Milan Cathedral, the Duomo, is the cathedral church of Milan and one of the largest churches in Europe. Its construction began in 1386 on the initiative of Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo and was strongly backed by the city's ruler, Gian Galeazzo Visconti. It is built in a late Gothic style unusual in Italy, with a marble facade and a forest of pinnacles and spires, and the marble came from quarries at Candoglia, transported by canal. The work continued for centuries and was only completed in the twentieth century. Napoleon, who had himself crowned King of Italy in the cathedral in 1805, ordered the facade to be finished. The gilded statue of the Madonnina, placed on the highest spire in 1774, is the symbol of the city.
Before and after
- 8 January 1379Birth of Callixtus III
- from 30 May 1381 to 1 November 1381Peasants' Revolt of 1381
- 1385Construction of Bodiam Castle
- 1386Construction of Heidelberg University
- 1386Construction of Milan Cathedral
- 1386Birth of Donatello
- from 1386 to 1395Tokhtamysh–Timur War
- 1387Publication of The Canterbury Tales
- from 1389 to 1392Lithuanian Civil War of 1389–92
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- 691 CEConstruction of Dome of the Rock
- 1066Construction of Tower of London
- from 1368 to 1644Ming dynasty
- from 1370 to 1789Construction of Bastille
- from 1438 to 1533Inca Empire
- 1473Construction of Sistine Chapel
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 14th century.