Duomo di Milan Cathedral

By: Daniel Roman

  

Milan, Lombardy, Italy is the place where the Cathedral was built; there were actually other buildings and smaller churches in the area, which were ordered to be taken down so that this massive cathedral could be built. Now there was a plaza built throughout the year to be in front of the cathedral, and it’s a great tourist spot.

In 1386 Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo wanted a new Cathedral in the city and decided to have one built even though there were already some buildings and little churches where this massive cathedral was planned to be. The job was given to Simon da Orsenigo, his title was of Master Builder. After lack of leadership and sense of direction, the building came to a halt. Many people were questioning the looks of it, many architects putting their two cents in. At the end Gabrielle Stomoloco’s, a mathematician, design and concept was chosen to continue the building. Unfortunately in 1402 the construction came to a halt again, due to funding and once more lack of leadership. Construction resumed almost 80 years later. The inside is not as breath taking as the outside. With a simple rib vault in the ceiling, and columns striking down creating five naves. What is very harshly critical is the horrible lighting the cathedral has. The few windows that were placed along the elongated plan, are little to no use. They are covered with stain glass making it close to impossible for the brightest days in Milan to illuminate the interior. Other than that the interior is also decorated with many statues as the outside is.

The archbishop wanted it to be more like the French Gothic that was going on. But due to many years that it took to build many architects did put some time into it and worked on it, some due say that even Bramante and Leonardo put some work into the cathedral. Due to many Architects working on it, it has been said that the façade actually did at one time have a little taste of Baroque to it but later in the 1900’s was changed back to a gothic flavor. Which is why this building can also be categorized as a gothic revival.

            Hard to imagine but yes the Milan Cathedral was actually built with no flying buttresses. The actually flying buttresses were added later in the year to make it an actual Gothic building. The plus side The Flying Buttresses by my opinion are one of the most beautiful ones ever built.

In 1762 the main spiral was completed the it was toped with a polychrome statue of the

Madonna. The tower tops at an amazing 109 meters. Today you can take a grand tour and actually walk on the roof, it’s a very popular tourist attraction because it has an amazing view. Not only of the craftsmanship on the statues but it has been said that on a beautiful clear day you can see as far as the Alps. The roof is only a 200 stair climb, but for a higher price you can an elevator.

 Although the cathedral is amazingly beautiful, inside and out, and even though it was started such long time ago, the though is there but for the amount of time it took them to do it, its way out of hand, the actual last construction finalized in 1960 when the front gate. It really didn’t set a standard just because by the time that it was completed many architecture styles came and left. I think if it had only at least a quarter to a half of the time it really did, then

it would of made an impact. The actual building didn’t even have the great flying buttresses that a gothic has for a purpose, for the support. These are put only for the looks. Gothic churches are supposed to be grand and let illuminate the space with in, but these beautiful stain glass do not do their job. At the end the building is beautiful, great tourist attraction, but the there is no impact to the world.