How to visit the Duomo cathedral in Florence: schedules, prices

When travel to florence, riding a Italy, the great cathedral known as the duomo It will undoubtedly be one of the main axes of your tourist visit.

El Duomo of FlorenceLocated in Duomo SquareIs a monumental complex which has become one of the main icons of the city.

It is an essential visit along with other iconic monuments such as the Palazzo Vecchio or  old bridge.

El Duomo of Florence It is, due to its dimensions, the fifth largest cathedral in Europe and a reference center for all the panoramic views of the beautiful Italian city.

In the center Duomo square in Florence, In reality you find three clearly differentiated buildings.

On the one hand, the great Duomo cathedral, in which the great Brunelleschi's dome; The Campanile tower, also known as the Giotto's Bell Tower; and the Baptistery of Saint John.

Curiosities history of the Duomo cathedral of Florence

The origins of the Duomo of Florence go back to late 13th century, time in which Republic of Florence competed for supremacy with other cities such as Pisa y Siena.

In the place where the Duomo of Florence There was a very old church that was demolished in order to build the largest cathedral in Christianity, which will reflect the great rise of the Tuscan city.

Construction began in 1296, the works continued for 170 years.

Who was the architect of the Duomo in Florence?

With the initial design of Arnolfo di Cambio, construction of the Duomo was led by Giotto with the aid of Andrea Pisano placeholder image.

In the building, the walls with bands of different colors will undoubtedly catch your attention, depending on the origin of the marbles. Carrara, Prato y Siena (white, green and red).

Precisely the bell tower It was a work that he could have finished himself. Giotto before his death in 1377.

Finally, after several work stoppages, the central nave of the Duomo in Florence It was completed in 1380, and a first wooden dome was left unfinished in 1418.

A year later, the competition was called for the construction of a new dome, which gave way to the great work of art of the Renacimiento that is the Brunelleschi's dome, which ended in 1436.

What to see when visiting the Duomo in Florence

When visit the Duomo Santa Maria del Fioreapart from power climb to the top of Brunelleschi's Dome or Campanile tower, what you should pay most attention to, without a doubt, is its spectacular facade.

Oriented towards the west, and located in front of the building of the Baptistery of Saint John and Gate of Paradise, it is with the light of the evening when you can best appreciate its great beauty.

History of the Gothic facade of the Duomo in Florence

The current facade of the Duomo in Florence It was not made at the time when this great cathedral was built, on the contrary, it dates back to just over a hundred years.

Indeed, the first façade of the Duomo cathedral in Florence construction began in 1296.  by Arnolfo di Cambio, the same architect of the church of Santa Croce and Palazzo de la Signoria.

But its initial designs had several modifications and only the lower part of the façade was finished.

Finally, at the end of the 16th century the façade was demolished by order of the Grand Duke Francis I de Medicis.

In the Annex Opera del Duomo museum You can see sketches of the original designs, as well as some of the sculptures saved after the demolition of the façade.

In this way, for almost 300 years the Duomo cathedral in Florence It kept its main façade without any decoration, something similar to what still happens with the nearby one. church of San Lorenzo in which you find the Medici Chapels.

It was in 1864 when a competition was called to decorate the façade, which was completed in 1887.

What it is like and what to see on the facade of the Duomo in Florence

Facade Florence Duomoa, logically, maintains the same style as the rest of the Duomo building, and the adjacent buildings, such as the Campanile and Baptistery of Saint John.

Made with beautiful white, green and pink marbles, it is designed with neo-gothic style.

On the façade, dedicated to The Virgin, his figure occupies a central position, which you can see under the large rose window, and on both sides are arranged the figures of the Twelve Apostles.

Another notable element is its three large bronze doors, which were not completed until 1903.

As we have mentioned, it is at sunset when you can best appreciate the spectacular beauty of the different decorative elements of the façade of the Duomo of Florence, with the beautiful play of colors of its marbles.

What it is like and what to see inside the Duomo of Florence

On the contrary, I bet the visit inside the Duomo You will find it really frustrating.

De free entrance, you will see a very dark central nave, with enormous dimensions (153 meters long and 130 meters wide in the transept).

But this ship is really empty of decorative elements, since a good part of them are shown in the nearby Opera del Duomo Museum.

Furthermore, it is not allowed to visit the different chapels, and you can only go down to the crypt, where the grocery store is located. remembrances.

During your walk through the interior you will see that, without a doubt, it is the poorest decorated of the great Tuscan cathedrals, and far from the great beauty of the nave of the Siena Duomo.

Florence Duomo visit schedules

The Visiting hours of the Duomo cathedral in Florence They are, from Monday to Saturday, from 10,15:16,45 a.m. to 13,30:16,45 p.m., and on Sundays and religious holidays they are from XNUMX:XNUMX p.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.

Here you can consult the Florence Duomo cathedral schedules, as well as the other buildings of the monumental complex, such as the Dome, Baptistery, Bell tower, Crypt or Cathedral Museum.

Florence Duomo ticket prices

Visiting the nave of the Duomo cathedral is free, but you will have to pay to visit the other buildings mentioned above.

In advance of your trip and if you want to ensure your skip-the-line access, here you can buy the joint ticket to the Duomo of Florence, which includes the visit of Baptistery, Giotto's Bell Tower, Crypt of Santa Reparata, as well as the Cathedral Museum.

And here you can sign up for a guided tour in Spanish to climb the Dome of the Duomo, which also provides tickets to later visit the other places of the monumental complex on your own.

More information about the Duomo of Florence

• Climb to the viewpoint of the dome of the Duomo Santa María del Fiore in Florence
• Baptistery of Saint John in front of the Duomo in Florence