Famous churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary - The Cathedral of Milan (Duomo di Milano)

All those who had the chance to stand before the cathedral of Milan in Italy will certainly never forget the awe they felt. The Duomo, dedicated to the Nativity of the Theotokos, is the third-largest church in the world and the largest in Italy. It has a capacity of 40,000 people and a height of 108.5 meters and in its exterior and interior are reflected the architectural trends of six centuries, which corresponds to the time it took for the church to be completed. 

The construction of the Duomo in French Gothic style began in 1386 when Gian Galeazzo Visconti was in power and Antonio da Saluzzo was the Archbishop. During the centuries that it took to build many architects and master builders participated in the construction, there were periods of economic crisis during which the works were stopped for decades, and many leaders who intervened thus linking their name with the construction. Among them was Napoleon I Bonaparte who, before he was crowned king of Italy, ordered the completion of the façade, in 1805. 

After the Second World War and the relatively little damages it suffered, the cathedral was completed on January 6, 1965!