The Madonnina (, ) is a statue of the

Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...

atop Milan Cathedral in Italy. The Madonnina spire or ("lantern spire"), one of the main features of the cathedral, was erected in 1762 at the height of , as designed by Francesco Croce. At the top of the spire is the polychrome Madonnina statue, designed and built by Carlo Pellicani in 1774, during the episcopacy of

Giuseppe Pozzobonelli Giuseppe II Pozzobonelli (or ''Puteobonellus'', 1696–1783) was an Italian Cardinal and the Archbishop of Milan from 1743 to 1783. Early life Giuseppe Pozzobonelli was born on 11 August 1696 in Milan, which at the time was part of Duchy of Mila ...

who supported the idea to place the Madonnina at the top of the Cathedral. By tradition, no building in Milan is higher than the Madonnina. When

Gio Ponti Giovanni "Gio" Ponti ( ͡ʒo18 November 1891 – 16 September 1979) was an Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer, artist, teacher, writer and publisher. During his career, which spanned six decades, Ponti built more than a ...

's Pirelli Building was being built in the late 1950s, at a height of , a smaller replica of the Madonnina was placed atop the Pirelli building, so the new Madonnina remains the tallest point in Milan. In 2010 another replica was placed as well on the top of the

Palazzo Lombardia Palazzo Lombardia ("Lombardy Palace") is a complex of buildings in Milan, Italy, including a 43-storey, tall skyscraper. It is the main seat of the Lombardy regional government, located in the Centro Direzionale di Milano (CBD, Central Business ...

, at a height of , being then the tallest building in the city. In 2015 still another replica was placed atop the

Allianz Tower Allianz Tower ( it, links=yes, Torre Allianz), also known as Isozaki Tower ( it, links=yes, Torre Isozaki), is a fifty-floor, skyscraper in Milan, Italy. Designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki and Italian architect Andrea Maffei, it serve ...

so that the Madonnina still occupies the highest roof in the city, now at .La Madonnina sale sulla torre Isozaki. È la quarta copia dell’Assunta.
''Corriere Della Sera'' (in Italian). Published November 23, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2020. The Madonnina is the subject of the most traditional Milanese song, '' O mia bella Madonnina''. The ''

Derby della Madonnina The Derby della Madonnina, also known as the Derby di Milano (Milan Derby, in English), is a derby football match between the two prominent Milanese clubs, Internazionale and A.C. Milan. It is called ''Derby della Madonnina'' in honour of one ...

'' named after it is the local rivalry between the city's two football clubs

A.C. Milan Associazione Calcio Milan (), commonly referred to as AC Milan or simply Milan, is a professional Association football, football club in Milan, Italy, founded in 1899. The club has spent its entire history, with the exception of the 1980–81 ...

and

Inter Milan Football Club Internazionale Milano, commonly referred to as Internazionale () or simply Inter, and colloquially known as Inter Milan in English-speaking countries, is an Italian professional football club based in Milan, Lombardy. Inter is ...

Notes

Culture in Milan Outdoor sculptures in Milan 1774 sculptures Monuments and memorials in Milan Sculptures of women in Italy Statues in Italy {{Italy-sculpture-stub

See also

Notes