CATHEDRAL, Exterior

To visit the Cathedral, do the opposite of what everyone else does, and start at the back instead of at the front. That's where the church's construction began.

You'll immediately be struck by the extraordinary decorations and monumental statues. It is a continuous blend of architecture and sculpture: if you are impressed by the gargoyles, or huge statues holding strange and monstrous animals, consider that in addition to their decorative function they are also practical because they serve as gutters for draining rainwater. When there are heavy rains (which often happens in Milan!), they transform the Cathedral into a fantastic fountain....