Milan Cathedral (Duomo), set in the center of the city, took five centuries to build and is the 4th-largest church in the world.  All streets in Milan radiate from the church, indicating that it occupies the most important site in the city.  From the outside, the cathedral appears something like a fairy tale wedding cake, with an entire forest of spires that look like sugar frosting from a distance.  The main spire, 357 feet high, was topped in 1762 with a polychrome statue of the Madonna to whom the church is dedicated.  By law, no building in the city can be higher than this beloved statue.

Indeed, the Duomo is an elaborate Gothic cathedral and one of the most famous buildings in Europe - the largest Gothic cathedral in Europe and the 2nd largest Catholic cathedral in the world.  Begun in 1386 in the Late Gothic style that is more characteristic of France than Italy, the cathedral was largely complete in the 1880's.  The exterior is made of brick faced with marble.  There's no bell tower.  Some un-carved blocks of marble will still be found lying around the church, and these will eventually be turned into statues.

The roofline of Milan Cathedral, features openwork pinnacles, punctuated by a grove of spires.  The main spire is 357 feet high.  A special feature is that one can have an up-close, breathtaking walk on this roof.  Take the stairs or an elevator to the top.  With good weather you can see the Italian and Swiss Alps.

The cathedral has been under major renovations for many years and there were always portions of the building covered.  Finally completed in 2009 and newly cleaned, the church can finally be seen in all its glory.