135 Spires

Entirely covered in Candoglia marble, Milan Cathedral is adorned with more than 3,400 statues distributed around the external  and internal perimeters, and on the spires and balconies.

The Madonnina (representing the Virgin Mary) is undoubtedly the most famous statue, but there are thousands of sculptures that tell stories of faith, a mirror of times and ages gone by.

Each fragment of marble bears testimony to the work undertaken over the course of centuries by the craftsmen who provided services to the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, the institution responsible for the Monument's construction and enhancement.

The famous Madonnina, a 13.65 foot-tall (4.16 m) gilded copper statue, was placed at the top of the Main Spire, the Cathedral's highest point, in the year 1774, and has become since then one of the symbols of Milan.

The Cathedral's Main Spire was constructed between 1765 and 1769 by the architect Francesco Croce, who brought more than a century of unconcluded plans and proposals to a resolution, taking on the legacy of his master, Giuseppe Merlo.

With the construction of the Main Spire, the Duomo reached the dizzying height of 365 feet (108.5 m) and a custom was established in Milan that no building could exceed the Madonnina in height, as a sign of respect.

This unwritten rule changed the plans for the Branca and Velasca towers, and when Gio Ponti designed the Pirelli sky-scraper (called the Pirellone), 417 feet (127 m) in height, he placed a copy of the Madonnina at the top.

Today, there is also a copy on the top of the Palazzo Lombardia (Lombardy Region Palace), at a whirling height of 528 feet (161 m), and on all buildings that exceed the Madonnina in height.

The statue depicts Saint George, holy martyr and knight, whose cult has always been one of the most widespread within Christendom. He is represented within western iconography as wielding a sword in the act of running a dragon through.

The spire with Saint George placed on top of it is commonly known as the "Carelli Spire", being dedicated to the memory of Marco Carelli, a well-known Milanese merchant who was one of the Cathedral's greatest benefactors.

During the aerial bombardment of the city of Milan in 1943, the original statue, dating back to 1403 and carved by Giorgio Solari, fell, breaking in several places.

It was thus replaced by a copy in the 1950s, while the original, after careful restoration, was moved into the Duomo Museum to be protected.

The four Spirelets crowning the Duomo Main Spire started off as buttresses for outward forces within the Lantern, but were soon transformed during a period of decorative enrichment, being adorned with statues and a transenna.

This spire is dedicated impartially to all Milanese whose affection and generous hard work have been directed towards the Cathedral.

Among other anonymous statues, it is possible to identify statues inspired by well-known historical figures, as in the case of the spire with the statue of Saint Napoleon placed at its top.

Along the falconatura of the façade, on the central terrace, four pairs of boxers are recognizable, including Primo Carnera, who won the world heavyweight title in 1933.

Today, the Marble Workshop of Milan Cathedral's Veneranda Fabbrica is a laboratory where scientific research, technological innovation, and tradition come together.