Milan Cathedral, whose construction began in 1386, has finally returned to its full architectural glory. After eighteen years of extensive restoration work, the last remaining scaffolding surrounding the upper section of the cathedral has been dismantled, allowing both residents and visitors to enjoy an unobstructed view of the Madonnina, the main spire, and, for the first time since 2017, the tiburio.
The ambitious project, carried out by the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, lasted almost twenty years and required an investment of €20 million. Restoration of the cathedral's upper structures began in 2008 with the main spire before extending to the tiburio and its dome.
While the highest section, culminating at the 108-metre-tall Madonnina, had already been uncovered, the tiburio remained enclosed by scaffolding until now. Skilled craftsmen worked both inside and outside the structure at heights ranging from 60 to 80 metres.
The project focused on two key objectives: strengthening the cathedral's structural integrity and restoring its marble surfaces. Centuries of weathering and pollution had dulled the stone, but meticulous cleaning has brought back its original appearance. Inside the cathedral, sixty statues that had never previously undergone restoration were cleaned and conserved using dry-treatment techniques and ammonium carbonate poultices to remove centuries of candle soot.