky enough to visit the Duomo rooftop on a sunny and windy day, usually bringing a bright sky, you might be able to see as far as the Alps and the snow-capped peaks.
The best time to visit the Milan Duomo rooftop is short before sunset when the marble gets shaded in orange and pink.
So yes, a must-do in Milan is visiting the Cathedral and having a walk on the Duomo terraces. You haven’t seen the “fashion capital” if you don’t visit its most famous landmark.
Practical information: How to visit Milan Duomo Rooftop and Cathedral:
Best time to walk the Duomo rooftop: You can visit all year round, but beware that it can be very hot during the Summer months when it’s better to go early in the morning or in the late afternoon.
Milan Cathedral dress code: women must have their shoulders covered (in Summer, the best thing is to have a light scarf for this purpose), as well as their legs down to just above the knee. Men should avoid shorts, while Bermuda shorts are allowed.
Opening hours: Cathedral Daily 8.00 am -7.00 pm Terraces Daily 9.00 am -7.00 pm
Tip – Advance booking and guided visits: to avoid the queues and get the best of your time, I strongly recommend buying your ticket to visit the Cathedral and Milan Duomo rooftop in advance.
Plan your trip to Milan:
How to get to Milan
There are flights to one of the three Milan airports (Linate, Malpensa, and Bergamo) from all over the world.
With the high-speed train, you can travel from Florence to Milan in less than two hours, and from Rome to Milan in three hours. Check the timetables and prices on Omio.
Where to stay in Milan
In case you decide to give Milan a chance and spend a few days, I wrote an article focus on the best neighborhoods to stay in Milan, depending on what you plan to do and see. In any case, here are a few excellent accommodation options in Milan’s historic center.
Milan Hotels near Duomo
Maison Milano | UNA Esperienze features modern rooms and is just a few steps from Milan Cathedral.
The Park Hyatt Milano, at the entrance of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and a stone throw from the Duomo, is one of the best luxury hotels in Milan.
The Street Milano Duomo features contemporary and stylish rooms, around the corner from Milan Duomo and in the middle of one of the best shopping areas.
More hotels in Milan city center
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