Il Duomo di Milano, nel segno della festa della Nascita della Vergine Maria

In brief

Milan Cathedral celebrates its dedication to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8. The cathedral's identity is tied to this feast, as indicated by the inscription Mariae Nascenti on its facade.

The cathedral was founded in 1386 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti and Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo. The decision to dedicate the building to the birth of Mary followed the traditions of the Church in Milan and the teachings of Saint Ambrose. The patron saint of Milan described Mary as a model of the Church, representing purity and fruitfulness. The golden statue of the Virgin Mary atop the cathedral spires, known locally as La Madunina, remains a central symbol of this devotion.