The Duomo in Milan, a 14th century cathedral that took 400 years to complete, is said to be the fourth largest cathedral in the world. The cathedral and its terraces are constructed of Candoglia marble from the Maggiore Lake that show various hues in the sunlight. It has 135 spires on the roof area and over 3400 statues. I climbed the over 200 stairs to the roof area for a spectacular view of, not only the city of Milan, but the intricate work on the outside of the Duomo. I was amazed that each statue and spire are different. Just take a minute and ponder that --- 135 spires that are all different and 3400 unique statues in one place. I didn't realize there could be so many variations of shapes, faces, animals, etc. It is pretty amazing. I was blessed with good weather for a portion of the day and tried to make the most of it. Many other people took advantage of the opportunity to climb to the top and it was a little strange to see so many people walking and sitting on the massive roof, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The inside is too big to explore in a short time. I had less than 2 days in Milan and the beauty of the Duomo's outside took the majority of the time I had to devote there, so a quick walk through was all I could accomplish. The colors streaming in from the many stained glass windows added to the vast beauty inside. Here are a few of the woefully inadequate photographs I took inside. So much Italy, so little time. Don't forget that you can click on the pictures for larger viewing.
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This is the best story............ My brother Mike and I happened to be in Cortona on Thanksgiving day which, of course, isn't celebrated in Italy. We had enjoyed a great day exploring the city. We walked the narrow lanes (uphill both ways, of course), browsed in the shops, sat in the piazza watching men play checkers, and ate gelato. Evening snuck up on us and we decided to part ways for a few minutes and look for a special place for dinner. When we reconnected Mike mentioned that he saw a group of people congregating in front of this cafe' eating and drinking wine. He said the pork smelled so good that he wanted to see about ordering some, but it seemed like a private gathering because the food was laid outside on open tables. Perhaps it's the language barrier or the fact that I'm simply bolder when on vacation in a new place, but I went over and asked if we could join them. This sweet, pleasant man motioned sure, sure and started serving us pork sandwiches. The most tender, flavorful pork I've ever tasted! Truly! Mike went into the cafe' and got some wine, and we feasted on bruschetta, liver pate', proscuitto, pork, etc., etc. The man kept offering us more and asking if it was good. Everyone was talking and being friendly. When we had had our fill (and I do mean our fill!), Mike practiced his sentences, approached this gentleman and told him it was very good and asked where we should pay. He laughed and said, "No. No." and waved us off saying something about Italian hospitality. I don't know what type event we crashed, but they were more than gracious and we had an absolute blast with them. Hospitality is an art here. How's that for Thanksgiving????
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Today I'm feeling a little Romesick. It's been too long since I've been within her city limits and it feels like September is simply too far away. Though I love the wonderful sites scattered throughout the city, I mostly miss just BEING there. I miss the freedom of hopping on a bus and riding until something looks interesting, getting off and wandering around exploring and discovering at random. I miss the energy there. I miss watching the oh-so-fascinating people as they go about their necessities. I miss the busy-ness of the local pizza stops and gelato shops in contrast to the linger-all-night feel of the restaurants and clubs. Walking for hours amidst history, art, and tradition is something of which I never tire. For me, no where else compares. Following are some photographs that feel like the Rome I love, miss, and can't wait to revisit this fall. If you click on any photo it will enlarge and you can get a better view.
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