On April 29, members of the Franklin Senior Class and friends took a two-hour tour of the Duomo in Milan, Italy accompanied by Professor Fabio Ferrari and Ebonie Rayford from the Office of Student Life and Career Services. Through their guided tour by Fiamma Bozzolo of the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, students learned about the history and architecture of the cathedral. Bozzolo shared that the Veneranda Fabbrica has been operating since 1387, shortly after the construction began on the cathedral. They have been responsible for the cathedral's maintenance for over 600 years. They learned that nearly 50% of the funds for the cathedral’s maintenance has come from donations. The decorations inside and outside the Duomo pay tribute to the natural world, the spiritual world, and the part of the earthly world. Students reported that the interplay of private enterprise in the creation and upkeep of the Duomo was particularly fascinating.
The Frankliners proceeded to the picturesque rooftop, where there were stunning views at sunset. Students recalled a famous scene from the film “Rocco e i suoi Fratelli” by Luchino Visconti with Alain Delon was shot on the Duomo terrace, which was previously discussed in the Film Studies course. All enjoyed a walk around the city center after a long, memorable day at one of the largest cathedrals in the world, second only in Italy to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The day was bittersweet as some seniors viewed it as their last venture outside Lugano together before graduation. The Duomo tour in Milan was a fitting farewell to the Italian-speaking region of Europe for departing students, and it is a new tradition that Franklin hopes to continue in future years.
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