Things to do in Florence Cathedral
Standing tall amid the iconic city skyline is the majestic Florence Cathedral (officially known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore) and its red-tiled cupola. A symbol of this glorious city and marked by its Gothic beauty, no trip to Florence is complete without entering its hallowed bronze doors.
A hundred and fifty years in the making, it was Arnolfo di Cambio who first started working on it in 1296. Its lofty dome was added much later in 1436 by Filippo Brunelleschi. His revolutionary design, which incorporates a second inner dome and interlocking brickwork to reduce the structure's enormous weight, was celebrated as a feat of engineering. Brunelleschi’s dome remains the largest ever constructed in brick.
In the 19th century the cathedral received its now familiar elaborate Gothic facade in pink, white and green polychrome marble. Designed by architect Emilio de Fabris, it replaced the incomplete original, which was torn down in the 16th century. In constrast the cathedral’s interior is surprisingly stark, as most of its art works have been moved to the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. That said you can still admire impressive frescoes, up to 44 stained-glass windows and the excavated remains of the basilica of Santa Reparata that lie beneath the cathedral.
The cathedral complex is completed by the Baptistry of San Giovanni, with its striking golden door (the aptly named Gates of Paradise) and shimmering ceiling mosaic, along with Giotto’s graceful campanile. Climb the latter for sweeping panoramic views from its terrace. You can also admire masterpieces by Michelangelo, Arnolfo, Ghiberti, Donatello, Luca della Robbia, Antonio Pollaiolo, and Verrocchio at the nearby Museo dell’Opera.
Opening hours
Cathedral 10am-4.30pm
Dome 8.30am-7.00pm
Baptistry 8.15am-10.15am & 11.15am-7.30pm
Bell Tower 8.15am-7.20pm
Crypt 10.00am-5pm
Museum 9.00am-7.00pm
Our recommendations in Florence Cathedral
Tickets for the Florence Cathedral Complex and Brunelleschi's Dome
Visit all the monuments in Florence's Piazza del Duomo with your ticket: the Cathedral, Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery.
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Buy the Florence Duomo flash tour. Enjoy a guided tour of the impressive Cathedral of Florence!
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Florence semi-private tour with Uffizi and Accademia
Spend the day discovering the Duomo and Florence's historic center. Dive into the Renaissance by visiting the Uffizi and the Accademia Gallery.
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Florence Cathedral and panoramic terrace small group tour
Join this Florence Cathedral and panoramic terrace guided tour for an amazing view! Visit also Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery.
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Tickets for the Florence Cathedral Complex and Brunelleschi's Dome
Visit all the monuments in Florence's Piazza del Duomo with your ticket: the Cathedral, Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery.
en, it, fr, es, de
Buy the Florence Duomo flash tour. Enjoy a guided tour of the impressive Cathedral of Florence!
en, it
Florence semi-private tour with Uffizi and Accademia
Spend the day discovering the Duomo and Florence's historic center. Dive into the Renaissance by visiting the Uffizi and the Accademia Gallery.
en
Florence Cathedral and panoramic terrace small group tour
Join this Florence Cathedral and panoramic terrace guided tour for an amazing view! Visit also Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery.
en
Italy audio guide with TravelMate app
Make the most of your time in 14 Italian cities with this TravelMate app on your smartphone. Listen to interesting stories and curiosities narrated in your language.
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World audio guide with TravelMate app
Make the most of your time in 33 cities around the world with this TravelMate app on your smartphone. Listen to detailed audio commentaries in your language.
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Express guided tour of Florence Duomo with Skip-the-Line Access
Book your Florence Duomo express guided tour with Musement. The iconic Florence Duomo minus the crowds with our no wait access and visit the spectacular Duomo, an architectural masterpiece
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Florence Cathedral small-group tour with skip-the-line tickets
Discover the Cathedral of Florence with skip-the-line tickets and a professional, local guide at your disposal. Book now for an exclusive experience for small groups!
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Full-day tour to Florence and Pisa from Rome
Book this Full-day tour to Pisa and Florence from Rome and discover two incredible cities in just one day
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Discover the most important sites and monuments of Florence with an engaging local guide.
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Brunelleschi's Dome private guided tour
Skip the line and climb to the top of Brunelleschi's Dome with a private guide. Admire the frescoed ceiling up close and enjoy the panorama.
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Florence Duomo guided tour and Dome climbing
Enjoy this skip-the-line tour of Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and get the chance to climb the terraces and up to Brunelleschi's Dome!
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How to get there
Florence Cathedral
Florence
Italy
Reviews Florence Cathedral
“When we went to pick up our tickets, they had made a mistake and only had two of our four tickets for the Duomo climb. They were able to send them to us via the WhatUp app for the next day for that part of the tour. Had we been leaving the next day, not sure what would have happened.”
“The process of getting the tickets was easy. You can go Musement's office at florence to get your physical tickets. The staff was very friendly and helpful with answering any questions you might have.”
