Milan Cathedral
Exterior of Milan cathedral
Milan Cathedral, Duomo di Santa Maria nascente ( Lombard dialect Dom de Milan ) is one of the most famous structures in Italy and Europe and the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Milan. He is after St. Peter's in the Vatican and the Cathedral of Seville in terms of area, the third largest church in the world. The five-aisled cathedral is 157 meters long and 109 meters wide. The tall, colorful glass windows of the choir are among the largest in the world and represent a landmark in itself Represents the unique by the bright marble and the nearly 4,000 statues building was consecrated in 1572 by Charles Borromeo in the name of Santa Maria nascente and thus contributes the patronal feast Nativity of Mary.
- 2.2.1 Central Portal
- 2.2.2 Left Aisle
- 2.2.3 Right aisle
- 2.2.4 presbytery
- 2.2.5 Holy Cross Nail
- 2.2.6 crypt
- 2.2.7 vestries
- 2.2.8 Cathedral
- 2.2.9 meridian line
History of the cathedral
Previously, there were at the site of a pagan temple after the early Christian cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore and the slightly larger Roman basilica, which was later consecrated the Holy Tecla. Both went back to the fourth century and were repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt changed.
The construction of the cathedral was in 1386 on the initiative of Bishop Antonio Saluzzo by the Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the first Duke of Milan, started and completed only in the nineties of the 19th century. 1388 the foundations were laid and the construction of the outer walls of a three-nave church " from behind " started, that is, from the apse - the facade should be built until the end. In 1391 the plan was changed to a five-aisled church, in the following year the building was erected in increasing height, as the first character of the emerging Gothic style, which will dominate the whole building. Giovannino de ' Grassi 1393 sketched designs for the windows of the apse, which were used by Filipino degli Organi in the 15th century as a template. The construction of the Vierungsturmes caused great problems ( static, appearance ). Gian Galeazzo Maria Sforza picked up by Giovanni Nexenberger, Leonardo da Vinci, Donato Bramante and Giovanni Antonio Amadeo support. The latter also designed the tower, which was built in 1490 by Dolcebuono.
The facade is a chapter in itself: In the first half of the 16th century, a design for a façade with two flanking towers was Vincenzo Seregni presented. The draft but was covered by Archbishop Carlo Borromeo, the ( called Il Pellegrino ) Pellegrino Tibaldi made to the cathedral architect. This saw instead of Gothic, now as " German " and " Protestant " connoted facade such a Roman style, so the style of the Renaissance before. 1577 the chancel was opened after it had been completely redesigned. Pellegrino design of the facade was partially realized in the 17th century by Richini. But it also made many other ( Milan ) Architects ( Bassi, Richini, Tibaldi, Castelli, Buzzi ) a proposal for the facade, which the neo-Gothic design again by Carlo Buzzi was followed by five pinnacles, backed by fields on.
It was only in the order of Napoleon, who was crowned King of Italy in the Cathedral on 26 May 1805, the facade of Giuseppe Zanola was further built and finished in 1813 by Amati. 1858 the bell tower was demolished and completed the pinnacles at the beginning of the nineties of the 19th century. Giuseppe Brentano victorious competition design of 1887 /88, providing for a consistent neo-Gothic façade remained unrealized. The bronze doors are from Italian artists from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Again and again the question of the monumental character of the cathedral reasonable Campanile was discussed. Seregni and Buzzi had submitted plans with two towers. Recently it was said in 1938, the project of a certain Vico Viganò from 1927 will soon be realized, as a " tower of the commemoration of the victory and glory " ( " Torre delle Memorie delle Vittorie e delle glory "). The so- called bell tower was the tallest spire in the world and will be completed along with bells until 1942. Lack Gloria and Vittoria, this remained unfulfilled favored by Benito Mussolini project.
Appearance
The style of church architecture is Gothic and so within the period of Italian architecture an exception as However, the facade, which was only completed under Napoleon, should rather be considered as a mixture of baroque and neo-Gothic styles. The large, prestigious Cathedral Square was not created until 1865 to 1873.
The exterior of the cathedral
The side walls of the Cathedral date from the 15th to the 18th centuries and are interrupted by rhythmic fialengekrönte buttresses and windows. In the transepts ( Transepten ) the buttresses are duplicated here in the interior stairs lead up. The tip is provided with fine ornamental plant. The walls are decorated with more than 2,000 sculptures and 135 pinnacles, which give an overview of the sculpture of local artists and artisans from that time, but also on the stone carving of foreign professionals.
The roof
A special feature is the tourists (for a fee ) accessible roof. It is alternatively accessible via stairs or a lift. From there you have a magnificent view of the details of the stone masonry of the cathedral. Furthermore, you can enjoy the panorama of the entire city and on clear days the Alps.
The crossing tower
The octagonal lantern tower of Amadeo was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. On the central spire emblazoned a highly visible golden Madonna statue, popularly called La Madonnina ( in the unofficial anthem O mia bela Milan city Madunina sung ). This was created by Giuseppe Perego and placed the mid- sixties of the 18th century.
The interior of the cathedral
The internal shape of the dome is that of a Latin cross with five ships - the nave is twice as wide as the aisles - and includes a three-nave transept and a choir bordered by two vestries. 52 fret pillars divide the space, which are usually crowned by capitals with niches that are decorated with figures of saints, which in turn are completed by ornate gables with prophetic figures. The windows are made of stained glass panels. The floor of the cathedral was begun in 1885 and not completed until the mid-20th century. It is made of marble and stone and is decorated with marquetry.
Central portal
The central portal is by statues of Sts. Ambrose and Carlo, and a memorial stone ( to the two consecrations ) flanked. A narrow staircase leads to the archaeological excavations ( remains of old churches ) and the former baptistery, in which St. Augustine was baptized in 387 by Bishop Ambrose.
Left Aisle
Here are altars from the 16th to the 19th century important for art ( marble slabs from the 12th century with figures of the Apostles and that wooden cross, which was supported by the 1576 St. Charles during the plague in the procession ). Furthermore, the baptistery with a Roman tub, which originally stood in the nave, was moved here in the 17th century. The left transept houses the Trivulzio candelabrum (early 13th century)
Right aisle
Side altars from the 14th and 15th centuries many tombs of saints and founders are kept. The windows were made by Flemish, Lombard and Rhenish artists in the 15th century. The right transept with the tomb of Gian Giacomo Medici ( known as Il Meneghino ) is as the left decorated with beautiful statues and decorated, among other things, with the statue of St. Bartholomew flayed by Marco d' Agrate from the year 1562nd
Presbytery
Pellegrini built in the 2nd Hölfte of the 16th century presbytery enclosed by a wooden choir, inflated in the middle has the sanctuary. The main altar from the 13th century was inaugurated in 1418 and surmounted by a pavilion (16th century), where the tabernacle is to wear the four bronze angels. About the pavilion stands a statue representing the triumph of Christ.
Holy Cross Nail
Under the vaulted top of the Holy Nail is kept in a separate tabernacle, which is brought down only once a year under strict safety conditions solemnly to worship while under military guard.
Crypt
From Pellegrino dates from the year 1606, the circular crypt, which lies directly below the sanctuary. From here you can go to Scurolo di San Carlo, an octagonal chapel, which contains in a crystal urn the mortal remains of St. Charles.
Vestries
The two vestries located on either side of the sanctuary and date from the 14th century.
Cathedral
The cathedral treasury houses treasures of immense value, including a silver casket, which was given by Pope St. Ambrose in the 4th century.
Meridian line
In the cathedral of Milan there is a meridian line of brass, which is embedded in the ground. Through a small hole in the vault of the light from the sun falls on this line and thus forms at lunch time, so the peak of the sun, a small circle of light on the meridian line from. Since changes of the sun peaking over the course of the year, the circle moves along the line and moves toward the center line. He is then, for example, on July 22 at 13:30 clock on the meridian line. ( The timing of the sun is depends on the date. )
Others
In the open-air - conditioning Swiss model in Melide TI ( Switzerland ), a walk-in model of the cathedral is in 1:25 scale.
- Length: 157.00 m
- Width ( in the transept ): 92.00 m
- Width ( nave ): 16.75 m
- Height ( keel ): 45.00 m
- Height of the columns: 24,50 m
- Diameter of column: 3.40 m
- Height of the central octagon: 65,50 m
- Height of the peak: 106.50 m
- Height of the statue of Our Lady of La Madonnina: 4.16 m
- Dimensions of the window in the apse: 20,70 mx 8,50 m
- Total area of the cathedral: 11,000 m²
The cathedral in the literature
" What a miracle it is! So grand, so solemn, so vast! And yet so delicate, so airy, so graceful! A world of solid weight, and yet seems ... a delusion of an ice sculpture that could vanish with a breath! ... The central of its five great doors is bordered by a bas-relief of birds and fruits and beasts and insects, which have been carved so awesome out of the marble that they are similar to living creatures - and the figures are so numerous and the design so complex, that one might study it a week without exhausting its interest ... everywhere a niche or a prop in the enormous building from the summit can be found to the bottom, there is a marble statue, and every statue is a study in itself ... Far above, on the high roof, number jumps to number of carved and sawed tower high in the air, and through their rich tracery one sees the sky above ... up on the roof, the ... rises from its broad marble tiles, were long rows of turrets that very high looked up close, but reduced in the distance ... We could see now that the statues on the top of each the size of a great man had, although it from the street all looked like dolls ... They say that the Milan Cathedral is only second only to St. Peter's in Rome. I can not understand how the cathedral can stand for anything man- homemade in second place. "
Views
" Madonnina "
Roof of the Duomo
Project Carlo Buzzi with towers ( 1647)
The Cathedral 1745
Roof Impressions I
Roof Impressions II
Roof Impressions III
View from Milan Cathedral
Domorgeln
The organ history of the Milan cathedral dates back to the year 1397, where the first instrument was set up, which had been given already in 1395 in order. In the years from 1533 to 1577 then the northern organ was built, with 12 registers on a manual with 50 keys. 1583 then the construction of the Südorgel was commissioned, which was completed in 1590 and the older instrument from the 1397 replaced. Noteworthy are the paintings on the housing of the Südorgel. They show historical scenes, including the Old and New Testament, the Exodus from Egypt.
These two instruments were revised continuously over time and expanded, rebuilt, and finally organized in the years 1985-1986 by the organ builder Tamburini from scratch. The entire organ system consists of several organs from a common game table can be operated, however. The entire organ system today has 186 speaking stops (about 16,000 pipes ) Manual on five levels and correspondingly assigned independent pedal works and is one of the largest organs in the world. The tracker action are electric. The instrument has the following disposition
In the culture
- In Luchino Visconti's Rocco and His Brothers (1960 ), the roof of the cathedral is the backdrop of a scene.