It may be touristy, but Milan’s number one attraction is certainly not to be missed, even for the offbeat traveler. The main piazza, far from being covered in snow normally, is actually covered in pigeons and people trying to sell you things. Be careful! A man actually came up to me, tied a bracelet to my wrist and then demanded 5euro for the piece of string. I gave him 2 euro and said ‘go away’. I imagine that’s better than what most people do!
You do need to cover your shoulders and wear pants to visit this Cathedral, as you do for most Catholic Churches in Italy. So on my visit, although it was a scorching 90 degrees outside, I was wearing jeans and a short sleeve shirt. No tank tops ladies!
The facade is worth more than a cursory glance. Here is one of the many carvings on the facade. You can see that the hands of Chris in this depiction are bright gold (well, if my photography were better you could see), from pilgrims rubbing and touching them.
Inside, you may be surprised at how dark the Cathedral is. Indeed, the lighting was terrible for my photos! But after your eyes adjust you’ll be treated to stained glass windows, beautiful tile floors and three ornate altars. I particularly enjoyed watching people light candles. The tall pillars made a beautiful arrangement as they melted, all different heights.
By far the most amazing thing about the Cathedral is the degree of sculpture on the spires. You can get an up-close view of this handiwork if you take the stairs to the top of the Cathedral.
Yes, you can walk around on top of the building, overlooking all of Milan. Don’t take the elevator if you can avoid it, the journey up is wonderful. Take your time to admire the many statues of saints, intricate spires and of course the skyline.
