Piazza del Duomo, also known as the Cathedral square, one of the main attractions of Milan. Got its name from the dominating Cathedral – the Duomo. The square is the heart of the city, as from a geographical point of view, and in terms of its importance in art, culture, and public life of Milan. Rectangular in shape, it is spread over an area of 17 thousand square meters On it are the biggest attractions not only Milan, but Italy as a whole.

Piazza del Duomo was founded in the 14th century and since then has been adapted and expanded as the Duomo Cathedral, the construction of which lasted for more than 6 centuries. The current appearance of the square is the work of architect Giuseppe Mengoni, who lived in Milan in the second half of the 19th century. Many of the buildings that frame the square (except for the Duomo and Palazzo Reale), is also the creation Mengoni, including the world-famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

In 1330, the year Azzone Visconti, ruler of Milan, ordered to demolish taverns surrounding the two main churches of the time – the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Basilica of Santa Tecla. In their place he wanted to build the Piazza del Arango (from Italian arengario - government building) – it will be the ancestor of the future Piazza del Duomo. None of the original buildings of Piazza del arengario has not survived to our days.

At the end of the 14th century were demolished the baptistery of San Giovanni alle Fonti and the Bishop's home, later the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, and then began the construction of the Duomo. In 1458, the year was destroyed and the Church of Santa Tecla, thereby creating a large area around the future of the Cathedral.

Some modification of the area occurred in the second half of the 18th century, when the architect Giuseppe Piermarini redid former arengario current Palazzo Reale. And in the 19th century to the South-East of the Cathedral was built of Fabbrica del Duomo. But major changes in the appearance of the area occurred after the second war of Italian independence (1859-th year) – it was then announced the government's intention to create an Avenue in honor of king Victor Emmanuel II. Restructuring of the area was entrusted to Giuseppe Mengoni, and he began work in 1865, the year. First, the area was expanded, which was demolished the whole surrounding area, and then it appeared many of the current attractions, including the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the two Palazzi dei Portici. In 1896, the year in the centre of Piazza del Duomo, erected a monument to king Victor Emmanuel II.

The last major changes to the look of the square occurred in the years of fascist rule at the place where Mengoni planned to build a second triumphal arch, was built Palazzo arengario, government house, whose main objective was to provide a place for public speaking Mussolini before the people. Today in the building of arengario houses the Museum of art of the 20th century.