Florence's Piazza di Duomo: all you need to know to enjoy it

"An open-air museum". This is how many describe Florence's Piazza del Duomo, a dazzling enclave that reflects the grandeur that the capital of Tuscany enjoyed during the Renaissance.

Located in the heart of the historic centre, in addition to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, it hides some of the city's greatest treasures such as Brunelleschi's Dome, the Baptistery of St. John, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. Would you like to discover all the attractions of this emblematic square? Come with me.

The Duomo of Florence, as Santa Maria del Fiore is known, is the third largest cathedral in Europe after St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome which is the first and St. Paul's in London which is the second. It was begun in the late 13th century on the site of the former site of the Cathedral of Santa Reparata and is therefore a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance styles.

From the beginning of its construction, several architects revised the project: first Arnolfo di Cambio, then Giotto, then Francesco Talenti and finally Brunelleschi, who was in charge of resolving the project of the dome with a double roof from 1418 onwards. Without a doubt, the Duomo of Florence is a truly impressive monument. Its white, green and red marble façade dazzles everyone who has the opportunity to visit it.

Useful information

• Opening hours: From 10:15 am to 5 pm. The last show takes place at 4.30pm. Closed to the public on Sundays.
• Price: Admission is free, but I recommend visiting it with a tour, on the one hand, to avoid the queues and, on the other hand, to get to know it in depth, as in the free visit there are many details that are missed.
• Tour: I recommend you book the tour of the Duomo of Florence with access to the Cathedral, the dome, the Baptistery and the Opera Museum, it is the most complete option and you will get to know this emblematic monument in depth.

Brunelleschi's Dome is one of the jewels of the Renaissance. Its construction began in 1420 and was completed in 1436. The work of Filippo Brunelleschi, it is an architectural challenge consisting of two domes, one inside and one outside. It has 463 steps, is 116 metres high, 45.5 metres wide and weighs 37,000 tonnes.

As a finishing touch, a century later, between 1572 and 1579, the internal vault was painted by the artists Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari with a series of scenes from the Last Judgement. Today, it is considered one of the largest wall paintings in the world.

Useful information

• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8.15am to 7.45pm, Saturdays from 8.15am to 5.30pm, and Sundays and public holidays from 12.45pm to 5.30pm. The visit lasts 45-50 minutes.
• Price: Admission is from 20 € for adults and 10 € for children from 7 to 14 years old.
• Tour: The visit to Brunelleschi's Dome is highly recommended because it is one of the best viewpoints of the city of Florence. It is possible to visit it in a tour together with the Duomo of Florence, the Baptistery and the Opera Museum or to visit the Brunelleschi Dome together with the Baptistery to know all the details of this emblem of the Renaissance.

The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo was founded in 1891. Renovated in 2015, it has a total of 28 rooms divided over three floors housing over 700 works of art, including 'Pietà Bandini' by Michelangelo, 'Maddalena penitente' and 'Profetino dalla Porta della Mandorla' by Donatello, Statua di Santa Reparata' by Andrea Pisano, the 'Porta del Paradiso' by Lorenzo Ghiberti, 'Madonna del solletico' by Andrea Pisano, 'La Carità' by Tino di Camaino or 'San Luca Evangelista' by Nanni di Banco.

Useful information

• Opening hours: The museum is open every day of the week from 9.00 am to 7.45 pm.
• Price: The combined ticket for the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo together with the Baptistery of St. John costs 10 € for adults and 5 € for children from 7 to 14 years old.
• Tour: The tour of the Duomo of Florence includes a visit to the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, where you can admire a large collection.

Octagonal in plan, the Baptistery of St. John stands opposite Santa Maria del Fiore and is the oldest building in Piazza del Duomo and one of the oldest churches in Florence. Its red, white and green marble cladding is the same as that of the Duomo.

The most characteristic feature of the Baptistery are its doors, especially the Door of Paradise, the work of Lorenzo Ghiberti, which is decorated with 10 gilded panels depicting scenes from the Old Testament. The interior ceiling is decorated with mosaics dating from the 13th and 14th centuries.

Useful information

• Timetable: Visiting hours are from 9.00 am to 7.45 pm.
• Price: Admission costs 5 € for adults and 3 € for children from 7 to 14 years old.
• Tour: You can book a tour of the Baptistery and Brunelleschi's dome from RM345

In the Duomo you can also take an exclusive guided tour of the Cathedral and climb up to the Terrace. At more than 30 metres high and with 150 steps, it is an ideal place to see the different monuments and sites of the city of Florence.

Useful information

• Opening hours: 10:15 am to 5 pm. Closed to the public on Sundays.
• Price: The price is 25 € for adults and 10 € for children 7-14 years old.
• Tour: My favourite option is to book a guided tour of the cathedral with access to the terraces.

The bell tower of the Duomo, known as the Campanile, is a separate building from Santa Maria del Fiore. The project began in the 13th century and was not completed until 1359.

With a height of approximately 85 metres and a climb of 400 steps it is one of the best viewpoints of the city of Florence along with Brunelleschi's Dome and Michelangelo's Piazzale.

Useful information

• Timetable: The visit lasts 45 minutes and can be made any day of the week from 8.15 am to 7.45 pm.
• Price: The entrance fee is 15 € for adults and 7 € for children from 7 to 14 years old.
• Tip: On your visit to the Piazza del Duomo I recommend that you set aside a full morning. There are numerous sights to see and museums to visit and you will need at least five hours to make it a really productive day.

Santa Reparata has a long history. It was the first cathedral in the city of Florence and the site on which Santa Maria del Fiore was built at the end of the 13th century. Excavations between 1965 and 1973 brought to light the remains of this ancient basilica, which is considered one of the largest early Christian complexes in Tuscia.

Useful information

• Opening hours: The crypt can be visited from 10.15 am to 5 pm.
• Price: The entrance fee is 15 € for adults and 7 € for children from 7 to 14 years old.
• Tip: A highly recommended visit to get to know the origins.

Attributed to the architect and sculptor Alberto Arnoldi, the Loggia del Bigallo is a beautiful Gothic building built in the mid-15th century. It was the place where lost or abandoned children were left and was commissioned by the Compagnia della Misericordia of Florence.

Don't hesitate to go there, sit on its stairs, stop for a second and contemplate the Piazza del Duomo, contemplate the life of Florence.

The Museo Torrini is a goldsmith's museum located in Florence's Piazza del Duomo. It has more than 200 pieces including a collection of pocket watches from the 18th to the 20th century, as well as objects made of gold, silver and semi-precious stones. In addition, its library conserves numerous copies of great value, such as the title 'Treatises on Goldsmiths' by Benvenuto Cellini.

There are several cafés in Piazza del Duomo. After your visit to each of the attractions in the square, I recommend that you choose one of them, sit down and enjoy a delicious cappuccino or a typical Italian gelato while you take in your surroundings.

One of the charms of Florence is to contemplate its life and atmosphere, and what better place to do so than in this emblematic enclave of the city. Watch the tourists passing by, identify the Florentines going to work or going about their daily lives amidst the throngs of visitors invading the city and be dazzled by all the beauty of this unique place - it's a moment to remember!

Florence's Piazza del Duomo is located in the heart of the capital of Tuscany. My recommendation is to take a pleasant stroll there on foot. However, here are all the ways to get there:

• Bus: The C4 line stops very close to Piazza del Duomo, in Via Panzani and Santa Caterina.
• Tramway: Line T2 stops at Unitá which is next to Piazza del Duomo.
• Train: Santa Maria Novella station is an 8 - 10 minute walk away.

On your visit to the Duomo Square in Florence, take into account the following tips:

• If you are going to visit the monumental complex of the Duomo, buy your ticket online in advance to avoid wasting time at the ticket office. Also, don't hesitate to buy a priority access ticket to enter as early as possible.
• The visit to the complete monumental complex of the Duomo of Florence lasts an estimated five hours.
• You will have to pass through a metal detector. So allow for that time when calculating the full time of the visit.
• I recommend that you visit on weekdays and early in the morning to avoid crowds.
• It is not permitted to enter the Duomo with bare shoulders. In addition, legs should be covered up to the knees.
• Avoid wearing sunglasses and hats inside.
• It is not permitted to bring food into the Duomo.
• The climb to the Brunelleschi Dome and the Bell Tower is not recommended for people with heart problems, claustrophobia and dizziness.
• It is not possible to enter with suitcases and large backpacks.

Finally, I recommend that you read the post What to see inside the Florence Cathedral to complete the information for your trip and that you book the tour of the Duomo of Florence with access to the Cathedral, the dome, the Baptistery and the Museum of the Opera. It is the most complete alternative to get to know this wonderful place that will surprise you.

And, remember, beyond the Duomo Square, the Florentine capital has endless proposals, read the post what to see and do in Florence and create the best list of plans for your trip.