Firenze, Duomo, Giotto and Brunelleschi

Duration: 3 hours

The majestic Duomo of Florence, known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its famous red dome, is the symbol of this glorious city and no trip to Florence can be said to be complete if you have not passed through its sacred bronze doors.

The splendid Duomo is the result of one hundred and fifty years of work: Arnolfo di Cambio began working on it in 1296, but its high dome was added only much later, in 1436, by Filippo Brunelleschi. His revolutionary design, which includes a second internal dome and interlocking bricks to reduce the enormous weight of the structure, was celebrated as an exceptional engineering feat. Brunelleschi’s dome remains the largest ever built in brick.
In the nineteenth century its famous Gothic facade in pink, white and green polychrome marble was added, designed by the architect Emilio de Fabris to replace the incomplete original, which was demolished in the sixteenth century. The interior of the cathedral appears surprisingly sober, since most of the works of art that adorned it have been moved to the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. But you can still admire splendid frescoes, up to 44 stained glass windows and the excavations of the remains of the basilica of Santa Reparata which was located under the cathedral.

Belong to the Cathedral complex the Baptistery of San Giovanni and Giotto’s bell tower, from which you can admire a splendid panorama!