Duomo
O mia bela Madunina che te brillet de lontan / tuta d'ora e piscinina, ti te dominet Milan / sota a ti se viv la vita, se sta mai coi man in man... The Duomo is the closest landmark to our Hotel!
The true symbol of Milan, the Duomo (in English: Milan Cathedral) stands in the very heart of the city and gives its name to the square in front of it. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is regarded as one of the world’ most famous and complex Gothic buildings. The Duomo was built in lieu of ancient cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Basilica of Santa Tecla, both damaged by fire. It was built for want of archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo and Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the Duke of Milan. In 1418 the high altar was consecrated by pope Martin V. Among the many artists involved in the construction works, let’s mention architects Filippino and Giorgio degli Organi in the first half of the 15th century, Marco and Giovanni Solari da Carona and Giovanni Antonio Amadeo (the latter being responsible for the dome cladding) in the second half of that century, Gian Giacomo Dolcebuono and Pellegrino Tibaldi in the 16th century. In 1572 Carlo Borromeo consecrated the still uncompleted church. Other outstanding architects worked there until the Seventeenth century: Martino Bassi, Francesco Maria Richino, Lelio and Carlo Buzzi, the Quadrios. In the 18th century the gilded Madonnina’ spire was erected. The façade was completed in 1813 (some 500 years after the first stone was laid) as urged by Napoleon Bonaparte who wanted to be crowned king of Italy there. In the 19th century, the spires and architectural decorations were completed and the main gate in bronze (to a design by Ludovico Pogliaghi) was installed. Among the 19th century’s artists, let’s mention prominent sculptor Luigi Acquisti. During WWII, the Madonnina statue was covered in rags to avoid that the Allied Air Force used it as a landmark due to the reflections from the gold foils, and the glass windows were removed and replaced with clothes. In the postwar period, the Duomo was restored because of bomb damage suffered during WWII and the wooden doors were replaced with bronze doors by sculptors Arrigo Minerbi, Giannino Castiglioni and Luciano Minguzzi. Today the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo is the institution entrusted with the conservation of the cathedral and is responsible for the structural and aesthetic preservation of the monument. As they are constantly planning the necessary maintenance works, the Milanese use to say "fabrica del Domm" when they refer to a never-ending work.