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Milan Saturday 11 February 1893 |
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After a good night’s rest and breakfast the pilgrims went to inspect the city. Leonardo da Vinci had lived in Milan from 1494 to 1516 and there were many sculptures to be seen, two thousand of these were on the exterior of the Cathedral. The building of the Cathedral, dedicated to ‘Mariae Nascenti’ started in 1387 and was not completed. It had a capacity to hold forty thousand people.
Beneath the central dome, and in front of the high altar, was a subterranean chapel with the tomb of St Charles. The body was wonderfully preserved. The pilgrims were permitted, by the priest in charge, to view the face, the features of which were still traceable. He had the case opened and the visor, which usually covered the face, raised.
The coffin which contained the body had been made at the cost of King Philip the 4th of Spain. It was of pure gold and together with the adornments in the crypt, was valued at four million francs. It was enclosed within a glass casing, which in turn was surrounded by a massive silver one.
After this experience some of the pilgrims proceeded to explore the roof and tower of the Cathedral, climbing five hundred steps to the highest gallery. The view was spectacular – the white marble palaces, the domes and spires of eighty Catholic Churches and then the Alps.
High Mass was celebrated at 11 am and afterwards the group divided into smaller parties and went to further explore the City – some visited the Carnival which was in full swing at the time.
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