PIAZZA DEL DUOMO

Description

Essentials about the Piazza del Duomo in brief

Next to St. Peter’s Square in Rome and Piazza San Marco in Venice, Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square) in Milan is the most famous square in Italy and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and impressive squares in the world. Approximately 17,000 square meters in size, the rectangular Piazza del Duomo is the center of the city and the tourist hub of Milan. The square is dominated by the majestic marble facade of Milan Cathedral. In addition to the Duomo, Piazza del Duomo is also home to some of Milan’s other most important buildings, including the imposing Royal Palace of Milan and the noble Vittorio Emanuele shopping gallery.

The history and buildings of Piazza del Duomo

A first precursor of Piazza del Duomo was created around 1330 by Duke Azzone Visconti. He had several taverns demolished in order to build the marketplace Piazza dell’Arengo between the early Christian Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Roman Basilica of Santa Tecla. Azzone’s successor, Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti, had more houses and a baptistery demolished in 1384 to expand the square. In 1458, at the behest of Milan’s ruler Francesco Sforza, with the approval of Pope Pius II, the Basilica of Santa Tecla was demolished to create a large, dignified cathedral square. In 1548 the square was again enlarged.

The next major change to Piazza del Duomo occurred in the mid-18th century, when architect Giuseppe Piermarini created the Royal Palace of Milan on the south side of the square. A side effect of the construction of the city palace was that the creation of a smaller forecourt between the Palazzo and the Duomo (visually) increased the open space of Piazza del Duomo.

Further enlargement of the square was also considered during Napoleonic rule, with the dominant role of the Duomo being reduced in favor of other monuments. However, the lofty plans failed due to lack of money and the imminent end of Napoleon’s era.

In the elation of the victorious unification of Italy, in 1860 the citizens of Milan were invited to present ideas for the new cathedral square. In an architectural competition held in 1861, 18 projects were submitted, four of which won awards. Giuseppe Mengoni’s project, although not awarded a prize, received much approval and was eventually declared the winner in a second competition.

After the Milan Municipal Council approved Mengoni’s design in 1863, Piazza del Duomo was given its current appearance between 1865 and 1873. The square was significantly enlarged during this period, and the square’s perimeter buildings were confidently modernized. Apart from the Palazzi dei Portici on the north and south sides of the square, the most significant new building on the north side of the piazza was the Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and noble shopping arcades in the world. Tragically, the architect Mengoni died during an inspection of the building on December 30, 1877.

In 1896, the equestrian statue of Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of united Italy, created by Ercole Rosa, was inaugurated and, from 1938, the Palazzo dell’Arengario was built in the southwest corner of the square in place of two triumphal arches that were never realized. It was actually planned as a place for Benito Mussolini’s popular speeches. However, construction was interrupted by World War II and was not completed until 1956. Today the palazzo houses an art museum. To the west of Piazza del Duomo, opposite the main façade of Milan Cathedral, stands Palazzo Carminati.

The Piazza del Duomo as a transport hub

Piazza del Duomo is also one of Milan’s transportation hubs. Duomo station is one of the most important of Milan’s metro network. In the past, the square was also a hub for Milan’s streetcars. Today, the streetcar lines stop only at its periphery. Piazza del Duomo is now closed to vehicular traffic.