Best Things To Do At Florence'S Piazza Di Duomo

"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 reached during the Renaissance.

Located in the historic center, in addition to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, it hides some of the greatest treasures of the city such as Brunelleschi's Dome, the Baptistery of St. John, Giotto's Bell Tower or the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. Want to know all the proposals 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 ranks as the second. It was begun at the end of the 13th century on the site of the former location of the Cathedral of Santa Reparata and is therefore a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance styles.

From the beginning of its construction, several architects reviewed the project: first Arnolfo di Cambio, then Giotto, then Francesco Talenti and finally Brunelleschi, who was responsible for solving the project of the dome with a double roof from 1418. Undoubtedly, 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.

Information of interest

• Hours: From 10:15 am to 5 pm. The last show takes place at 4:30 pm. Closed to the public on Sundays.
• Price: The entrance is free, but I recommend visiting it with a tour, on the one hand, to avoid the queues and, on the other hand, to know it in depth, since in the free visit there are many details that escape.
• Tour: I recommend you to 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 know in depth this emblematic monument.

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 meters high, 45.5 meters wide and weighs 37,000 tons.

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 of the Last Judgment. Today, it is considered one of the largest mural paintings in the world.

Information of interest

• Hours: The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8:15 am to 7:45 pm, Saturdays from 8:15 am to 5:30 pm, and Sundays and holidays from 12:45 pm to 5:30 pm. The visit lasts 45 - 50 minutes.
• Price: The entrance fee starts at 20 € for adults and 10 € for children from 7 to 14 years old.
• Tour: The visit to the Brunelleschi 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 into 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.

Information of interest

• Hours: The museum is open every day of the week from 9 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.
• 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.

With an octagonal plan, the Baptistery of St. John is located in front of Santa Maria del Fiore and is the oldest building in Piazza del Duomo, as well as 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 of the Baptistery are its doors, especially the Door of Paradise, the work of Lorenzo Ghiberti is decorated with 10 gilded panels with scenes from the Old Testament. In addition, the interior ceiling is decorated with mosaics dating from the thirteenth and fourteenth century.

Information of interest

• Hours: Visiting hours are from 9:00 am to 7:45 pm.
• Price: The entrance fee is 5 € for adults and 3 € for children from 7 to 14 years old.
• Tour: You have the possibility to book a tour of the Baptistery and the dome of Brunelleschi, from $76.

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

Useful information

• Hours: From 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 favorite option is to book a guided tour of the cathedral with access to the terraces.

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

With approximately 85 meters high and a climb of 400 steps it is one of the best viewpoints of the city of Florence next to Brunelleschi's Dome and Michelangelo's Piazzale.

Information of interest

• Hours: The visit has an estimated duration of 45 minutes and can be done 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 Piazza del Duomo I recommend that you spend a full morning. There are numerous places to see and museums to visit and you will need at least five hours for the day to be really productive.

Santa Reparata has a long history. It was the first Cathedral of the city of Florence and the site on which Santa Maria del Fiore was built at the end of the 13th century. After an excavation between 1965 to 1973 the remains of this ancient basilica came to light and is considered one of the largest paleochristian complexes in Tuscia.

Information of interest

• 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 learn about the origins.

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

Do not hesitate to approach, sit on the stairs, stop for a second and contemplate the Piazza del Duomo, contemplate the life of Florence.

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

In Piazza del Duomo there are several cafes. I suggest that, after visiting each of the sites of interest in the square, you choose one of them, sit down and enjoy a delicious cappuccino or a typical Italian ice cream while watching everything around you.

One of the charms of Florence is to contemplate its life and atmosphere, and what better place to do so than this emblematic enclave of the city. Look at the tourists passing by, identify the Florentines going to work or going about their daily lives amidst the throng 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 that you go on foot for a nice walk. 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 Piazza del Duomo in Florence, keep in mind the following tips:

• If you are going to visit the monumental complex of the Duomo, buy your ticket online and in advance to avoid wasting time at the ticket office. Also, do not hesitate to purchase a ticket with priority access to enter as soon as possible.
• The visit to the complete monumental complex of the Duomo of Florence has an estimated duration of five hours.
• You will have to pass through a metal detector. So count on that time to calculate the full time of the visit.
• I recommend that you make your visit during the week and early in the morning to avoid crowds.
• It is not allowed to enter the Duomo with bare shoulders. In addition, legs must be covered up to the knees.
• Avoid wearing sunglasses and hats inside.
• Food is not allowed inside the Duomo monumental complex.
• The climb to the Dome of Brunelleschi 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 you to read the post what to see inside the Florence Cathedral to complete the information for your trip and 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 alternative 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.