While the pinnacles of this particular church, unlike those usually seen on a medieval church, are not particularly helpful for the stability of the church, the central tower over the crossing of the nave and the transept is...and it is becoming unstable. Help!...More......
The Duomo, begun at the end of the 14th century, is very sensitive to shifts in the underlying earth, and everyday maintenance, let alone extraordinary restoration and repairs, cost an enormous humongous cosmically-sized bundle o' cash, so there are charity events planned to raise these emergency funds.
One looks particularly intriguing to me.
On Monday, the 2nd of July, at 8:45 P.M. they are holding Ildebrando Pizzetti's opera, "Assassination in the Dome" (Assassinio nel Duomo, in Italian) inside the Duomo!
Ticket prices are very reasonable, and range from E. 10 to E. 50 for this extraordinary event.
If opera isn't up your alley, and you'd like to enjoy the twinkling gems of Milan's lights at night from the open-air terrace on the roof of the Duomo, there will be a prose version a few nights later at 9:30 P.M. on the 5th of July.
For more info and tickets, see their web site (in English, yeah!): http://www.duomomilano.it/?lang=en.
This is as good a place as any, as people start filtering into Milan for vacation, to remind you that, when you go into a church as a tourist, PLEASE scour the inside of the place until you find their donation box marked "Per il restauro della chiesa" ("For the restoration of the church"). These funds are used for restoration and even everyday maintenance. You're there enjoying the cleanly swept floors and general electric lighting, after all. Be a sport. Contribute.
I took this photo on the 19th of June, 2006, at about 2:45 P.M.
Enjoy!
