Piazza del Duomo

Piazza del Duomo is Milan's central civic square, dominated by the extraordinary Gothic facade of the Duomo di Milano, one of the largest cathedrals in the world. Construction of the cathedral began in 1386 under Gian Galeazzo Visconti and continued across nearly five centuries, producing a skyline of 135 spires and more than 3,400 statues that make the building unlike any other in Italy. The square itself has long served as the symbolic heart of the city, flanked by the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade and the Royal Palace.

Visitors can explore the cathedral's vast interior, which houses the largest stained-glass windows in Christendom, before ascending to the marble terraces for close views of the spires and a panorama across Milan toward the Alps. The cathedral's museum holds centuries of sculptural and decorative treasures removed from the exterior for conservation. Guided tours of the area also take in the surrounding city centre and Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie nearby.