Duomo -- European cathedrals are known for their glacial pace of construction, as builders were continually beset by empty purses, fires, invasions, revolutions and bombs in their quest to build a temporal bridge to heaven.  The great cathedral of Milan was founded in 1386, and was continually improved upon until 1812, when the front façade (an artful marriage of northern Gothic and Neoclassical motifs, constantly redesigned since the 17th century) was complete and the forest of spires were erected. The Piazza del Duomo, one of the largest public squares in Italy, is the geographical hub of the city from which the main thoroughfares radiate, just as Paris was similarly revamped at around the same time in the mid-19th century.

This photo was taken with the Canon Pro70 digital camera.