The “madonnina” at EXPO brings with it the centuries-old history of the construction of the Duomo, one of the great Gothic cathedrals of Europe. A symbol for the entire city of Milan that represents all the cultures that make Milan.

The space dedicated to the VFD Pavilion is made up of two episodes, the first one overlooking the decumanus articulated by a square/tier that wants to reproduce the rooftop of the Duomo di Milano and where the reproduction of the Madonnina is placed on a 1:1 scale, the second is a small single floor building with a thematic exhibition.

The “madonnina” at EXPO brings with it the centuries-old history of the construction of the Duomo, one of the great Gothic cathedrals of aEurope. A symbol for the entire city of Milan that represents all the cultures that make Milan.

The marble theme is tackled from the raw material extracted from the quarry and then transported through the canals to arrive in Milan and be transformed by the stonemasons into the fantastic pieces that make up the Duomo.

In fact on the right you can find four huge blocks of candoglia marble and on the left four islands made up of spiers, pieces of arch, finely sculpted capitals built between the ‘500 and the 800.

Centrally we have the ascent towards the reproduction of the Madonnina, 4.16m high in bronze and covered in gold. As we ascend we find the 7 centuries of life of the VFD up to today printed in the cement as it is done with the blocks of marble.

The second volume completing and integrating the pavilion is located behind the square. A very neutral and clean volume that absolutely wants to disappear. Inside we find two photographic exhibitions that tell the story of the Madonnina placed on the Duomo and the history of the copy that can be visited in EXPO.