- Year construction began, according to Wikipedia
- 1386
- Height of the Central Terrace, the highest point visitors can reach
- 45 m
- Spires on the building, per the cathedral's own terraces page
- 135
The cathedral at a glance
Milan’s cathedral stands on Piazza del Duomo and is built in the Gothic style. Wikipedia says construction began in 1386 and the last portal was inaugurated on 6 January 1965, so the job took the best part of six centuries.
The cathedral’s own terraces page counts about 135 spires, most of them around 17 metres tall. It also lists over 3,400 statues and 150 gargoyles. The tallest spire, the Main Spire, was built from 1765 to 1770 and carries the gilded copper Madonnina, which was put in place at the end of 1774.
Tickets, hours and what the complex includes
The Duomo is a group of sites, not a single building. The cathedral’s visitor regulations name the cathedral, the Duomo Museum, the rooftops, the Crypt of St Charles, the Baptistery of San Giovanni alle Fonti archaeological area and the Church of San Gottardo in Corte in the Royal Palace, among others. They also say entry is for ticket holders, so plan on a ticket even if you only want to see the inside.
We have not given prices or opening hours here. The Duomo’s own ticket site was behind a waiting-room page when we tried it, so we could not check them, and that includes the museum’s hours. Use the cathedral’s website for current ticket types, prices and times. The regulations warn that hours, and even the way you go up to and down from the roof, can change at short notice for weather or safety reasons. They also recommend buying online to avoid queues at the ticket offices.
If you would rather book through a third party, two of the tours we list include the roof. One is a plain entry ticket for the cathedral and terraces. The other is a guided visit that goes up by lift and also takes in the Duomo Museum and the church of San Gottardo. Prices and ratings are on the tour cards.
The rooftop terraces
The roof has two levels. The terraces page puts the first level at around 31 metres above ground, running round the whole edge of the building. The second level is the Central Terrace at 45 metres, described as the highest point visitors can reach today. It covers about 1,530 square metres, roughly the floor area of the main nave inside. On a clear day the view takes in Milan and the mountains around the Po Valley.
Stairs or lift? The terraces page says you can reach the roof on foot or by lift, and that two steep stairways lead from the first level to the second. The accessibility page says wheelchair users can reach the first terrace only, and only the back choir area of it. So for the Central Terrace, expect stairs. The page gives no step count, and we have not verified any figure quoted elsewhere.
Underfoot. The regulations say some areas are slippery, steep and uneven, and not all stairs have handrails. They ask for comfortable shoes on the rooftops. The cathedral may also suspend roof visits in extreme bad weather. If the view is the reason you are going, pick a clear, dry day. Our best time to visit guide covers the seasons.
Dress code, security and bags
The regulations say visitors must be dressed appropriately. Sleeveless or low-cut clothing, shorts, miniskirts and hats are not permitted inside the cathedral. In warm weather, carry a light layer to put over bare shoulders, and wear trousers or a longer skirt.
You also pass a brief security check before entering, which can extend to bags and rucksacks. It is run by the public safety authorities. Luggage, bags and large rucksacks are not permitted. The regulations do not define “large”, so travel light and leave anything bulky at your hotel.
Food and drink are not allowed, except water and medication. Inside, keep your voice down and put your phone on silent. The regulations also rule out smoking, phone calls and sunbathing on the roof and the parvis, the open area in front of the cathedral.
Getting there from Sforza Castle
The simplest route is the metro. On Line 1, Cairoli station sits on Largo Cairoli near the castle, and the stations run Cairoli, Cordusio, Duomo. That is two stops. Duomo is also an interchange with Line 3.
On foot, take Via Dante. Wikipedia says it runs between Largo Cairoli by the castle and Piazza Cordusio, and that it was made fully pedestrian in 1996. It is lined with shops, restaurants, cafés and bars. From Cordusio the cathedral square is a short way further on. We have no sourced walking time, so check your map app before setting off.
Our getting there page covers the rest of Milan’s transport, and visiting Sforza Castle has the castle’s hours. Next to the cathedral square, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the glass-roofed arcade that leads on towards La Scala.
