Paperblanks 2027 Vault of the Milan Cathedral Mini Hardback Diary – Week-to-View Horizontal

Plan the year ahead in style with this 2027 Vault of the Milan Cathedral mini hardback diary from Paperblanks, running from January to December 2027 in a week-to-view horizontal layout, with the days of the week running across two facing pages.

The Duomo di Milano represents the pinnacle of Italian Gothic architecture. The drawing recreated here is part of a series proposed by the architect Paolo Cesa Bianchi for the decoration of the interior vaults of the Cathedral. The soaring arabesques create a sense of a faux relief arborescence over a golden background.

The Story Behind the Design

With its intricate flying buttresses and ornate religious sculptures, the Duomo di Milano represents the pinnacle of Italian Gothic architecture. Telling a story of faith and art that spans centuries, the cathedral is truly a must-see among the many sights to visit in the city of Milan.

Construction for the Duomo began in 1386. It became a central location for lively discussions of creative ideas, as architects, spiritual leaders and trade workers shared ideas and inspirations for the cathedral’s design. In the end, hundreds of designers contributed their visions, the result being an entirely unique piece of architecture that merges influences from across the centuries.

In the 19th century there were many architects, each with their own unique vision, who submitted design proposals for the cathedral’s latest renovations. For this Duomo di Milano release, we looked to a series of architectural drawings proposed by Paolo Cesa Bianchi (1840–1920) for the decoration of the interior vaults. In 1881, Cesa Bianchi was named the engineer-architect of the Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano, a position he held until 1912. This submission by Cesa Bianchi centres around the use of arabesques, which create a sense of a faux relief arborescence over a golden background. The upward facing arrangement symbolises a closeness to heaven.

The proposals of architects like Cesa Bianchi are now carefully preserved in the Archive of the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, an organisation that has been safeguarding and restoring the Duomo di Milano since 1387. Thanks to their work preserving the history of the cathedral, we can discover the unfinished works and inspirations of architects both past and present, and imagine the various versions of the cathedral that were never completed. We are honoured to partner with Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano to bring this example of sublime architectural vision to new eyes.

Learn more about how this collaborative collection came to be here.

• Original artwork: Architectural drawing by Paolo Cesa Bianchi
• Era: 1881
• Region: Italy

Product Details

• Size: Mini – 95 × 140 × 20 mm
• Date range: January – December 2027
• Layout: Week-to-View Horizontal
• Language: English
• Pages: 176 (88 sheets)
• Paper: 100 gsm acid-free smooth paper
• Cover: Hardback
• Closure: Wrap closure with hidden magnets
• Binding: Smyth sewn – lies flat and stays durable
• Corners: Square
• Pouch: Back cover pouch
• Design: Vault of the Milan Cathedral
• Series: Duomo di Milano
• 100% recycled binder boards
• Decorative printed cover paper
• Printed on acid-free paper
• Threaded stitching and glue, as needed
• 2 satin ribbon markers
• Memento pouch
• Name plate
• Monthly planner
• Conversion tables
• Year planner
• International dialling codes
• Mini calendars
• International holidays
• National holidays
• World time zones
• Note-taking pages
• Weight: 209 g
• Product code: DE1903-0 | ISBN: 9780349719030

About Paperblanks

Paperblanks works with museums, libraries, galleries and artists around the world to faithfully reproduce remarkable artwork, historic bindings and treasured manuscripts. Every book is made to last, with binder boards crafted from 100% recycled materials, and the back endpaper tells the fascinating story behind the cover design and credits its creators.