Guided tour of the Milan Cathedral
Why you should buy your ticket on Ticket - Sitomito.
Highlights
A journey to discover the symbolic Church of Milan during this two-hour guided experience inside the Cathedral and panoramic visit of the Terraces
If you are looking for the emblem of Milan, in the very heart of the city, you are in the right place: the Cathedral, also known as the Duomo, is the best place to start your visit to Milan.
Our two-hour guided experience inside the Cathedral includes entrance tickets to the Duomo, Terraces and Baptistery.
Let us take you through the enchanting history hidden in the Duomo Complex. Mosaics, colored windows, statues and works of art will come to life during your experience.
Discover some of the secrets hidden in the Cathedral: do you know how many spires there are?
Your experience begins in Piazza del Duomo, right at the meeting point. You will enter the Cathedral with your guide and the visit will begin. The Baptistery awaits you, and finally the best view of the city from the Terraces.
Highlights
- Entrance to the Cathedral, Baptistery and Terraces
- The most beautiful view of the Milan skyline
- Discovering the archaeological area of the Baptistery
- Visit to the underground area of the Duomo
What is included?
- Tickets for the Duomo complex
- Licensed tour guide in Italian
- Earphones for groups with more than 5 participants
- Small group tour
What is not included?
- Tips (optional)
- Hotel pick-up & drop-off
- Food and Drink
- Extra
What is there to know?
Duration: 2 hours
Please note: Access to the Duomo Complex is subject to strict security checks.
Furthermore, the ascent to the Terraces is done by Elevator, while the descent via stairs (250 steps). We also inform you that it is forbidden to enter the Cathedral with helmets, glass objects and luggage. We strongly recommend not to bring large bags.
We invite you to wear appropriate clothing to enter religious sites (please note that knees and shoulders must be covered). Please do not wear sports shirts. The visit to the Terraces is not accessible for wheelchairs or people with mobility problems and involves climbing stairs to reach the second terrace (80 steps).
Cancellation policies
Customers will receive a full refund or credit if canceled with at least 72 hours notice. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit if canceled by the operator due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances (including force majeure).
Customers can contact us by phone to cancel or to inquire about it.
No-shows will be charged full price.
Description
The Cathedral
Entering the Duomo, amazement soon gives way to deep emotion. You are enveloped by the immensity of the spaces, emphasized by slender columns that seem to have no end. Your gaze tries to take in the whole, and then, with the help of our guide, focuses on details rich in history and curiosities.
Inside, the stained glass windows immediately capture your attention. Together with sculptures, mosaics and works of art, they contribute to making this architectural marvel unique. The Duomo is home to 55 stained glass windows that narrate episodes related to art, culture, faith and the history of Milan itself. A fascinating detail: to create them, two glass-working furnaces were installed directly on site.
Another element of great value is the floor, composed of extraordinary polychrome marbles that further enrich the magnificence of the cathedral.
The Sundial
As soon as you cross the threshold of the Duomo, looking at the floor, you will notice a thin brass band that crosses the cathedral. This is the most important sundial in Lombardy, created in 1786 by astronomers from the Brera Astronomical Observatory. Along this line, at regular intervals, there are tiles depicting the signs of the zodiac. Every day, at exactly midday, a ray of light filters through a hole in the ceiling and illuminates the zodiac sign corresponding to the time of year.
The Terraces
An unmissable experience is a visit to the roofs of the Duomo. A comfortable elevator will take you directly to the terraces, from which you can admire not only a breathtaking view of the city and the Alps, but also observe the spires and their sculptural details up close. At every step, wonder will accompany you. The Duomo of Milan is the only cathedral in the world where you can walk on the roof, a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of Gothic art.
The Statues
The Cathedral houses over 3,000 statues, masterpieces of sculpture created between the 16th and 20th centuries. The sculpted figures are mostly religious: saints, martyrs and scenes from the Holy Scriptures. Walking inside the cathedral, you can discover numerous examples of these works of art. Among the most famous is the statue of Saint Bartholomew, created by a student of Leonardo da Vinci: the saint is depicted after his martyrdom, without skin, carrying his own cloak of flesh on his shoulders.
The Holy Nail
One of the most precious relics preserved in the Milan Cathedral is a nail, suspended and fixed to a keystone. To locate it, just look up and look for a small red light that indicates its position. Tradition has it that this nail comes from the cross of Christ, making it a symbol of faith of inestimable value.
The Records of the Cathedral
The Milan Cathedral holds numerous records: it is the largest Gothic church in Europe, the most imposing in Italy and the fifth largest in the world. Furthermore, it is the building with the greatest number of statues ever built. Some impressive numbers: 52 columns, as many as the weeks of the year; a length of 157 meters; 164 windows; 135 spires, most of which are 17 meters high, adorned with a total of 3,440 statues of various sizes; 135 gargoyles, as well as countless niches and traceries.
A curiosity: The "Statue of Liberty" in Milan
Above the main portal of the Cathedral, on the left side, there is a particular sculpture: La Legge Nuova, a work by Camillo Pacetti, sculpted in 1810. According to some theories, this statue inspired Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi in the creation of the famous Statue of Liberty in New York.
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