Why is there a statue of Mussolini on Milan Cathedral?

If you have ever visited the terraces of Milan’s Duomo, you have probably been drawn to the famous golden Madonnina at the cathedral’s summit, a symbol of the city that the Milanese affectionately call the Madunina. The breathtaking panoramic view over Milan is another highlight that captures visitors’ attention.

However, on the roof of the Gothic Cathedral, there are a few unexpected figures. Among them, remarkably, is a statue of Mussolini. But where exactly is it, and why does it remain there to this day?

A crowd of 2,500 statues

With around 2,500 statues adorning the Duomo, spotting individual figures is no easy task. Yet, taking the time to observe the more unusual sculptures hidden among the spires can be rewarding. Many were crafted by imaginative stonemasons who left behind a legacy that does not always align with the religious nature of the building. Some of the most curious stone carvings? A tennis racket, a pair of hiking boots, and even a mountaineering pickaxe.

Where is the statue of Mussolini on Milan Cathedral?

The set of statues featuring Mussolini’s face dates back to the 1920s and 1930s and was added during one of the many restorations that have sustained this colossal cathedral over the centuries. These sculptures are located along the falconatura, the highest accessible part of the Duomo. To spot them, visitors should stand with their backs to the Madonnina, near the two exits onto the terraces.

A disguised statue

Once at the top of the staircase leading to the roof, turn towards the side facing the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Here, you will find the faces of Pope Pius IX, King Vittorio Emanuele III, and Benito Mussolini. These were sculpted to commemorate the signing of the Lateran Pacts in 1929. Mussolini’s head is recognisable by its facial features and by the presence of the other two historical figures associated with the event. However, following the Second World War, a headdress was added to partially obscure his likeness, an attempt to downplay his presence in a city that had firmly rejected his legacy.

Other curiosities at the top of Milan Cathedral

On the opposite side of the staircase, you will find the aforementioned hiking boots, along with other sporting accessories. The inclusion of such elements reflects the evolving nature of a cathedral that remains a living monument, which not just a relic of the past, but a site that continues to transform alongside the world around it.

Stone pigeons

While real pigeons are strictly banned from the Duomo, a few have managed to secure a permanent spot among its spires (albeit in stone). Three pigeons have been sculpted onto the cathedral’s facade, where they perch on delicate stone branches. Unlike their living counterparts in Piazza del Duomo, these pigeons neither flutter nor leave behind any mess, content to gaze down on the world below.

Boxers on the rooftop

Among the more unexpected figures atop the cathedral are four boxers, dating back to the 1930s. The most famous of these is Primo Carnera, who won the world heavyweight boxing title in New York on 28 June 1933, defeating Jack Sharkey in front of a rapturous crowd.

Long past his days of glory, Carnera still stands in a fighting stance, immortalised in stone on the Duomo’s rooftop. Another of the boxers is Erminio Spalla, the first Italian to win a European boxing title, who later became a celebrated actor. To complete the scene, a pair of stone boxing gloves can also be found nearby.

Unexpected figures and objects

Other surprising figures among the cathedral’s sculptures include conductor Arturo Toscanini and Napoleon Bonaparte, who famously crowned himself Emperor inside the Duomo in 1805. Alongside them, an eclectic mix of objects, such as a rugby ball, tennis balls, a Roman helmet, a fez, and a set of fasces, serve as reminders of the era in which they were sculpted, the same period that saw Mussolini’s face added to the facade.

Mussolini and Milan

Milan’s relationship with Mussolini is complex and twofold. On one hand, it was in this city that he worked as a journalist and later founded Fascism. Yet Milan also became a centre of resistance against his regime, emerging as the stronghold of the partisan movement in Northern Italy. Ultimately, it was in Milan that Mussolini met his end, executed and displayed in Piazzale Loreto.

Despite the city’s decisive break from its Fascist past, Mussolini’s image endures in at least one other location: Milan’s Central Station. His figure appears in a mosaic near Platform 20.

Over time, many Fascist symbols have been removed, yet some remnants (like this mosaic) still remain.

Article translated by Agnese Giardini

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Curiosities

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