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The Wonderful Madonnina of Milan 🇮🇹 The city’s symbol and protector May she always watch over Milan and protect it from all harm! For over 250 years, from a height of 356 feet above the ground, a golden figure has silently watched over Milan She is the Madonnina, much more than a symbol: for the people of Milan, she represents identity, faith, tradition, and hope Designed by sculptor Giuseppe Perego and completed in 1773, she was placed atop the Duomo’s highest spire in December 1774 She depicts the Virgin Mary assumed into Heaven, her arms open in a gesture that seems to embrace and protect the entire city Standing 13.6 feet tall, she is not made of solid gold She consists of 33 embossed copper plates covered in pure gold leaf The Madonnina has lived through wars and transformations During World War II, she was covered to prevent enemy bombers from using her as a landmark, and she was unveiled again in 1945 In 2012, a major gilding restoration restored her golden splendor using no fewer than 6,750 sheets of pure gold leaf There is also a beloved Milanese tradition: no building should stand taller than the Madonnina That is why smaller replicas of her have been placed atop some of the city’s tallest skyscrapers But above all, the Madonnina remains a familiar and reassuring presence in the city, one that endures through time and hardship… ✨🙏