Gotica

Milan’s cathedral looks different from many other cathedrals in Italy.  Being so far north, there was a heavy Gothic influence on Milan.  (I’ve read that “gothic” was a Renaissance era slur for any art influenced by the “barbarian” north.)
The eye is certainly drawn heaven-ward.The design reminded me of M.C. Escher‘s “drowned cathedral” which I had on a tshirt as a kid.