Milan's Duomo Cathedral Predates U.S. History

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, Italy's iconic cathedral provides a reality check on the country's long history.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 8:15pm

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The construction of Milan's stunning Duomo cathedral began in 1386, long before Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas in 1492. The cathedral took over 600 years to complete, enduring famine, war, and poverty along the way. One of the cathedral's statues, La Legge Nuova, even bears a resemblance to the Statue of Liberty, predating it by about 70 years.

Why it matters

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, the history of Milan's Duomo cathedral serves as a reminder of the deep roots and long-standing traditions of European cities, which predate the founding of the United States by centuries. The cathedral's enduring construction over multiple generations highlights the resilience and perseverance of the Italian people.

The details

Construction on the Milan Duomo began in 1386, and it would remain under construction for the next 600 years. The cathedral's guide, Marius, joked that "Italians like their coffee, so they took a lot of breaks, that's why it took so long." However, Marius noted that the cathedral went through many challenging periods, including famine, war, and poverty, which contributed to the lengthy construction timeline. One of the cathedral's statues, La Legge Nuova, bears a resemblance to the Statue of Liberty, predating it by about 70 years. The sculptor, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, was known to visit the Duomo often, suggesting it may have been an inspiration for his famous American landmark.

  • Construction on the Milan Duomo began in 1386.
  • Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas in 1492.
  • The Statue of Liberty was completed in 1886, about 70 years after the creation of the La Legge Nuova statue on the Duomo.
  • The finishing touches on the Duomo's grand doors were completed in 1965.

The players

Marius

A guide at the Milan Duomo cathedral.

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi

The sculptor who created the Statue of Liberty, and was known to visit the Milan Duomo often.

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What they’re saying

“Italians like their coffee, so they took a lot of breaks, that's why it took so long.”

— Marius, Duomo guide (ksltv.com)

“No, Milanos went through many different situations, famine, war, poverty, instability and the sheer size of the cathedral as well.”

— Marius, Duomo guide (ksltv.com)

The takeaway

The history of Milan's Duomo cathedral, which predates the founding of the United States by centuries, serves as a humbling reminder of the deep roots and enduring traditions of European cities. As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, the Duomo's 600-year construction timeline highlights the resilience and perseverance of the Italian people in the face of famine, war, and poverty.