During my stay in Italy, I’ve been relatively convinced that the most impressive cathedral would be the Duomo in Florence. In a lot of ways, this sentiment was definitely correct.

However, upon entering the Cathedral of Milan, I was shocked and amazed. For whatever reason, perhaps because Milan is widely regarded as being the capital of the fashion world, I wasn’t expecting to see a lot of beautiful structures.

I was extremely pleasantly surprised by Milan’s cathedral. As we climbed to the very top of the building, I was struck by the most beautiful view. It was truly incredible to be physically among the spires and statues atop of the cathedral. It was a very unique and beautiful experience.

This, of course, was before having entered the cathedral itself. The giant pillars were simply incredible. As we strolled around the pews, an organ played in the background. I could smell the incense in the air as May’s Sun gently cascaded through the amazing stained glass windows.

I’ve been waiting to feel a real connection with a cathedral here in Italy. Having been raised Catholic, I expected to feel much more in tune with my faith here given that culturally, Italy is a very Catholic country. For whatever reason, the Cathedral of Milan was really the first time I felt that way.

I would certainly recommend visiting Milan’s Cathedral if you find yourself in the city of fashion. Even though it isn’t as flashy as the Galleria Vitorrio Emanuele II, but it’s a beautiful sight that is worth remembering.