Duomo, the Florence cathedral

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Firenze - Tickets Duomo Florence

Visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore di Firenze, perhaps better known as the Duomo of Florence Italy, the impressive cathedral at Piazza del Duomo. Visit Brunelleschi's dome.

Florentine skyline: Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

When you google Florence you will always come across a picture of the Florence Cathedral with its bell tower and the famous Brunelleschi's dome. The Duomo di Firenze or the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the symbol of Florence Italy and stands out in the Florentine skyline. The Forence Duomo is the fourth largest cathedral in Europe and is located in the historic center of Florence in the Piazza del Duomo. Other buildings worth visiting on this square are the baptistery church opposite the cathedral, the Baptistery, the tower next to the Duomo, the Campanile, and the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.

Visit the Florence Duomo, or Santa Maria del Fiore

The construction of the Duomo started at the end of the thirteenth century, because the Florentines wanted to excel not only in commercial terms, but also in architectural terms. The original design was by Arnolfo di Cambio. After a short stop in 1310, when Di Cambio died, construction was resumed in 1334 under the direction of Giotto di Bondone. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore was not completed until the 15th century. In the centuries that followed, changes were constantly made to the cathedral, such as the façade we know today. The adjacent Campanile was designed by Giotto in 1334 and completed in 1359, after the architect had been dead for 22 years.

^{Visit the Duomo or Florence Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore}

^{Climb Brunelleschi's dome of the Florence Duomo}

Florence Cathedral

The facade of the Florence cathedral was not completed until the 16th century. For years this façade had a brick façade, but in the nineteenth century the current neo-Gothic marble façade was built in the image of the reliefs on Giotto's Campanile. Although the interior of the cathedral looks somewhat sober, especially after the extravagant facade, there are also a number of highlights to be seen here. For example, let yourself be enchanted by the marble floor of Baccio d'Agnolo. Or visit Michelino's famous painting, in which Dante explains his La Divina Commedia. Or visit the three apses, which are crowned with copies of Brunelleschi's dome and each of which contains five beautiful chapels.

Climb Brunelleschi's dome

Few architects dared to manufacture the dome of the Duomo di Firenze. That is why a competition was organized for the design of the dome. Spurred on by this challenge, Filippo Brunelleschi designed a construction technique that allowed him to build a dome larger than any dome at the time. With a height of 115 meters, it is nowadays also one of the largest vaults in the world. You can also climb this dome, but keep in mind that you have to climb 463 steps. However, the panoramic view of the city makes this climb more than worth it. To climb the dome, you must book Duomo climb tickets. Definitely the highlight of the Florence Duomo.

^{Climb the Campanile di Grotto}

^{View from the Campanile, or bell tower, in Florence}

Giotto's Campanile (bell tower)

The Campanile next to the Florence Duomo was designed by Giotto, but not completed until after his death. The Campanile di Firenze is 82 meters high and you can visit this tower by climbing 414 steps. The tower is finished in different colors of marble and copies of the reliefs by Andrea Pisano. The original reliefs can be found in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo di Firenze. Pisano continued construction of the Campanile after Giotto's death and also made some changes to the design, making the current Campanile have a flat roof instead of the original spire that Giotto wanted. To climb the Bell Tower you must book these tickets in advance.

^{The Baptistery in Piazza del Duomo (Firenze)}

^{The ceiling of Battistero di San Giovanni}

The Baptistery with the Paradise Gate

The baptistery opposite the Santa Maria del Fiore is the oldest building in Florence and was already build before the construction of the Duomo in the Piazza di San Giovanni. The construction of the Battistero di San Giovanni probably started in the fourth or fifth century AD. The baptistery as we know it today owes its appearance to the Renaissance. Then it was covered with marble. It is an octagonal structure, where famous citizens of Florence like Dante are baptized. The Baptistery has become especially famous for its bronze portals. A total of six doors were made, of which the east doors are the best known. These ten-panel doors were manufactured by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The original doors have been replaced with copies and are now in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. Also special is the mosaic work on the inside of the dome of the Baptistery. To visit this beautiful baptistery and the museum of the Duomo, you must book combined tickets in advance.

^{Museo dell'Opera dell Duomo Firenze}

^{The museum in Piazza del Duomo}

Museo dell’Opera del Duomo

The name says it all, but in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo you will find works of art from the cathedral, such as the original reliefs by Andrea Pisano. The museum has long been closed for refurbishment, but now includes several rooms that tell of the history of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The main room is on the ground floor and it houses sculptures from Di Cambio's workshop, which once stood in the niches of the cathedral. You will also find John by Donatello and other religious paintings. You will also find the statue Pieta by Michelangelo and La Maddalena by Donatello in the museum. In addition, the museum houses original tools that were used during the construction of the Duomo. You will also find the original gates of the Baptistery.

Piazza del Duomo

The Piazza del Duomo is the busiest square in Florence. This is not surprising, given that the most popular tourist attraction, the Duomo, is located in this square. This makes it busy during the day. It is recommended to visit the square in the evening, when the day trippers have gone home. In the evening it is much more relaxing to watch the cathedral and take a tour of this famous square. And don't worry, the Florence Duomo has excellent lighting, allowing you to take unique photos. The Piazza del Duomo, together with the Piazza della Signoria, forms the historic heart of Florence and this can be seen in the many shopping streets that will start from these squares. Popular shopping areas that can be reached from Piazza del Duomo are: Via dei Calzaioli, Via Roma and Via del Servi.

Duomo Florence Tickets & Tours Brunelleschi's Dome

Where is the Duomo located in Firenze?