Milan Cathedral

Milan Cathedral is a Gothic cathedral dedicated to Saint Mary of the Nativity and the seat of the Archbishop of Milan. Its vast scale, forest of spires, and richly sculpted marble exterior define the city’s central landmark.

Gothic architecture: A medieval architectural style characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and expansive window openings. The cathedral adopts Gothic forms while developing them on an unusually monumental scale.
Gian Galeazzo Visconti: The first Duke of Milan, who ruled from 1395 until his death in 1402. His patronage and political ambitions helped launch the cathedral’s construction.
Archdiocese of Milan: The Roman Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction centered in Milan and led by its archbishop. The cathedral is the archdiocese’s principal church.
Milan Cathedral façade: The cathedral’s monumental west front, completed in stages and finished in the early nineteenth century. Its layered styles record the long delay between the building’s foundation and façade completion.
Flying buttress: An exterior arch that transfers the thrust of a roof or vault to a supporting pier. These supports help carry the outward forces of the cathedral’s high stone vaults.
Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano: The institution established in 1387 to oversee the construction and maintenance of Milan Cathedral. It has managed the cathedral’s building work and upkeep across generations.
Ambrosian Rite: A Western liturgical tradition used chiefly in the Archdiocese of Milan. Worship in the cathedral follows the local rite associated with Saint Ambrose.
Milan Cathedral apse: The eastern end of Milan Cathedral, containing its high altar and monumental stained-glass windows. The apse preserves major medieval glazing and the cathedral’s principal sanctuary.
Rib vault: A vault whose framework of intersecting arches supports and organizes its ceiling surfaces. Ribbed vaulting structures the cathedral’s lofty interior bays.
Simone da Orsenigo: A Milanese architect and engineer associated with the cathedral’s early construction. He directed the project during its initial phase after work began.

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