Sporting 135 spires and 3200 statues, Milan’s Duomo takes pride in being the world’s largest Gothic cathedral. The roof of the cathedral offers spectacular view over Milan along with the exotic close up view of the spires and statues. Dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente (Saint Mary Nascent), the cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Cardinal Angelo Scola.
The interior of the cathedral includes numerous monuments and artworks. These include:
- The Archbishop Alberto da Intimiano’s sarcophagus, which is overlooked by a Crucifix in copper laminae (a replica).
- The sarcophagi of the archbishops Ottone Visconti and Giovanni Visconti, created by a Campionese master in the 14th century.
- The sarcophagus of Marco Carelli, who donated 35,000 ducati to accelerate the construction of the cathedral.
- The three magnificent altars by Pellegrino Pellegrini.
- The monument to Gian Giacomo Medici di Marignano, called “Medeghino”, by Leone Leoni, and the adjacent Renaissance marble altar, decorated with gilt bronze statues.
- In front of the former mausoleum is the most renowned work of art of the cathedral, the St. Bartholomew statue by Marco D’Agrate.
- The transepts house the Trivulzio Candelabrum, which is in two pieces. The base (attributed to Nicolas of Verdun, 12th century), characterized by a fantastic ensemble of vines, vegetables and imaginary animals; and the stem, of the mid-16th century.
- A small red light bulb in the dome above the apse marks the spot where one of the nails reputedly from the Crucifixion of Christ has been placed. The Holy Nail is retrieved and exposed to the public every year, during a celebration known as the Rite of the Nivola.
- The 5-manual, 225-rank pipe-organ, built jointly by the Tamburini and Mascioni Italian organ building firms on Mussolini’s command, is currently the largest organ in all of Italy