Milan Duomo/Terrace...Fast Track?

i am here in Milan now, arriving early this morning from the US with my intent to see the Doumo and the Last Supper (reservation tomorrow 15:30). I couldn't get into my hotel until 2:00 so I took the four hours I had to get familiar with the Metro, which is fabulous, before the LS tomorrow. A ticket for one ride was 1.5 euro, so I bought the 8.5 euro 48 hour unlimited rids on all public transportation and essentially paid for it riding around the city today. When I came up from the Metro in front of the Doumo it literally stopped me in my tracks, massive and spectacular. I was too tired to go in today, but I did talk with a woman with Fast Track and she said I could buy a ticket today for tomorrow, with the advantage being bypassing the lines. As I was making the purchase she asked when I was planning to get there and I said 8-9 am. She told me not to waste my money because it would not be crowded and besides, they don't start until 10. I took her at her word and plan to get there early. I'll try to remember to write and tell you what happened. I will tell you this, I got there today about the time you plan to go and there was a line to buy tickets and a longer line waiting to get in because of security (body scanned everyone and inspects carry on bags).

Jim

Gabriel

I went to the Doumo around 11:30 this morning and there was a long line to buy tickets and a longer one to get in. I went to the Fast Track window and after a 10 minute wait bought the Fast Track A ticket which was 25 euros. Once I had it I went to the back right side of the Duomo and went through the security there, which took less than a minute because there was no line. There were about 10 people in line and the elevator, oops "Lift", (you'll never see the word elevator) took five people at a time, so it was another five minute wait and all of a sudden we were on the terraces, You come back down the same way, although the line was about 20 minutes long because of the number of people leaving. You can't go down this lift unless you came up that way. Regular ticket purchasers have to go to the lift on the back left of the Duomo if they are going to the terraces and the line was much longer, as the one I saw of people going down that way. If they were only going into the church or planning to climb the stairs there was a long security line in front of the Duomo. I'd estimate it to be 30-45 minutes. You'll see it because the Fast Track is just past it on the right front of the Duomo.

I don't know how many are in your travel party or how you view the 25 euro price, but in some cases I consider my time more valuable than money and this one was a considerable time saver. I was surprised that we were able to go all the way to top of the roof, quite a climb but well worth the effort. Rick's DVD doesn't do it justice, nor the inside. It is massive and humbling. How in the world in 1386 did the conceive something like this, let alone build it? I hope this has been helpful for you.

Jim