Florence Cathedral

Florence's landmark

The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the heart and landmark of Florence. Its huge, brick-red dome was built by Filippo Brunelleschi from 1420 without scaffolding, a feat of engineering still regarded as the largest masonry dome in the world, and one that ushered in the Renaissance. The whole cathedral complex is run by the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, which also looks after the Campanile, the Baptistery and the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. With its position in the Centro Storico and the sheer scale of the dome, the cathedral is most visitors' first stop in Florence.

History and facade

Construction of the Gothic building began in 1296 and dragged on for more than a century, until Brunelleschi's double-shelled dome solved the previously unsolvable engineering problem of the enormous crossing. The marble facade in white, green and pink you see today, however, is far more recent, it was designed by Emilio De Fabris from 1876 in Neo-Gothic style, completed by Luigi del Moro after De Fabris's death in 1883, and inaugurated on 12 May 1887. The original sculptures from the facade and bell tower are now preserved at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo opposite.

What to expect

The cathedral's interior is surprisingly plain, the real draw is looking up into the dome at Vasari's vast fresco of the Last Judgement. Beneath the floor lies the crypt of the early Christian church of Santa Reparata that once stood on the site. The dome climb takes you up 463 steps with no lift, threading between the dome's two shells past the frescoes, and finishing at the lantern with the best panorama in the city. Places are strictly limited and only available with a fixed time-slot booking.

The cathedral is rarely the only stop on the square. Obvious pairings right at the Piazza del Duomo:

• The Campanile (414 steps) gives you the classic postcard view with Brunelleschi's dome in the frame, something the dome climb itself can't offer.
• The Baptistery with Ghiberti's "Gates of Paradise" is included on all three passes; the famous mosaic ceiling is currently closed for restoration.
• The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo holds the originals, including Michelangelo's Pietà and Ghiberti's doors.

Tickets and reservations

The cathedral is free to enter, no ticket needed (Mon-Sat 10:15-15:45, closed Sundays). For every other monument, there have been no single tickets since 2022, only three combined passes from the Opera, each valid for three calendar days:

• Brunelleschi Pass (30 EUR), the only pass with the dome climb, plus the Campanile, Baptistery, museum and Santa Reparata.
• Giotto Pass (20 EUR), everything except the dome.
• Ghiberti Pass (15 EUR), museum, Baptistery and Santa Reparata, no tower climb.

The only part you must reserve is the dome climb, with a fixed date and time slot; the other monuments can be entered at any time within the three-day window. Booking runs exclusively through the Opera's official platform, for what to watch out for and how to secure the limited dome slots, see the guide Booking tickets.

Visiting and practical tips

Allow 1 to 2 hours for the cathedral plus one climb, more for the whole complex including the museum. The best time to go is early morning, before the queues build up outside the freely accessible church. The dome climb is not wheelchair accessible and isn't recommended for anyone with heart conditions, dizziness, vertigo, claustrophobia or during pregnancy, the cathedral itself is accessible. In 2026, the Campanile is closed for maintenance from 9 to 13 November and the dome from 16 to 20 November; all monuments are closed on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday.

The cathedral is the natural starting point for a day exploring Florence and pairs well with the other stops on the Piazza del Duomo for a half-day itinerary. For how it fits among the city's other must-sees, see the overview Attractions in Florence; for the art-historical context of Brunelleschi's achievement, see the guide to Renaissance art.