Piazza Duomo

• by Ray Rapalo • Published: March 16, 2007

Piazza Duomo, or Cathedral Square, has been the heart of the city of Milan since the Middle Ages. A Paleo-Christian church once stood in the piazza: a basilica dedicated to Saint Tecla, dating back to the 4th century. Only the dimensions of the piazza have changed since then. Piazza Duomo is one of the city’s most renowned attractions and an excellent place to begin your Milan adventure.

As its name suggests, the main attraction of Piazza Duomo is the cathedral. The Duomo of Milan is one of the most famous churches in the world and a paradigm of churches built in the Gothic style. Built in the 15th century according to the wishes of Pope Martin V, the main altar was consecrated in 1418. In 1813, five centuries after the positioning of the first stone, the exterior was completed under the supervision of Napoleon, who wanted his coronation ceremony as King of Italy to take place in the Duomo. The rest of the structure was expanded throughout the remainder of the 19th century, including the addition of spires and the installation of the bronze main door. The Duomo is the second tallest cathedral in the world (the tallest is the cathedral of Beauvais in France) and the third biggest (after Saint Peter in Rome and the cathedral of Seville).

A sweeping view of the piazza confronts you immediately upon exiting the cathedral. In the 19th century, extensive renovations on the piazza were begun. These consisted, most remarkably, in a rearrangement of all the other buildings around the cathedral. Standing at the entrance to the piazza, the Duomo Cathedral closes the perspective of the piazza’s end. Piazza Duomo is an important meeting place for all Milanesi. Sports and cultural events, shows, as well as social and political meetings are held there. In Winter an ice skating rink is set up.

The Piazza Duomo is bordered on either side by two long buildings: the Southern Palazzo and the Nothern Palazzo. Under the porches of these buildings you’ll find, in addition to shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. The famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, a covered passage stretching from Piazza Duomo to Piazza della Scala opens in the Northern Palazzo on the right side of the cathedral.