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Two French men charged with trespassing after climbing Milan Duomo

Two French nationals were arrested and charged with trespassing on Friday after climbing to the top of Milan’s Duomo cathedral, as part of a social media stunt.

Published: 12 August 2023 09:49 CEST
Milan Duomo on a sunny day
Milan's city centre is expected to bring in stricter traffic limits in 2024. Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP

A police officer spotted the two men, aged 18 and 20 around 6am, while they were free-climbing the building’s main spire, according to local media reports. 

It is still unclear when exactly they started the 108.5 metre-ascent and which side of the Duomo they scaled, though video footage available online showed them using the scaffolding for ongoing restoration works on their way up.

After reaching the top of the main spire – known as the guglia della Madonnina due to its famous statue of the Virgin Mary – the two men started their descent.

Once back on the ground, they were arrested by local police officers, who had in the meantime cordoned off the area. They then charged the free climbers with trespassing under article 633 of Italy’s criminal code. 

The two men each face a fine of up to 1,032 euros, according to local media.

READ ALSO: What punishments do tourists face if they damage Italian monuments?

Following the arrest, investigators identified them as part of a well-known group of urban climbers and ‘parkourists’ (people who traverse obstacles without equipment), who regularly post their stunts on social media. 

Madonnina statue, Milan Duomo

A view of the ‘Madonnina’ statue atop the main spire of Milan’s Duomo cathedral. Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP

Gianluca Mirabelli, chief of Milan’s operative police command, referred to them as urban climbing “professionals”, adding that photos of similar feats in other European countries had been found on their mobile phones.

After checks from local police forces, the Duomo was said to have suffered no damage during the climb. 

According to Mirabelli, there was no connection between Friday’s Duomo stunt and an incident that occurred on Monday evening, in which three as-yet-unidentified individuals climbed on top of the Vittorio Emanuele Gallery and vandalised it using spray paint.

The Security Department of the ‘Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo’ is still carrying out investigations, and is viewing the footage of all the cameras.

The two French climbers weren’t the first to scale to the top of Milan’s cathedral. A Polish national also reached the world-famous Madonnina statue in May 2022 to reportedly take a selfie.

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MILAN

Milan approves new rules cracking down on noisy nightlife

Milan city council on Monday confirmed new rules aimed at limiting noise from nightlife in the city, with restrictions on the sale of alcohol - but no ban on late-night gelato, as was initially reported.

Published: 13 May 2024 16:14 CEST
Milan approves new rules cracking down on noisy nightlife

New legislation aimed at stopping noise from Milan’s nightlife from keeping residents awake will come into force in 12 of the city’s central districts from Monday, May 20th, remaining in place until November 4th.

READ ALSO: Milan announces plan to ban cars from city centre in 2024

Milan’s city council published an ordinance on Monday containing details of the much-debated temporary limit on the opening hours of outdoor terraces, takeaways and other food and drinks businesses, which it said would improve the lives of local residents without hitting business owners in the pocket.

According to the local edition of Corriere della Sera, the new rules limit:

  • Opening hours of bar and restaurant terraces, which must close no later than 1am and reopen no earlier than 6am. The limit is extended to 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.
  • Sales of takeaway alcoholic drinks from bars, shops and other businesses, which are prohibited between midnight and 6am.
  • Sales of food and drinks by street vendors between 8pm and 6pm.

The rules will apply in the areas of Nolo, Lazzaretto, Melzo, Isola, Sarpi, Cesariano, Arco della Pace, Corso Como/Gae Aulenti, Garibaldi, Brera, Ticinese, Darsena and Navigli, according to local media reports.

While initial reports ridiculed the measure as an “ice-cream ban”, councillors later clarified that “ice cream is not the target” and that the rules would focus on the sale of “drinks, especially alcoholic ones.”

OPINION: Why Milan is a much better city to live in than Rome

This was the latest set of temporary restrictions brought in by Milan’s city council, and follows the introduction of similar rules last October on weekends in the busy areas of via Melzo, via Lazzaretto and piazza Oberdan.

Previously introduced limits were criticised as ineffective by residents’ associations, who said noise levels would remain above safe limits, as well as business owners, who pointed out that many bars in central areas of the city already had an agreement in place to close outdoor terraces no later than 2am.

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