Milan Duomo-to see or not to see

It's definitely worth seeing the Duomo. I saw it 30 years ago in November 1994 and still remember my visit. If interested, you could attend a Mass, though it would probably be in Italian. Confessions were heard in English -- and a couple other languages -- when I visited. My visit to the Duomo is still fresh in my mind after 16 visits to Europe.

If you go, take the elevator to the rooftop and walk among the spindles -- you'll know what I'm talking about if you go. You'll gawk at the Gothic architecture and flying buttresses.

For a change of pace, visit the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade also feeding onto the Duomo's piazza. The Emanuele is reportedly the oldest shopping arcade in the world. It's quite elegant: In comparison, American malls are bland.

Definitely visit the roof. Rarely does one have a treat like that.

It all depends on how you feel after an international flight. It takes an hour to get to Milan Centrale from Malpensa and then you still have a 2 1/2 hour train ride ahead of you to get to Venice. The Duomo is beautiful, the roof amazing but yes, you are going to see a whole lot of amazing churches. I would have scheduled to spend an extra day in Milan, it’s an interesting city and taken the train to Venice the next day because I’m exhausted after an international flight coming from the West Coast but just my opinion. BOI is a wonderful tour, have a great time!

I concur the roof (and inside) is worth a visit, I still remember it vividly 20 years later. If it is possible, I would add an overnight in Milan and then head on to Venice the next day. If not possible, I wouldn't interrupt a jet lagged arrival day as you described - just head along and visit the next time you're in Italy.

I agree with Margie. I've done the Best of Italy. I've done the Milan Duomo. IF you have to get to Venice the same day you land and can't spend an extra night in Milan, I'd skip it. You will see a number of cathedrals on the Best of Italy and when you get to Rome, the world is at your feet, so to speak, with churches.

Having said that I did really like the Duomo. I have a fear of heights but made myself go to the roof. I did it mainly because there is a family story that Great-grandpa Zafferoni used to walk from his small town 25 miles north of Milan to go to services at "the big church in Milan". I wanted to stand where he stood which was pretty cool. Other than that ancestry connection I think your need for Gothic cathedrals can be satisfied with other churches on your tour.

In Venice I would make sure you get timed entries to Saint Marks which is very different inside. You'll stay in Siena and actually I like that one better than the Milan Duomo. The Milan Duomo is stunning from the outside with its pink color and amazing sandcastle shape but the interior of the Duomo di Siena is amazing to me.

Enjoy the Best of Italy! It's a wonderful tour.

I wouldn’t do it while tired after a long flight because I know I wouldn’t enjoy it in that frame of mind. Better to get to your hotel, have a rest and enjoy more time in Venice.

Another vote for just continuing on to Venice. You will be tired after the flight, and your body clock will say it is time to rest. Finding a place to store luggage, then taking the Metro to the Duomo for a look, returning to the train station, picking up your luggage, and making your way into Milano Centrale (a huge and crowded station) for your train to Venice, would be a lot to manage, and very stressful. Especially if all you plan to do is view the Duomo from outside. Going inside, or up on the roof (which is very interesting!) would take considerably longer, at a time when your mind and body need a rest and some refreshment. You will feel better on your next day if you skip the extra time and hassle to see the Duomo and just make your way to Venice.

Thanks for all of the suggestions and thank you for the wonderful story Pam. That must have been fantastic for you.

We're flying from Boston so our flight is certainly not as long as for someone coming from the West Coast but I think probably what we'll do is play it by ear and maybe buy tickets for the Duomo for that day and if we don't end up using them, then so be it. We arrive at MXP at approximately 1:00 a.m. Boston time (our flight leaves Boston at around 5:30 p.m.) so I don't think that we will be super tired as were normally up until 12:00 12:30 every night anyway, so we may not be too tired to go and visit.

I've been to so many churches and basilicas and cathedrals. The memory of the visit to the rooftop of the Milan Duomo is vivid, where others have faded.

"thank you for the wonderful story Pam. That must have been fantastic for you."

He died in the 1930's so I never met him and my grandfather was of the generation of Americans that did not really want to acknowledge their European roots. So yes, I'm interested in genealogy and it was a thrill to me to be in a place I knew he had visited. I doubt the family story that he went "every week", lol...because no, a farmer is not going to walk 25 miles there and 25 miles back on Sunday to attend church. A special festival? Yes, but not a routine thing!

I think being flexible that day is also good.

I'm another who is not amazed by visiting church after church after church. The Duomo in Milan though was incredible. It is ten years since our visit, and I still remember the walk on the roof.

Don't miss it, even though you will be completely "churched out" after Italy.

Do pay to go inside St. Mark's at the time when the mosaics are lit up, which was around 11:30am when we were there. Another amazing memory.