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Milan Cathedral Facts & Worksheets

The Milan Cathedral is considered an architectural symbol of Milan and is proclaimed as one of the largest cathedrals in the world

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The Milan Cathedral is a Gothic-inspired church constructed over five centuries by different artists, architects, and sculptors. It is considered an architectural symbol of Milan and is proclaimed as one of the largest cathedrals in the world.

See the fact file below for more information on the Milan Cathedral or alternatively, you can download our 27-page Milan Cathedral worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY AND BACKGROUND

  • Milan Cathedral, also known as the Duomo di Milano is one of the most majestic and oldest cathedrals. Duomo is an Italian term that means cathedral or house of God. This church is situated in Milan, Italy, in the Piazza del Duomo. It is known for its statues, gargoyles, and figures, one of which is its famous Madonnina or the golden statue of Mary. 
  • The cathedral is also home to one of the nails used in Jesus’ cross, when it was relocated from the basilica of Santa Tecla in Milan, Italy, in 1461. The Holy Nail is displayed in the apse (semicircular recess) every year to celebrate the Rite of the Nivola. 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT

  • The Milan Cathedral was constructed from 1386 until 1965, wherein it faced irregular construction due to a deficiency of funds. It took 579 years to be established.
  • Its was constructed to expand the recognition and territory of the Visconti family in northern Italy.
  • The duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo-Visconti ordered that pink-hued white Candoglia marble be used for its construction rather than ordinary brick drafted from the quarry in  Lake Maggiore
  • In 1387, the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo was instituted for the planning and construction of the cathedral. 
  • The long period and inconsistency of assembling the tower made it possible for many artists and architects to contribute to designing the church, and one of those was Leonardo da Vinci. 
  • In 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned the King of Italy in the Milan Cathedral. 
  • The cathedral was initially designed to represent Gothic architecture but added to with Neo-Classical and Baroque styles.
  • The exterior of the Cathedral showcases its decorative and dazzling structure, including its pinnacles and spires ornamented with statues, finials and tracery, carved doors, and flying buttresses. 

STRUCTURE AND DESIGN

  • The cathedral’s tower has 135 spires, the highest of which is the spire of Madonnina, constructed by Francesco Croce, measuring 108 meters. Moreover, no building in Milan is higher than this spire, and all other skyscrapers in the area have a similar replica on top.
  • The cathedral’s interior elicits an opposite aesthetic and dark ambiance compared to the exterior, boasting its gothic ceiling, nave, stained glass windows, marble floor, groin vaults, columns, apse, etc., all ornamented with sacred motifs. 
  • A total of 3,400 figures and 96 gargoyles that decorate the whole building were contributed by numerous artists and sculptors. 
  • The cathedral was designed in crucifix form covering an area of 12, 000 square meters with a length of 157 meters and a width of 92 meters. The area is estimated to accommodate a total of 35,000 to 40, 000 people. 
  • The cathedral floor is made from Candoglia marble, black marble, and red marble and was designed by Pellegrino in 1585.
  • The roof of the cathedral is accessible and a good spot for overlooking the city of Milan. 

SCULPTURE: THE MADONNINA

  • The Madonnina, or the Virgin Mary statue, is one of the hallmarks of the cathedral. This statue serves as the emblem, heart, and soul of the city of Milan. 
  • The golden statue was constructed by sculptor Giuseppe Perego and placed at the top of the great spire. Its construction was decided in 1769 and completed in 1733. 
  • In 1939 and during WWII, the golden statue of Madonnina was covered with cloth to avoid being a target for bombs. This lasted for five years until it was removed in 1945. 
  • In the 18th century, the Madonnina statue had a height of 108.5 meters, but due to restorations and regilding, it currently measures 4.16 meters. Moreover, the figure comprises 33 copper plates, 399, 200 kilograms of concrete, 384 800 kilograms of stainless steel, and an estimated 4 750 – 6 750 sheets of 24k gold. 
  • In 2012, the regilding of the Madonnina and the revamping of the great spire was done. 
  • The flag of Italy is hoisted on important events such as the recollection of the Five Days of Milan revolution in 1848. 

SCULPTURE: ST. BARTHOLOMEW FLAYED

  • “St. Bartholomew Flayed” is one of the most notable sculptures in the Duomo di Milano. Marco d’Agrate created the sculpture in 1562, a gruesome art that depicts the martyrdom of St. Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. 
  • After the ascension of Jesus Christ, Bartholomew traveled to Armenia and India and shared the word of God. 
  • He converted people from the east, including the Armenian King named Polymius. This conversion enraged the king’s brother and he ordered him to kill the apostle.  This became grounds for him to reach his untimely and gruesome demise. 
  • The sculpture showcases a skeletal figure of a man with protruding muscles, tendons, and veins, holding a bible and a knife. His body is draped with a stole, but this cloth-like thing was his actual skin. This references how he was skinned alive due to his Christian faith. 
  • Hagiography states that St. Bartholomew was skinned alive and beheaded after converting a king to Christianity. However, another narrative asserted that he was crucified upside down in the same way as St. Peter. 
  • In the 16th century, the sculpture became a focus of interest for many as it is a combination of faith and science exhibiting the gruesome death of a Christian martyr simultaneously representing a human anatomical model. 
  • This art was once placed outside the Cathedral but was moved inside to the right wing of the Cathedral’s transept in 1664. The celebration of the feast of St. Bartholomew is done every 24th of August. 
  • Below the statue is a carving from the sculptor saying, “Non me Praxiteles, sed Marcus finxit Agrates” which means “I was not sculpted by Praxiteles, but by Marco d’Agrate.” This saying is not directly related to the meaning of the effigy but a reminder that the authorship of the art is by Marco d’Agrate and not by Praxiteles, a renowned ancient Greek sculptor. 

Milan Cathedral Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Milan Cathedral across 27 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about the Milan Cathedral which is a Gothic-inspired church constructed over five centuries by different artists, architects, and sculptors.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Milan Cathedral Facts 
  • Churchscape
  • Identify me! Cruciform Plan
  • Faith and Art
  • History of the Cathedral 
  • Who was the Apostle?
  • Let me know how you feel? 
  • Duomo Trip
  • Duomo’s Facade
  • What’s my Role?
  • Exploration!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is Milan Cathedral so famous?

The Milan Cathedral, named after the city it was built in – Milan, Italy, is considered one of the world’s most majestic and oldest cathedrals. It is known for its statues, gargoyles, and figures, one of which is its famous Madonnina or the golden statue of Mary. A total of 3,400 figures and 96 gargoyles that decorate the whole building were contributed by numerous artists and sculptors.

Q: What is the history of the Milan Cathedral?

The construction of the Milan Cathedral spanned over five centuries primarily caused by budget constraints. Constructed to expand the influence and territory of the Duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo-Visconti, pink-hued white Candoglia marble was used instead of ordinary bricks. Because the cathedral was constructed over a very long period, many architects and artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, had a hand in its design and construction.

Q: What was the architectural style of the Milan Cathedral?

The cathedral was initially designed to represent Gothic architecture, through the years, Neo-Classical and Baroque styles were also incorporated. The exterior of the Cathedral has a decorative and dazzling structure with its spires and statues, numerous gargoyles contributed by various artists and sculptors, and the interior floor boasts Candoglia, black, and red marbles, and to cap it off the two most prominent sculptures called Madonnina and St. Bartholomew FLayed.

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Link will appear as Milan Cathedral Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, June 17, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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