Duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, who united significant territories in his power, in many ways contributed to the flourishing of Milan. His greatest merit is the construction of a cathedral in the city. Construction work began in 1386. True, the German architects involved in the project did not find a common language with the Italian ones.
Friction began with the laying of the first stone. Italian architects did not like the arrogant statements of the newcomers to the Germans, they often entered into disputes with them, which could only be resolved by the duke himself. These unjustified litigation slowed down construction, led to frequent changes of architects and workers who did not understand what they wanted from them. After the death of the Duke of Visconti, the Germans who took part in the construction were got rid of, but the Gothic style in the building was still preserved.
At the request of the Duke of Visconti, the cathedral began to be erected from white marble. This rock was very well suited for the exterior cladding of the cathedral. The polished stone not only shone from the rays of the sun, but also from the brilliance of the moon. Marble was brought from different places in Italy, bought abroad. But there was not enough money for construction, so donations had to be organized. This was done by the most beautiful girls in Milan. They took mugs and flowers in their hands, dressed in white clothes and, to the sound of drums and flutes, moved along the main streets of the city and its environs in order to raise funds for construction.
Another problem was also observed - a shortage of workers. I had to turn to citizens with a request to work off several days at an important construction site in the city. Citizens responded to this call, and the construction site revived. But nevertheless, the temple was built very slowly, it was ready only in the second half of the 15th century.
The cathedral could accommodate about 40 thousand people. The building turned out to be the second largest after St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. Today, Milan's Cathedral is the fourth largest in the world in terms of capacity and is a late Gothic miracle, which is decorated on the outside and inside with over 3,500 marble sculptures, pointed turrets and columns.
Milan Cathedral is considered the European record holder for long-term construction - the last stone was laid in it in 1906. In total, the cathedral was erected over 520 years.
