THE DUOMO AND ITS SPIRES

The Duomo is one of the major gothic cathedrals in Italy and in Europe. The Duomo has been renowned worldwide for centuries as the cradle of architectural and sculptural masterpieces, and even more so as the most iconic and recognizable symbol of the City of Milan.
Due to its international vocation, accompanied by the history of the Milanese, the Duomo remains the focal point of what happens in town, in Italy, and in the entire world, even after over six centuries. Writers, sculptors, poets, and musicians from all over the world have been enchanted by the Duomo and have made their impact on the history of this monument, the center of the cultural international landscape.

The spires are some of the most peculiar and fragile architectural elements of the Duomo. The Duomo has 135 spires and over 3,400 statues, which require constant care and complex interventions in order to remain stable and soar in Milan's sky.



Over the centuries, chemical, physical, and biological agents have damaged the Duomo's spires, as with any element made of the marble of Candoglia, therefore continuous restoration interventions are necessary.

The Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, the entity that has taken care of the cathedral since 1387, will supervise the entire course of restoration of the spire. They will begin with the excavation of the marble in Candoglia's quarries, supervise its manufacturing in the marble workers' site, and end by positioning the architectural and decorative elements in the marble workers' site.
Today, the marble workers' site of the Veneranda is a laboratory where scientific research, technological innovation, and tradition are woven together. In 2014 alone, The Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano opened 18 restoration sites for the Duomo, for more than 100,000 hours of restoration per year.