Milan Cathedral, Milano Italy

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The Duomo di Milano is an evolutionary feat of architecture and artifice. Though construction began in the fourteenth century under Antonio da Saluzzo, it was only very recently completed in 1965. French designers Nicolas de Bonaventure and Jean Mignot began a Gothic building, unusual for Italy, which over the years assumed classic Roman features, really became over-the-top. Milan’s wealth and prestige fueled an increasingly extravagant church that today stands as the fourth largest in the world.

It seems odd that the historic clash between Italy and France would produce such a remarkable construct. The form takes the best of both worlds to the extreme, with a punctuation of detail. Visitors can climb to a roof level among the spires of the church, a new innovation for cathedrals. This allows the worshiper to experience the symbolized heavenly realm in a way that connects back to the city.

Light and raw material is relished together in a way new to the Gothic or Roman style. The stained glass walls establish an illusionary spiritual realm within the looming space, according to Gothic principles, but carefully placed apertures give additional daylighting to the structure.

Video: From the roof , Interior , Front
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(Francisco Antunes
– flickr/creative commons license)

(Bernt Rostad
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(rdesai
– flickr/creative commons license)

(Stefan Karpiniec
– flickr/creative commons license)

(Stefan Karpiniec
– flickr/creative commons license)

(Bernt Rostad
– flickr/creative commons license)

(currybet
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(Kevin Krejci
– flickr/creative commons license)

(featured images by Kakaru, aktualny, Broc, Friedrichstrasse , Friedrichstrasse , Pequod76, Paolo da Reggio, Wikipedia/public domain)