Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Napoleon Bonaparte

Ajaccio was a seat of a diocese, mentioned by Pope Gregory the Great in 591. Excavations proved the existence of a baptistry and a cathedral from the 6th century, but not much is known about the early medieval times. The settlement did not prosper and shrunk down until the Genoese, eager to assert their dominance in the south of the island, decided to refound and rebuild the city of Ajaccio in 1492. Although at first populated exclusively by the Genoese, the city slowly opened to the Corsicans. Ajaccio was occupied from 1553 to 1559 by the French but fell again to the Genoese later. Genoa was strong enough to keep Corsica until 1755, the year Pasquale Paoli proclaimed the Corsican Republic. Paoli took most of the island for the republic but he was unable to force Genoese troops out of the citadels at the coast, Ajaccio was one of them. French troops entered Corsica in 1768 and in 1780 the island was was formally annexed to France in 1780. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio (as Nabulione Buonaparte) in 1769. His father had been the secretary to Pasquale Paoli during the Corsican Republic. His father was offered an appointment for his son to the Military College of Brienne, but the child had to be under 10. This is where the dispute about Napoleon´s age starts, as the records at Ajaccio have been altered and it may well be, that Napoleon was born in Corte in 1768. Anyway, he went to Brienne from 1779–1784 and started his career. Today Ajaccio is a main tourist spot on the island and unfortunately, a huge cruise ship had arrived that day. I know that I am a tourist too, but I really feel uncomfortable surrounded by thousands of others, who are in a hurry, as the ship only anchors for a few hours. So I went to the hotel very early - and enjoyed the marvellous view from the roof. At sunset the huge cruise-ship left the harbour.

Ajaccio was a seat of a diocese, mentioned by Pope Gregory the Great in 591. Excavations proved the existence of a baptistry and a cathedral from the 6th century, but not much is known about the early medieval times. The settlement did not prosper and shrunk down until the Genoese, eager to assert their dominance in the south of the island, decided to refound and rebuild the city of Ajaccio in 1492. Although at first populated exclusively by the Genoese, the city slowly opened to the Corsicans. Ajaccio was occupied from 1553 to 1559 by the French but fell again to the Genoese later. Genoa was strong enough to keep Corsica until 1755, the year Pasquale Paoli proclaimed the Corsican Republic. Paoli took most of the island for the republic but he was unable to force Genoese troops out of the citadels at the coast, Ajaccio was one of them. French troops entered Corsica in 1768 and in 1780 the island was was formally annexed to France in 1780. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio (as Nabulione Buonaparte) in 1769. His father had been the secretary to Pasquale Paoli during the Corsican Republic. His father was offered an appointment for his son to the Military College of Brienne, but the child had to be under 10. This is where the dispute about Napoleon´s age starts, as the records at Ajaccio have been altered and it may well be, that Napoleon was born in Corte in 1768. Anyway, he went to Brienne from 1779–1784 and started his career. Today Ajaccio is a main tourist spot on the island and unfortunately, a huge cruise ship had arrived that day. I know that I am a tourist too, but I really feel uncomfortable surrounded by thousands of others, who are in a hurry, as the ship only anchors for a few hours. So I went to the hotel very early - and enjoyed the marvellous view from the roof.

Ajaccio was a seat of a diocese, mentioned by Pope Gregory the Great in 591. Excavations proved the existence of a baptistry and a cathedral from the 6th century, but not much is known about the early medieval times. The settlement did not prosper and shrunk down until the Genoese, eager to assert their dominance in the south of the island, decided to refound and rebuild the city of Ajaccio in 1492. Although at first populated exclusively by the Genoese, the city slowly opened to the Corsicans. Ajaccio was occupied from 1553 to 1559 by the French but fell again to the Genoese later. Genoa was strong enough to keep Corsica until 1755, the year Pasquale Paoli proclaimed the Corsican Republic. Paoli took most of the island for the republic but he was unable to force Genoese troops out of the citadels at the coast, Ajaccio was one of them. French troops entered Corsica in 1768 and in 1780 the island was was formally annexed to France in 1780. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio (as Nabulione Buonaparte) in 1769. His father had been the secretary to Pasquale Paoli during the Corsican Republic. His father was offered an appointment for his son to the Military College of Brienne, but the child had to be under 10. This is where the dispute about Napoleon´s age starts, as the records at Ajaccio have been altered and it may well be, that Napoleon was born in Corte in 1768. Anyway, he went to Brienne from 1779–1784 and started his career. The church was erected in 1622 by Jesuits and dedicated to Saint Ignatius of Loyola. After the Jesuits had to move out the church got dedicated to St. Erasmus, who is the patron of seamen. Since then the church is as well known as " L'église des marins". I knew, that inside are many ex-votos in form of "church ships", but as people were preparing for a funeral, I was not allowed in so I could only take two photos, before they had pushed me out - and locked the doors. This is one of them.

Ajaccio was a seat of a diocese, mentioned by Pope Gregory the Great in 591. Excavations proved the existence of a baptistry and a cathedral from the 6th century, but not much is known about the early medieval times. The settlement did not prosper and shrunk down until the Genoese, eager to assert their dominance in the south of the island, decided to refound and rebuild the city of Ajaccio in 1492. Although at first populated exclusively by the Genoese, the city slowly opened to the Corsicans. Ajaccio was occupied from 1553 to 1559 by the French but fell again to the Genoese later. Genoa was strong enough to keep Corsica until 1755, the year Pasquale Paoli proclaimed the Corsican Republic. Paoli took most of the island for the republic but he was unable to force Genoese troops out of the citadels at the coast, Ajaccio was one of them. French troops entered Corsica in 1768 and in 1780 the island was was formally annexed to France in 1780. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio (as Nabulione Buonaparte) in 1769. His father had been the secretary to Pasquale Paoli during the Corsican Republic. His father was offered an appointment for his son to the Military College of Brienne, but the child had to be under 10. This is where the dispute about Napoleon´s age starts, as the records at Ajaccio have been altered and it may well be, that Napoleon was born in Corte in 1768. Anyway, he went to Brienne from 1779–1784 and started his career. The church was erected in 1622 by Jesuits and dedicated to Saint Ignatius of Loyola. After the Jesuits had to move out the church got dedicated to St. Erasmus, who is the patron of seamen. Since then the church is as well known as " L'église des marins". I knew, that inside are many ex-votos in form of "church ships", but as people were preparing for a funeral, I was not allowed in so I could only take two photos, before they had pushed me out - and locked the doors. This is one of them.

Ajaccio was a seat of a diocese, mentioned by Pope Gregory the Great in 591. Excavations proved the existence of a baptistry and a cathedral from the 6th century, but not much is known about the early medieval times. The settlement did not prosper and shrunk down until the Genoese, eager to assert their dominance in the south of the island, decided to refound and rebuild the city of Ajaccio in 1492. Although at first populated exclusively by the Genoese, the city slowly opened to the Corsicans. Ajaccio was occupied from 1553 to 1559 by the French but fell again to the Genoese later. Genoa was strong enough to keep Corsica until 1755, the year Pasquale Paoli proclaimed the Corsican Republic. Paoli took most of the island for the republic but he was unable to force Genoese troops out of the citadels at the coast, Ajaccio was one of them. French troops entered Corsica in 1768 and in 1780 the island was was formally annexed to France in 1780. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio (as Nabulione Buonaparte) in 1769. His father had been the secretary to Pasquale Paoli during the Corsican Republic. His father was offered an appointment for his son to the Military College of Brienne, but the child had to be under 10. This is where the dispute about Napoleon´s age starts, as the records at Ajaccio have been altered and it may well be, that Napoleon was born in Corte in 1768. Anyway, he went to Brienne from 1779–1784 and started his career. The cathedral was built between 1577 and 1593 replacing the former Cathedral of Saint-Croix, destroyed in 1553 in order to make room for developments in the city's defences. It is where Napoleon Bonaparte was baptised on 21 July 1771. According to local legend, on 15 August 1769, Letizia Buonaparte felt sudden labour pains while in the cathedral. She rushed home to the Buonaparte's home and gave birth to Napoleon on a first floor before she could reach her bedroom upstairs. This may be right, or Napoleon was born in Corte...

Ajaccio was a seat of a diocese, mentioned by Pope Gregory the Great in 591. Excavations proved the existence of a baptistry and a cathedral from the 6th century, but not much is known about the early medieval times. The settlement did not prosper and shrunk down until the Genoese, eager to assert their dominance in the south of the island, decided to refound and rebuild the city of Ajaccio in 1492. Although at first populated exclusively by the Genoese, the city slowly opened to the Corsicans. Ajaccio was occupied from 1553 to 1559 by the French but fell again to the Genoese later. Genoa was strong enough to keep Corsica until 1755, the year Pasquale Paoli proclaimed the Corsican Republic. Paoli took most of the island for the republic but he was unable to force Genoese troops out of the citadels at the coast, Ajaccio was one of them. French troops entered Corsica in 1768 and in 1780 the island was was formally annexed to France in 1780. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio (as Nabulione Buonaparte) in 1769. His father had been the secretary to Pasquale Paoli during the Corsican Republic. His father was offered an appointment for his son to the Military College of Brienne, but the child had to be under 10. This is where the dispute about Napoleon´s age starts, as the records at Ajaccio have been altered and it may well be, that Napoleon was born in Corte in 1768. Anyway, he went to Brienne from 1779–1784 and started his career. Today Ajaccio is a main tourist spot on the island and unfortunately, a huge cruise ship had arrived. I know that I am a tourist too, but I really feel uncomfortable surrounded by thousands of others, who are in a hurry, as the ship only anchors for a few hours. The cathedral was built between 1577 and 1593 replacing the former Cathedral of Saint-Croix, destroyed in 1553 in order to make room for developments in the city's defences. It is where Napoleon Bonaparte was baptised on 21 July 1771. According to local legend, on 15 August 1769, Letizia Buonaparte felt sudden labour pains while in the cathedral. She rushed home to the Buonaparte's home and gave birth to Napoleon on a first floor before she could reach her bedroom upstairs. This may be right, or Napoleon was born in Corte...

Ajaccio was a seat of a diocese, mentioned by Pope Gregory the Great in 591. Excavations proved the existence of a baptistry and a cathedral from the 6th century, but not much is known about the early medieval times. The settlement did not prosper and shrunk down until the Genoese, eager to assert their dominance in the south of the island, decided to refound and rebuild the city of Ajaccio in 1492. Although at first populated exclusively by the Genoese, the city slowly opened to the Corsicans. Ajaccio was occupied from 1553 to 1559 by the French but fell again to the Genoese later. Genoa was strong enough to keep Corsica until 1755, the year Pasquale Paoli proclaimed the Corsican Republic. Paoli took most of the island for the republic but he was unable to force Genoese troops out of the citadels at the coast, Ajaccio was one of them. French troops entered Corsica in 1768 and in 1780 the island was was formally annexed to France in 1780. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio (as Nabulione Buonaparte) in 1769. His father had been the secretary to Pasquale Paoli during the Corsican Republic. His father was offered an appointment for his son to the Military College of Brienne, but the child had to be under 10. This is where the dispute about Napoleon´s age starts, as the records at Ajaccio have been altered and it may well be, that Napoleon was born in Corte in 1768. Anyway, he went to Brienne from 1779–1784 and started his career. Today Ajaccio is a main tourist spot on the island and unfortunately, a huge cruise ship had arrived. I know that I am a tourist too, but I really feel uncomfortable surrounded by thousands of others, who are in a hurry, as the ship only anchors for a few hours.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. Pascal Paoli (aka "Pasquale Paoli"), born in 1725, is still known as "U Babbu di a patria" on the island, the "Father of the Fatherland". He was a Corsican patriot, statesman and leader of the resistance movements against the Genoese and later French rule. He became the president of the Executive Council of the General Diet of the People of Corsica, and also designed and wrote the Constitution of the state, supported by his secretary Carlo Buonaparte, the father of Napoleon Bonaparte. The Corsican Republic was a representative democracy asserting that the elected Diet of Corsican representatives had no master. Paoli held his office by election. It made him commander-in-chief of the armed forces as well as chief magistrate. In terms of de facto exercise of power, the Genoese held the coastal cities, which they could defend from the citadels, but the Corsican republic controlled the rest of the island from Corte, its capital. Following the French conquest of Corsica in 1768, Paoli led the Corsican resistance. Following the defeat of Corsican forces at the Battle of Ponte Novu (1769) he was forced into exile in Britain. He returned after the French Revolution and helped to create the Anglo-Corsican Kingdom which lasted between 1794 and 1796. After the island was re-occupied by France he again went into exile in Britain where he died in 1807.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. Pascal Paoli (aka "Pasquale Paoli"), born in 1725, is still known as "U Babbu di a patria" on the island, the "Father of the Fatherland". He was a Corsican patriot, statesman and leader of the resistance movements against the Genoese and later French rule. He became the president of the Executive Council of the General Diet of the People of Corsica, and also designed and wrote the Constitution of the state, supported by his secretary Carlo Buonaparte, the father of Napoleon Bonaparte. The Corsican Republic was a representative democracy asserting that the elected Diet of Corsican representatives had no master. Paoli held his office by election. It made him commander-in-chief of the armed forces as well as chief magistrate. In terms of de facto exercise of power, the Genoese held the coastal cities, which they could defend from the citadels, but the Corsican republic controlled the rest of the island from Corte, its capital. Following the French conquest of Corsica in 1768, Paoli led the Corsican resistance. Following the defeat of Corsican forces at the Battle of Ponte Novu (1769) he was forced into exile in Britain. He returned after the French Revolution and helped to create the Anglo-Corsican Kingdom which lasted between 1794 and 1796. After the island was re-occupied by France he again went into exile in Britain where he died in 1807.

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire. At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent. Milan came back and flourished, when in 1386 Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo began construction of the cathedral. The construction program was strictly regulated under the "Fabbrica del Duomo", which had 300 employees led by a chief engineer. The first of these chief engineers, Simone da Orsenigo, planned to build the cathedral from brick in Lombard Gothic style. Three years later French chief engineer Nicolas de Bonaventure decided that the brick structure should be panelled with marble. Apse and transepts were completed in 1409, the crossing tower in 1500. When in 1572 the Duomo de Milano got finally consecrated by Archbishop Carlo Borromeo, the facade was not completed. There were different designs, but none was ever finished. Work slowed down until until in 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte, about to be crowned King of Italy here, ordered the façade to be finished. It got completed in neo Gothic style in 1813. With an interior area of 11700m² the "Duomo di Milano" is the world´s third largest church and one of the few (I know), where the roof is open to tourists. The day I was up the roof was icy - and so the tourists were only allowed to the galery to see the pinnacles, spires, sculptures and the delicate flying buttresses - and all the people walking the Piazza del Duomo.

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire. At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent. Milan came back and flourished, when in 1386 Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo began construction of the cathedral. The construction program was strictly regulated under the "Fabbrica del Duomo", which had 300 employees led by a chief engineer. The first of these chief engineers, Simone da Orsenigo, planned to build the cathedral from brick in Lombard Gothic style. Three years later French chief engineer Nicolas de Bonaventure decided that the brick structure should be panelled with marble. Apse and transepts were completed in 1409, the crossing tower in 1500. When in 1572 the Duomo de Milano got finally consecrated by Archbishop Carlo Borromeo, the facade was not completed. There were different designs, but none was ever finished. Work slowed down until until in 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte, about to be crowned King of Italy here, ordered the façade to be finished. It got completed in neo Gothic style in 1813. With an interior area of 11700m² the "Duomo di Milano" is the world´s third largest church and one of the few (I know), where the roof is open to tourists. The day I was up the roof was icy - and so the tourists were only allowed to the galery to see the pinnacles, spires, sculptures and the delicate flying buttresses.

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire. At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent. Milan came back and flourished, when in 1386 Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo began construction of the cathedral. The construction program was strictly regulated under the "Fabbrica del Duomo", which had 300 employees led by a chief engineer. The first of these chief engineers, Simone da Orsenigo, planned to build the cathedral from brick in Lombard Gothic style. Three years later French chief engineer Nicolas de Bonaventure decided that the brick structure should be panelled with marble. Apse and transepts were completed in 1409, the crossing tower in 1500. When in 1572 the Duomo de Milano got finally consecrated by Archbishop Carlo Borromeo, the facade was not completed. There were different designs, but none was ever finished. Work slowed down until until in 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte, about to be crowned King of Italy here, ordered the façade to be finished. It got completed in neo Gothic style in 1813. With an interior area of 11700m² the "Duomo di Milano" is the world´s third largest church and one of the few (I know), where the roof is open to tourists. The day I was up the roof was icy - and so the tourists were only allowed to the galery to see the pinnacles, spires, sculptures and the delicate flying buttresses.

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire. At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent. Milan came back and flourished, when in 1386 Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo began construction of the cathedral. The construction program was strictly regulated under the "Fabbrica del Duomo", which had 300 employees led by a chief engineer. The first of these chief engineers, Simone da Orsenigo, planned to build the cathedral from brick in Lombard Gothic style. Three years later French chief engineer Nicolas de Bonaventure decided that the brick structure should be panelled with marble. Apse and transepts were completed in 1409, the crossing tower in 1500. When in 1572 the Duomo de Milano got finally consecrated by Archbishop Carlo Borromeo, the facade was not completed. There were different designs, but none was ever finished. Work slowed down until until in 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte, about to be crowned King of Italy here, ordered the façade to be finished. It got completed in neo Gothic style in 1813. With an interior area of 11700m² the "Duomo di Milano" is the world´s third largest church and one of the few (I know), where the roof is open to tourists. The day I was up the roof was icy - and so the tourists were only allowed to the galery to see the pinnacles, spires, sculptures and the delicate flying buttresses.

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire. At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent. Milan came back and flourished, when in 1386 Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo began construction of the cathedral. The construction program was strictly regulated under the "Fabbrica del Duomo", which had 300 employees led by a chief engineer. The first of these chief engineers, Simone da Orsenigo, planned to build the cathedral from brick in Lombard Gothic style. Three years later French chief engineer Nicolas de Bonaventure decided that the brick structure should be panelled with marble. Apse and transepts were completed in 1409, the crossing tower in 1500. When in 1572 the Duomo de Milano got finally consecrated by Archbishop Carlo Borromeo, the facade was not completed. There were different designs, but none was ever finished. Work slowed down until until in 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte, about to be crowned King of Italy here, ordered the façade to be finished. It got completed in neo Gothic style in 1813. With an interior area of 11700m² the "Duomo di Milano" is the world´s third largest church and one of the few (I know), where the roof is open to tourists. The day I was up the roof was icy - and so the tourists were only allowed to the galery to see the pinnacles, spires, sculptures and the delicate flying buttresses.

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire. At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent. Milan came back and flourished, when in 1386 Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo began construction of the cathedral. The construction program was strictly regulated under the "Fabbrica del Duomo", which had 300 employees led by a chief engineer. The first of these chief engineers, Simone da Orsenigo, planned to build the cathedral from brick in Lombard Gothic style. Three years later French chief engineer Nicolas de Bonaventure decided that the brick structure should be panelled with marble. Apse and transepts were completed in 1409, the crossing tower in 1500. When in 1572 the Duomo de Milano got finally consecrated by Archbishop Carlo Borromeo, the facade was not completed. There were different designs, but none was ever finished. Work slowed down until until in 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte, about to be crowned King of Italy here, ordered the façade to be finished. It got completed in neo Gothic style in 1813. With an interior area of 11700m² the "Duomo di Milano" is the world´s third largest church and one of the few (I know), where the roof is open to tourists. The day I was up the roof was icy - and so the tourists were only allowed to the galery to see the pinnacles, spires, sculptures and the delicate flying buttresses.

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire. At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent. Milan came back and flourished, when in 1386 Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo began construction of the cathedral. The construction program was strictly regulated under the "Fabbrica del Duomo", which had 300 employees led by a chief engineer. The first of these chief engineers, Simone da Orsenigo, planned to build the cathedral from brick in Lombard Gothic style. Three years later French chief engineer Nicolas de Bonaventure decided that the brick structure should be panelled with marble. Apse and transepts were completed in 1409, the crossing tower in 1500. When in 1572 the Duomo de Milano got finally consecrated by Archbishop Carlo Borromeo, the facade was not completed. There were different designs, but none was ever finished. Work slowed down until until in 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte, about to be crowned King of Italy here, ordered the façade to be finished. It got completed in neo Gothic style in 1813. With an interior area of 11700m² the "Duomo di Milano" is the world´s third largest church and one of the few (I know), where the roof is open to tourists. The day I was up the roof was icy - and so the tourists were only allowed to the galery to see the pinnacles, spires, sculptures and the delicate flying buttresses.

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire. At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent. Milan came back and flourished, when in 1386 Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo began construction of the cathedral. The construction program was strictly regulated under the "Fabbrica del Duomo", which had 300 employees led by a chief engineer. The first of these chief engineers, Simone da Orsenigo, planned to build the cathedral from brick in Lombard Gothic style. Three years later French chief engineer Nicolas de Bonaventure decided that the brick structure should be panelled with marble. Apse and transepts were completed in 1409, the crossing tower in 1500. When in 1572 the Duomo de Milano got finally consecrated by Archbishop Carlo Borromeo, the facade was not completed. There were different designs, but none was ever finished. Work slowed down until until in 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte, about to be crowned King of Italy here, ordered the façade to be finished. It got completed in neo Gothic style in 1813. With an interior area of 11700m² the "Duomo di Milano" is the world´s third largest church and one of the few (I know), where the roof is open to tourists. The day I was up the roof was icy - and so the tourists were only allowed to the galery to see the pinnacles, spires, sculptures and the delicate flying buttresses.

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire. At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent. Milan came back and flourished, when in 1386 Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo began construction of the cathedral. The construction program was strictly regulated under the "Fabbrica del Duomo", which had 300 employees led by a chief engineer. The first of these chief engineers, Simone da Orsenigo, planned to build the cathedral from brick in Lombard Gothic style. Three years later French chief engineer Nicolas de Bonaventure decided that the brick structure should be panelled with marble. Apse and transepts were completed in 1409, the crossing tower in 1500. When in 1572 the Duomo de Milano got finally consecrated by Archbishop Carlo Borromeo, the facade was not completed. There were different designs, but none was ever finished. Work slowed down until until in 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte, about to be crowned King of Italy here, ordered the façade to be finished. It got completed in neo Gothic style in 1813. With an interior area of 11700m² the "Duomo di Milano" is the world´s third largest church and one of the few (I know), where the roof is open to tourists. The day I was up the roof was icy - and so the tourists were only allowed to the galery to see the pinnacles, spires, sculptures and the delicate flying buttresses.