Preservation of the Duomo of Milan

The Duomo of Milan, whose construction was started in 1386, is one of the latter examples of the Central European Gothic style, meaningfully enhanced by Lombard culture. In 1961 new damage and the worsening of that already existing started to appear on the pillars of the lantern and the adjacent pillars. To avoid their collapse, in 1969 the pillars of the lantern lined with a reinforced concrete structure cast onto the marble surface, resting on foundation pillars and able to independently support the 3,500 tons load borne by each pillar. The objective of the plan for static reinforcement of the pillars, and in particular of those supporting the lantern, was the removal of the reinforced concrete lining and the simultaneous substitution, directly contributory, of the damaged marble ashlars with new ones. The work, which started at the same time on all four pillars in August, 1981, was finished in March, 1984.