The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, known as the Florence Duomo, is one of the main attractions of the Tuscan capital. This cathedral is a work of architectural art, a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance that continues to amaze visitors with its impressive beauty.
- How to buy tickets for the Florence Duomo
- 1. Get in line in person (not recommended)
- 2. Book online
- 3. Book a guided tour (recommended)
- What to See at the Duomo
- The Cathedral
- Brunelleschi’s Dome
- The Baptistery
- How to Get to the Duomo
- How much time do you need to visit the Duomo
- What is the best time to visit Florence Cathedral?
- Opening hours of Florence Cathedral
- The best Hotels for Florence Cathedral
- Visiting Florence Cathedral with disabilities
- Curiosities about Florence Cathedral
- What is the Florence Cathedral?
- When was the Florence Cathedral built?
- How old is the Florence Cathedral?
- Who built the Florence Cathedral?
- Why was the Florence Cathedral built?
- Where is the Florence Cathedral located?
The Duomo was designed in a very Tuscan/Florentine style. The green and white marble brings life to its facade and surfaces. It is quite different from the basilicas of Rome in many ways. One is that it is completely detached from other buildings, so you can walk all the way around it. The most famous moment in the history of this cathedral was the assassination of Giuliano de’ Medici. On April 26, 1478, the Pazzi family tried to overthrow the Medici from power. The plan was to assassinate both Giuliano and Lorenzo the Magnificent, but they failed to kill Lorenzo and were banished from Florence.
The Duomo features more than one attraction to visit: Giotto’s Bell Tower, Brunelleschi’s Dome, and the Baptistery of San Giovanni are all part of the cathedral complex.
For those in a hurry. How to buy tickets for the Florence Duomo. Unless you enjoy spending your holidays waiting in long lines, we highly recommend booking skip-the-line tickets for the Florence Duomo in advance here or booking a guided tour of the Florence Duomo. Of these two, the guided tour is the best option since you’ll get to learn the history of this beautiful cathedral from an expert guide.
How to buy tickets for the Florence Duomo
A visit to the Cathedral of Florence is an unmissable experience for anyone visiting the city. With its fascinating architecture, its rich and intriguing history, and its famous personalities, it is a place that will surely leave a mark on your heart. Remember to book your tickets in advance and take your time to explore everything this special place has to offer.
You can visit the Cathedral of Florence for free, but you will need to purchase one of the three combined passes to see the other points of interest in the Duomo complex, including the Duomo itself. You can choose from three different combined passes depending on the areas you wish to see. Each pass is valid for three days, starting from the date of the visit booked during the purchase process.
- Brunelleschi Pass: Full price: €30 | Reduced: €12 | Includes all monuments (Duomo, Bell Tower, Museum, Baptistery, Santa Reparata)
- Giotto Pass: Full price: €20 | Reduced: €7 | Includes all monuments except the Duomo (Bell Tower, Museum, Baptistery, Santa Reparata)
- Ghiberti Pass: Full price: €15 | Reduced: €5 | Includes three monuments (Museum, Baptistery, Santa Reparata)
Due to the popularity of the Florence Duomo among tourists, there are several ways to get tickets. Deciding where to buy tickets for the Florence Duomo depends on how much time you have, what you hope to see, and how much you are willing to spend. To help you, we have detailed all the options for tickets for the Florence Duomo and why we strongly recommend booking in advance.
1. Get in line in person (not recommended)
When you visit the Florence Duomo, it’s important to know which parts of the complex you have to queue for to visit. Since public entry into the Florence Duomo is free, you have no choice but to wait in line to enter. For Giotto’s Bell Tower, Brunelleschi’s Dome, and the Baptistery of San Giovanni, you need to buy a ticket at the ticket office in Piazza del Duomo. However, we do not recommend buying tickets for the Duomo complex this way because you risk them being sold out. Even if they’re not, you’ll waste your valuable time in Florence buying tickets instead of exploring the city.
2. Book online
The best way to book tickets for the attractions of Florence Cathedral is to reserve them online well before planning your visit. Booking online ensures you don’t miss out on tickets for Florence Cathedral and allows you to plan your visit to Giotto’s Bell Tower and Brunelleschi’s Dome to enjoy the views.
Tickets for these attractions can be purchased through the official website of Florence Cathedral. However, these tickets cannot be modified after purchase and are non-refundable, which might be an issue if your plans change. Fortunately, it’s possible to get tickets for certain parts of the complex that allow cancellations up to 24 hours in advance and a full refund, such as this ticket for Brunelleschi’s Dome.
3. Book a guided tour (recommended)
Tourists hoping to make the most of their time in Florence might consider taking a guided tour of Florence Cathedral. By joining a tour, you benefit from having a professional guide show you each attraction and you can ask questions to satisfy your curiosity.
You can book guided tours for each individual attraction of the cathedral complex, including the interior of the cathedral, through the official website. But these tours are only available on Fridays and Saturdays, and tour tickets are non-refundable. Instead, we recommend booking through this link a comprehensive guided tour that covers all the attractions in the complex.
What to See at the Duomo
The Cathedral
Florence Cathedral is a must-see attraction and it would be very difficult to miss when you’re in the city. The most famous event in this cathedral’s history was the murder of Giuliano de’ Medici.
Brunelleschi’s Dome
The Opera del Duomo held a competition in 1418, which was won by Filippo Brunelleschi. Work on the dome didn’t begin for another two years and many people thought it was impossible, but the Medici family insisted and Brunelleschi completed it in 1434.
The Baptistery
The Baptistery doors are attached to the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence. This is directly in front of Florence Cathedral (the Duomo). It’s so close to the cathedral and has such a similar design that it seems to be part of the same structure, but it is a church in its own right and is considered a minor basilica.
How to Get to the Duomo
The Duomo is right in the center of Florence and is easily reached on foot from anywhere in the city center. Here are some estimated walking times from other points of interest:
- 10 minutes on foot from Santa Maria Novella train station
- 8 minutes from the Accademia
- 8 minutes on foot from the Uffizi Gallery and Ponte Vecchio
- 25 minutes on foot from Piazzale Michelangelo
How much time do you need to visit the Duomo
Short answer: 1 hour
An hour is enough, but it all depends on what you want to see. For example, if you just want to see the interior of the Cathedral, I’d say 1 hour is sufficient, maybe even too much. On the other hand, if you want to visit more than one site or climb the dome, you’ll probably need at least 2 hours.
What is the best time to visit Florence Cathedral?
Florence is an incredibly popular place for tourists to visit and the cathedral is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Therefore, at certain times of the year it can be extremely crowded. Visit the cathedral when it’s busiest and you can expect long lines to see its interiors and limited availability for dome, tower, and baptistery tickets.
There isn’t a time of year when Florence is without tourists, but the crowds are definitely at their worst during the summer, from June to August. Instead, consider visiting during the spring months of April and May when the weather is still quite nice but the number of tourists hasn’t peaked. Winter is the quietest time of year to visit Florence, but you might find that views from the dome and tower aren’t as impressive due to limited daylight and reduced visibility.
As for the best time of day to visit, it is recommended to aim for first thing in the morning or just before the last entry in the afternoon/evening. If you choose to see the interior of the cathedral in the morning, consider arriving a little before the official opening time to get a good spot in line.
Opening hours of Florence Cathedral
- Cathedral hours: from Monday to Saturday, from 10:15 am to 4:15 pm; closed for tourist visits on Sundays | Admission : Free
- Baptistery hours: from Monday to Sunday, from 11:15 am to 5:15 pm, last entry at 5:00 pm.
- Museum hours: Monday and weekends, from 10:15 am to 7:30 pm. Last entry at 3:00 pm.
- Giotto’s Bell Tower hours: every day (Monday to Sunday), from 8:15 am to 7:45 pm. Last entry at 6:45 pm.
- Cathedral visiting hours: weekdays (Monday to Friday), from 8:15 am to 7:30 pm, last entry at 6:45 pm; Saturday, from 8:15 am to 5:30 pm, last entry at 4:30 pm; Sundays and holidays, from 12:45 pm to 5:30 pm, last entry at 4:30 pm.
The best Hotels for Florence Cathedral
There are many advantages to staying near the Florence Cathedral during your visit to the city. Not only does it make it easier to visit the Cathedral itself, but you’ll also be conveniently close to many other interesting attractions. The only downside to this idea is that the historic center can be an expensive area of Florence to stay in, but you can find some reasonably affordable places if you know where to look.
The Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy is the perfect choice if you’re looking for luxury accommodation near the Cathedral. It only takes three minutes to walk to the cathedral from this charming five-star hotel, which features beautifully designed rooms, a bistro serving regional cuisine, and a fitness center.
For a mid-range hotel with rooms that face directly across the street to the cathedral, you can’t go wrong with a stay at Hotel Duomo Firenze. In this three-star hotel right on Piazza del Duomo, you’ll find simple rooms with all essential comforts.
Budget accommodation in Florence is usually found at a considerable distance from the historic center, with the hostel My Friends being the closest good option. Located near Santa Maria Novella train station, less than a ten-minute walk from the cathedral, this affordable hostel offers great value for money thanks to its welcoming staff.
Visiting Florence Cathedral with disabilities
As a historic site, accessibility at Florence Cathedral is not always guaranteed. However, some measures have been put in place to assist visitors with various disabilities. Florence Cathedral has a dedicated entrance on the right side of the cathedral for visitors with reduced mobility. Unfortunately, access to Giotto’s Bell Tower and Brunelleschi’s Dome can only be allowed in limited cases for visitors with mobility issues, as special guide assistance is required but not always available. You must request this assistance by email before your visit.
Upon request, visitors with visual impairments can use the tactile route TouchAble and guided tours specifically dedicated to the site. Tours incorporating LIS (Italian Sign Language) are also available for visitors with hearing impairments.
Curiosities about Florence Cathedral
What is the Florence Cathedral?
The Florence Cathedral, also known as the Duomo di Firenze, is the seat of the Archbishop of Florence and of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence.
When was the Florence Cathedral built?
The construction of the Florence Cathedral began on September 9, 1296.
How old is the Florence Cathedral?
The Florence Cathedral was completed in 1436, so it is almost 800 years old.
Who built the Florence Cathedral?
The construction of the Cathedral was entrusted to the Municipality of Florence, while the building was designed by the architects Arnolfo di Cambio, Filippo Brunelleschi, and Emilio De Fabris.
Why was the Florence Cathedral built?
The Florence Cathedral was built to replace a previous cathedral that was falling into ruin and was not large enough to accommodate the city’s growing population.
Where is the Florence Cathedral located?
The Florence Cathedral is located in Piazza del Duomo, in the northern part of the historic city center.
