Russell J.T. Dyer

Duomo and Piazza della Duomo

The Duomo is the cathedral and considered by many to be the very center of Milan—along with the Castle. These photographs are taken inside and outside of the Duomo and from the Piazza dei Duomo. Built primarily in the 14th and 15th centuries, but continuously tweaked to this day, it's fairly impressive from the outside and awesome from inside. The exterior presents about thirty-five hundred statues of individual saints, angels, and gargoyles. The interior contains fifty-two columns which are enormous in width and height, as well as an intricate alter and sacristy with magnificent pipe organ and built over an underground crypt containing the remains of Saint Charles Boromeo. Besides the usual elaborate stained glass windows and statues, the cathedral includes large oil paintings. In front of the Duomo is Milan's largest plaza. It contains a statue of one of the last kings of Italy, Vitorio Emanuelle II, along with the famous Galleria (see Galleria album).