Where to see the Duomo from

Seven viewpoints compared

Which one to pick

For the spires themselves, go on the roof. Nothing else gets you among them, so this is the one to choose if you came for the marble and not for a skyline. The Central Terrace, at 45 metres, is the highest point open to visitors, and the stairs-or-lift question is the next thing to settle.

For the whole cathedral in one frame, stay outside it. A view from the roof cannot show you the roof. Rinascente, Novecento and Highline all see the building from the side or the front.

If you want a drink with it, choose Rinascente or Terrazza Aperol. Rinascente's terrace has direct access from Via Santa Radegonda and sits in the Food Hall. Terrazza Aperol, on the second floor of Il Mercato del Duomo, runs until 23:00, so it works after the cathedral closes.

If it is raining, take the Novecento. The Sala Fontana view is behind glass, and terrace visits can be suspended in bad weather. Thursday evenings run to 22:30 too.

Skip these as Duomo viewpoints. Torre Branca is 108.60 metres high and very good for the city and the Alps, but it is not close to the cathedral. Terrazza Martini presents itself as an event venue. We found no official statement of a view from Palazzo Reale.

Photographing the Duomo

These come from the visitor regulations and the ticket pages.

• Personal photos are fine, except during celebrations in the cathedral.
• No tripods and no flash, on the pictograms shown on ticket pages.
• Drones and their remote controls are banned.
• Professional photo or video equipment needs authorisation.
• Filming in the Baptisteries needs authorisation from the Superintendence.
• Selfie sticks are listed among the exceptions in the Rules.

For the façade from the square, stand well back: at close range you lose the top of the building to the angle. To photograph the Madonnina, use the second terrace level, the nearest you can get. Scaffolding can appear on any part of the building, because restoration never stops, so have a second angle in mind.

Sunset and evening

Terrace evening openings are seasonal: the 2026 ones ended by 13 September, and no winter programme was listed when we checked. See sunset on the roof before you plan around the light. The bars and the Novecento on Thursdays are the dependable evening options, and the square is open to everyone.