Duomo di Milano, Lombardy, Italy

4ElsieF499 5:00 PM Jul 14, 2022

Arrive early to avoid the crowds
The must see sight in Milan. I booked tickets online the day before and selected the 9.30 time slot (9am was the earliest). I arrived at 9.20 there was no queue and they let me straight in. If you are able to get there first thing before the crowds arrive then there’s no need for a fast track or beat the line ticket. It is worth noting the entrance to the roof is not via the cathedral, there is a separate entrance around the side. I had intended to go to the roof first before it got too hot (38 degrees forecast!) but entered the cathedral and then found out about the separate entrance. As a result I rushed the cathedral a bit, but in the end it turned out the exit from the roof was into the cathedral which gave me a second chance to explore. The roof is amazing and a must do, you really appreciate the majesty of it the sculpture from up close. I took the stairs and it wasn’t too bad a climb. The steps are wide and open so is easier to walk up than other churches I have experienced. I was a little out of puff by the top but only a little, anyone with a basic level of fitness should be able to manage it. The inside of the cathedral itself was impressive but not standout in my opinion. It probably would be more meaningful to people of faith who would probably have been able to identify the saints/disciples in the various sculptures and the biblical scenes in the stained glass windows. The archaeological site was interesting but a little hard to understand as most of the information was in Italian. The ticket also includes entry to the Duomo Museum which is mostly sculptures, essentially the practice models for the cathedral. It was interesting enough to wander through but I was glad I hadn’t paid separately for it. What was more impressive was the free art exhibitions in the same building, the former royal palace. The palace has seen better days (crumbling plaster work) but there was something quite charming about a crumbling palace being used to display art. There were hardly any people in the exhibits, they weren’t well signposted. I recommend taking a look at what’s on once you’ve finished with the Duomo, the exhibits I went to were on the first hall.

4Colette S 5:00 PM Oct 1, 2022

Milan's number one tourist attraction could be more tourist-friendly
Given that this was my third visit to Milan, I felt it was about time I took the plunge and ventured inside this cathedral instead of just photographing myself outside of it. The interior of the cathedral is just alright. It's impressive for its size and its stonework but compared to other religious buildings I've been in, I wouldn't say it was very rich in artwork (excluding some beautiful stained glass windows to the back of the building). The problem perhaps lies with the lack of information in English available to the tourist. Only for listening in to various tour guides making their way around the cathedral, I wouldn't have discovered that the cathedral has been under constant construction since the 14th century until 1965. There are archaeological remains underneath the cathedral that I would recommend going down into but again, the information here is very sparse for the non-Italian speaker. I would recommend getting the combined ticket that grants you access to the rooftop terrace. That was amazing with stunning 365 degree views of the city. You could easily spend an hour up there wandering around. At €20 a ticket (to use the lift to access the terrace, €15 without), the experience felt a bit over-priced. Milan is a city famous for its museums and shops. The Duomo is kind of the big attraction of the city. For that reason, I would say give it a try but I would keep my expectations low.