MILAN CATHEDRAL

The history of the Milan Cathedral is filled with moments of great cultural, religious, and political importance. The cathedral was originally commissioned by the then lord of Milan to replace a similar structure that stood on the same site before this cathedral. Pope Martin V consecrated the site of the altar in the year 1418.

The construction of the structure was abandoned for a while in 1402 when the financial resources were scarce, but architectural discussions continued in relation to it long after that. The fact that it was never fully abandoned speaks volumes to the historically important role it has played in the cultural and religious fabric of Italy and Western Europe in general.

At various stages of its construction, a number of ingenious and unprecedented artistic decisions were made, which added to the vibrancy of the structure. Napoleon Bonaparte made intense renovations in the cathedral after he was crowned king of Italy, from 1807 to 1813. The structure was also severely impacted by a bombing in 1943, after which renovation work was taken up that could only be completed by 1965.  

The design and construction of the Milan Cathedral reflect its history of piecemeal progress as far as constructions and repairs are concerned. It is the second largest cathedral in the world and around forty thousand people can fit comfortably within its premises.

The huge building is composed of Candoglia marble and a craftsmen's guild known as the Fabbrica del Duomo was appointed to build this iconic structure. Each of these artisans, craftsmen and builders were called from different areas of Europe and therefore the historical structure consists of distinct motifs from different parts of the continent. 

The design of the monument reflects a shift in religious and aesthetic priorities in Western Europe from the 14th century until the 20th century. It is important to note that religious structures hold a lot of distinct sociological importance.

The cathedral’s structures represent religious superiority and political reassertion. The lower parts of the cathedral show a lot more of a Renaissance influence, while the upper parts of the cathedral, including the façade, have a Gothic design. 

The Milan Cathedral is one of those monuments that has become a landmark of Milan. There are some interesting elements to its interior and exterior design, which are as follows:

- Presence of Side Aisles:
This design ensures that there is more floor space, as well as room for clerestory windows (which are essentially a series of windows arranged above eye-level, and are meant solely for illumination). It is due to the presence of the side aisles that the Milan Cathedral has the conventional look of a grand church. 

- Modular Design:
A module in architectural terms is an arbitrary term used to organize relative dimensions of different elements inside a particular premise, and the cathedral was also constructed on this basis. Milan cathedral has a modular shape, and its dimensions are based on the repeating units.

While the nave is double in width from the aisles, the width of the transept and width of the nave is nine times the module which gives a very magnanimous and unique appeal to the cathedral. 

- The difference in Influences:
The design of Milan cathedral is highly differentiated in the lower and upper ends, especially for the façade because it was constructed over the span of six hundred years. While the lower ends are designed a lot more in the Renaissance style, the upper parts of the structure are a lot more Gothic in design. 

Being a structure with immense historical, cultural, and religious importance, the Milan Cathedral is truly unique. There are a number of interesting facts that showcase how important it has been across centuries:

- The cathedral is the 5th biggest church in the world and the 3rd largest catholic church in the world. The only four churches that outdo its size are the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil, Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, and Seville’s Cathedral. 

- The cathedral includes 3,400 statues, 135 gargoyles, and 700 figures, making it the building with the widest number of statues in the entire world. 

- It is located near the entrance of the cathedral and serves as a timepiece as the ray of sunlight enters here from a hole on the opposite side of the structure to mark the beginning of the summer and winter’. 

- It is a miraculous structure in the history of construction and architecture and it took six years for the construction of the catedral.

- The layout of Milan city is based on the cathedral and the streets have been built circling or radiating it.

- It is ninety two meters wide, and one fifty eight meters long and the church is inspired by the latin cross form. 

- The cathedral features a huge variety of architectural designs as the architects were appointed from various countries such as Germany, France, Italy and other European regions. 

- Milan cathedral’s roof is open to the public for a very nominal fee and you have to climb six stone stairways to reach the roof.