✌️ If you are going to Milan, there is a very good chance that you will soon arrive at one of the most brilliant churches in Europe - the Duomo cathedral.

Access should not cause you much trouble. You'll get here from almost every part of Milan. From Milano Centrale, the cathedral is almost in a straight line. There is also a metro station at the cathedral - a bus stop, and how, Duomo.

After getting to the place, your eyes will appear like an uninhibited building that overwhelms you.

It is the largest building of this type in Italy (not counting St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican) and one of the largest in the world. Its construction lasted almost 600 years. Stormy 600 years, during which the concepts of its creation changed. Among other things, the cathedral is a combination of several architectural styles. The works started in 1386, to finish them in 1965. Over 100 architects and engineers participated in them. To a large extent, the cathedral was financed by donations that the city's inhabitants offered for its construction.

In 1805, Napoleon was crowned in the cathedral of the king of Italy.

To get inside and take advantage of the best attractions inside, I recommend buying a Duomo Pass ticket. Depending on whether you want to get to the terraces by stairs or lift, the ticket price is 12 or 16 euros respectively. The mentioned terraces are included (worth!), Entrance to the cathedral, museum and baptistry. Personally, I do not see the sense and need to pay extra for an elevator. This option is only for lazy people.

Keep in mind that you can only enter inside the appropriate outfit. Covered arms, pants over the knees. Gentlemen, the guards are quite rigorous about this order.

As for the inner cathedral itself, it makes an amazing impression. If you've ever been to the Sagrada Familia, you know what I'm talking about. The interior of the cathedral is Gothic, with monumental columns and stained glass windows, which belong to one of the largest in the world.

One of the most famous sculptures in the cathedral is the chisel of Marco d'Agrate depicting Saint. Bartolomeo, stripped of skin, which is girded. The details of muscles and tendons are mainly moving.

Under the main altar there is a crypt in which there are relics of St. Charles Borromeo - Archbishop of Milan in the 16th century.

Right next to the main entrance door there is a descent to the archaeological zone. In it I see the remains of the early Christian cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore and the church of St. Tekla.

Complementing the sightseeing (and for some of its most important point) is the entrance to the terraces (de facto it is the roof of the cathedral). You can not only see the entire panorama of the city from there, but also the Alps!

On the roof there are 135 pinnacles (turrets in Gothic architecture) ending with a flower and a sculpture. They not only have a decorative role, but also relieve the buttress and ensure the stability of the building. The sculptures on the top of the pinnacles are 3-4 m high but look like matches from the ground.

I heartily recommend visiting this place. Or have you already been here?

In the next post - Lake Garda! Wait for it!

@lashotta