Which cathedral in Milan is famous for its forest of marble pinnacles and statues?

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Milan Cathedral is famous for its forest of marble pinnacles and statues.

Known in Italian as the Duomo di Milano, the cathedral is one of Europe's largest churches and a major masterpiece of Italian Gothic architecture. Construction began in 1386 under the Visconti rulers, and the building developed over many centuries with contributions from architects, engineers, sculptors, and craftsmen.

Its exterior is faced largely in pale Candoglia marble and is crowded with spires, pinnacles, tracery, and statuary. The roof can be visited, allowing visitors to see the architectural details at close range and view Milan from above. The central spire carries the Madonnina, a gilded copper statue of the Virgin Mary installed in 1774.

The cathedral is sometimes called simply the Duomo, but that word means cathedral or major church in Italian and is not unique to Milan. Its long construction history also means it cannot be assigned to one architect alone.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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