The three Angels,
messengers of the Duomo
The fundraising campaign “Get your Spire. Carve your name in history” was launched in 2012 with a clear objective: to care for Milan Duomo and its 135 spires by actively involving citizens, worshippers, and visitors. Today, 14 years on, this initiative is enriched with a new chapter.
Every statue on the Duomo holds a story. Some we have known for centuries; others were simply hidden, waiting to be told, like the three new spires that today become part of Get your Spire, offering everyone the opportunity to actively contribute to the Cathedral’s needs. This addition represents far more than a simple expansion of the initiative, acquiring a much deeper meaning: donations are vital for supporting restoration efforts, but they are also a precious tool that allows us to deepen our knowledge of the Duomo, study its history, and highlight its value, making it accessible to an ever-wider public.
These three little angels are the most concrete proof of this
Until recently, historical information about these spires was uncertain and fragmented. Thanks to the recent restoration work carried out on the North Capocroce of the Duomo—the northern end of the transept, the Cathedral’s “short arm”—an important opportunity for study emerged. This went beyond conservative aspects to include a thorough historical and artistic analysis of the statuary in this portion of the Monument. This work enabled the Archive of the Veneranda Fabbrica to give these three angels a clearer identity, which we can finally share today, entrusting them once again to the collective care of those who choose to support the Duomo.
“Get your Spire. From giving to revealing” tells not only of the need for protection, but also of the importance of research and knowledge, ensuring that the Duomo continues to live and speak to future generations.
The three messengers of the Duomo
The term “Angel” derives from the Greek ἄγγελος (ángelos), meaning “messenger“: celestial figures who, in Christian tradition, act as intermediaries between humanity and the Divine. Milan Duomo is filled with them, and today it is enriched by three new stories forged in marble and devotion. Discover the three spires, winged angels bringing a flower as a gift to the Madonnina (the Main spire), a symbol of purity, resurrection, and Paradise:
Angel with a bouquet of roses
An original treasure
Èhe original sculpture created by Giuseppe Puricelli in 1733, which has survived intact to this day,
holds a bouquet of roses wrapped in a cloth—a symbol of charity and of the “queen of flowers” associated with the Virgin Mary
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Angel with a wreath of flowers
Triumph and Hope
he floral wreath represents the victory of the Spirit and the promise of eternal life.
This is a copy that preserves the 18th-century model by Carlo Beretta.
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Angel with flowers
Classical Harmony
An angel holding a branch of flowers, a symbol of the beauty of Creation and one of the most charming floral tributes.
It is a reproduction made to protect the original by Giuseppe Puricelli.
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Further information:
Donation Office
Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano
Via Carlo Maria Martini, 1 – 20122 Milano
+ 39 800.528.477
[email protected]
