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Grandeur
An impression of solemn immensity and monumental grandeur embraces the visitor as soon as they cross the threshold of the cathedral. Some people are astounded at the vast scale of the nave, some feel disorientated faced by the gigantic pillars, some have a sense of their souls being drawn in and attracted by the spiritual tensions expressed in the verticality of the columns and in the altitude of the vaults.
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The interior of the Cathedral is divided into five aisles. The central nave is wide, double the width of the side aisles which are slightly lower in height, allowing small pointed arch windows to be inserted above the arches of the vaults, thus illuminating the interior in a subtle and diffused manner.
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Interior
The cathedral has a basilica layout based on a Latin cross with wide polygonal apses; the main axis is oriented east (apse) to west (façade), in accordance with ancient Christian tradition. The aisles, five in the longitudinal plane, three in the transverse (transept), and the 52 enormous pillars supporting the gothic cross vaults, create a majestic design and foster atmospheric perspectives.
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The central nave is 149 feet (45.55 m) high and the width in between the pillars is 63 feet (19.3 m). The pillars or columns are 78 feet (24 m) high at the beams, including the capital which is 16 feet (6 m) high and 11 feet (3.4 m) wide. The pillars are 8 feet (2.5 m) in diameter and the diameter at the base is 11 feet (3.4 m). The height inside the lantern tower, from the floor to the base of the lantern, is 210 feet (64.3 m).
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The pillars are decorated with rich capitals, each of which has eight huge statues standing in the same number of niches and embellished with one, two, or three circles of smaller statues;
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They are therefore decorated with eight, sixteen, twenty-four, or even thirty-two statues of varying heights.
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The floor, which is entirely made of marble, replaced the ancient walkway. The flooring setting was started in 1585 by Martino Bassi, on sketches by Pellegrino Pellegrini. Slabs of thick Candoglia marble are inlaid with motifs in red Arzo and black Varenna marble.
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In its magnificence, the interior of the Duomo underlines a sense of the eternal; of ancient memories made tangible thanks to the work of men committed to a timeless challenge.
Read more on Milan Cathedral Remixed.
