Milan's enormous Duomo is the third largest cathedral in the world, dominating the large square named after it. Construction of the Duomo began in 1386, yet it was not completed until the 19th century when Napolean, who was crowned King of Italy here, had its facade completed.
We took the elevator (open 9:00am - 4:30pm) to the rooftop terraces. Even with the elevator, there are plenty of steep stairwells, odd corners, and narrow passages to traverse in order to reach the top. It's hard to explain, but this building exhudes somewhat of a creepy, yet not unenjoyable midieval feeling.
The view of the city from the rooftop terraces is spectacular to say the least. It is also a good place to get a close up look at some of the statues that top the roughly 3,500 spires. It seems as though every statue is one of a kind, representing either saints, animals, or monsters. The rooftop terraces and the view of the city from them are a must-see in Milan.
Also of note are the Duomo's five huge doors housing bronze reliefs, which were made between 1840 and 1965.
The Piazza del Duomo is a popular spot for locals to enjoy their midday break, and there are typically many street performers in the Piazza as well.