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Piazza del Duomo in Milan

Piazza del Duomo (the Cathedral Square) is the first place you should visit when you're on a city break in Milan. It is the central square, the most beautiful in the city, and one of the largest squares in Italy. Moreover, it is home to the most important tourist attractions in Milan.

How to Get to Piazza del Duomo?

It's very easy to get to Piazza del Duomo. You just need to take the M3 or M1 metro lines (also check the article about the Milan Metro) to the station called Duomo.

Besides the metro, you can also use other public transportation in Milan:

• trams 2, 3, 12, 14, 16, or 19 (Duomo station)
• tram 15 (Via Dogana station)
• trams 24 or 27 (Piazza Fontana station)

What to See in Piazza del Duomo?

The Duomo

The first building that will surely catch your attention in Piazza del Duomo is the imposing Milan Cathedral. It is the city's cathedral and one of the largest and most impressive Gothic churches in the world. Its construction began in the 14th century and stretched over several centuries.

The cathedral is adorned with a lacework of spires and has over 3,000 statues. Don't miss the experience of climbing to the rooftop to admire up close the Gothic turrets and the gilded statue of the Virgin Mary. The people of Milan affectionately call her Madonnina and consider her the protector of the city. According to tradition, the tallest building in Milan must have a replica of this statue at its peak.

Use the CIAO5 code before completing the booking on Tiqets and you will have a 5% discount.

Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery

On the left side, as you face the main entrance of the Cathedral, you will see a structure that resembles a triumphal arch. It is one of the entrances to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, another iconic building in Milan. It was built in the second half of the 19th century and is named after the first king of unified Italy. The gallery connects Piazza del Duomo with Piazza della Scala.

Inside, you'll find luxury shops, restaurants, historic cafés, as well as the Leonardo3 Museum, dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci (we recommend it if you're visiting Milan with children). In recent years, the Highline Galleria route has been set up, allowing you to climb to the rooftop of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele to admire the surroundings from above (you can book your guided visit online on Ticketone.it).

Book Ticket for Leonardo3 Museum

Use the CIAO5 code before completing your reservation on Tiqets and you will have a 5% discount.

Statue of Vittorio Emanuele II

In the center of Piazza del Duomo stands the equestrian monument of King Vittorio Emanuele II, under whom Italy was unified in 1861. The statue was placed in the square in 1896 and represents the moment when the king encourages his troops during the Battle of San Martino in 1859 against the Austrians.

The Carrara marble pedestal bears the inscription "June 1859" on the front, marking the date when the king entered Milan, and on the opposite side, "14 June 1896", the date of the monument's inauguration. The lions on the sides rest on two plaques engraved with the names Roma and Milano.

The bronze bas-relief above depicts the entry of the Piedmontese troops into the city after the Battle of Magenta.

Palazzo Carminati

Behind the statue, closing one side of Piazza del Duomo, stands Palazzo Carminati, which is named after a famous restaurant that once occupied the ground floor.

Palazzo Carminati was built around the 1860s. A gallery, called Passaggio Duomo, runs through its middle, connecting Piazza del Duomo with Via Orefici.

Behind the palace, on Via Mercanti, is Palazzo della Ragione, one of the few medieval buildings still standing in Milan. It served as the town hall from 1251 to 1786.

Palazzo dell'Arengario

On the opposite side of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, to the right of the main entrance of the Cathedral, stands Palazzo dell'Arengario, whose architectural forms are of a more recent era.

The building was constructed between 1936 and 1956 and is decorated with bas-reliefs. The name arengario refers to the town hall - in the past, not far from here, was the old seat of the town hall, where the Royal Palace was later built.

Today, Palazzo dell'Arengario houses the Museo del Novecento, one of the most important museums in Milan, dedicated to the avant-garde artistic movements of the 20th century.

Royal Palace in Milan

To the left of the Museo del Novecento is Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace of Milan). The area in front of it is called Piazzetta Reale ("Royal Square").

In the Middle Ages, this location housed the city's Town Hall, which was later transformed into a ducal residence. The Royal Palace was expanded and renovated both during the Spanish rule (1535-1714) and under the Austrian domination in the 18th century.

In 1594, the first theater in Milan was built inside the Royal Palace. Its destruction by fire in 1776 led to the decision to demolish the theater and build the current Teatro alla Scala in a different location, which has become one of the most famous theaters in the world.

In 1919, the Royal Palace was acquired by the Italian state, and today it hosts art exhibitions.

One of the wings of the Palace houses the Museum of the Milan Cathedral.

Use the CIAO5 code before completing your reservation on Tiqets and you will have a 5% discount.