MILANO
/ MILAN
Two thousand
two hundred stone saints and ninety-five gargoyles inhabit the heart
of Milan; they are the earthly witnesses to a city that sprawls around
its heavenly Duomo, Milan Cathedral, was begun in 1386 by Gian Galeazzo
Visconti, the edifice was an offering to the Virgin, a pious bribe
for the birth of a son and is an outstanding example of Italina Gothic
architecture. The Duke soon received an heir and the church was subsequently
dedicated to 'Maria Nascente', the nascent Mother. The emergent structure
was borne on the Duke's fortune, state taxes and the sale of indulgences.
Its construction spans seven centuries. While a functional cathedral
was in use by 1399, rebuilding continues today. Numerous architects
contributed to the massive structure (158m long x 93m wide), among
them, Simone da Orsegnio, Giovannino de'Grassi, Bonino da Campione,
Marco da Carona, Giovanni Antonio Amadeo, Pellegrino Tibaldi, Francesco
Maria Richini and Francesco Croce, to name a few. Enter through the
stunning bronze cathedral doors (19th - 20th c) depicting the Edict
of Constantine, the Life of St. Ambrose, Milan versus Barbarossa and
the History of the Cathedral.
Inside the
spacious five-asiled church, intricate statuary and luminous stained
glass windows abound. Among the multicoloured glass panes are the
Life of St. John the Evangelist (1473-77), scenes from the New Testament,
the Life of St. Eligius (1480-89), the Life of St. James the Elder
(1554-64), the Life of St. Catharine of Alexandria (1543) and representations
of the Prophets (15th c). The variety of statuary portrays St. Bartholomew
(carrying hid flayed skin) by Marco d'Agrate, the Tomb of Giacomo
Medici, "Il Medeghino" (d1555) by Leone Leoni,the statue of Martin
V by Jacopo da Tradate, the bronze Trivulzio candelabrum (13th -14th
c) and representations of the Doctors of the Church, Prophets and
SIBYLS atop the pinnacles. The cathedral Treasury is below the main
altar, adjacent to the crypt of St. Carlo Borromeo. The treasury contains
precious ivory, gold and silver from as early as the 4th c. >> Archeological
excavations in the 1960's revealed the Baptistery of St. Ambrose.
Properly called the Baptistery of San Giovanni alle Fonti (378AD),
it is the alleged spot where St. Augustine baptized St. Ambrose. Ambrose
was named bishop of Milan before he was even baptized!