Milan Cathedral Interior, Milan

Once we had explored the rooftop terrace we made our way into the Cathedral just as the rain started again. The weather god was on our side.

Inside the Cathedral is vast with soaring ceilings held up by ginormous marble pillars and amazing stained glass windows metres high. The interior includes numerous monuments and artworks and there is so much to see.

One of the most famous statues in the cathedral is Saint Bartholomew Flayed (1562) by Marco d'Agrate, which shows the saint carrying his own flayed skin thrown over his shoulders like a stole. It is certainly eye-catching.

Sarcophagi of numerous archbishops from the 14th century line the walls beneath the brilliant colours of the stained glass. Even with the poor weather outside the colours of the windows was still so rich and vibrant.

The altars and presbytery are masterpieces in their own right and the two large organs are beautiful. The 5-manual, 225-rank pipe organ, built jointly by the Tamburini and Mascioni Italian organ building firms on Mussolini's command, is currently the largest organ in all of Italy.

There is a small red light bulb in the dome above the apse that marks the spot where one of the nails reputedly from the Crucifixion of Christ has been placed. The Holy Nail is retrieved and exposed to the public every year, during a celebration known as the Rite of the Nivola.

In November and December, in the days surrounding the birthdate of Saint Charles Borromeo, a series of large canvases, the Quadroni are exhibited along the nave. These were in the process of being put up and are certainly impressive.

There is just so much history and so many items of interest that it would be easy to go on and on. The cathedral truely is a place of beauty and history. I’m so glad we chose to revisit it.Les mer