Florence Cathedral
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Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore - by Bruce Stokes (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Description
Florence Cathedral is a 13th-century catholic church built in Gothic style; it was formerly called Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. The monument is an icon of the city skyline alongside its bell tower (Campanile di Giotto) and is famous for the alternating horizontal and vertical bands of green (Prato), white (Carrara), and pink (Sienna) marble panels. Its proportions are enormous, in particular that of its dome, one of the tallest in the world at 115m. The façade was revamped in the late 19th century and the interior is relatively devoid of decoration, except notably for stained glass windows and the frescoed dome (The Last Judgement by Vasari and Zuccari).
Access & Transport
The cathedral is on Piazza del Duomo, in the center of the historical district. Buses C1 and C2 stop there.
Instructions & Recommendations
The Cathedral is closed on Sundays for worship services. The Dome has different opening hours and a ticket is required. Access is via stairs with over 400 steps.
Environmental & Social
Environmentally neutral. This historic building is part of the city's cultural and architectural heritages
Conclusion
An unmissable landmark that every traveller should discover at the very least from the outside. The interior might not be of the same calibre but the façade and colour scheme is trademark Firenze.
Key positive
Original exterior design
Stunning dome dimensions
Key negative
Not that much to see inside
Can be crowded
Suitability
Suitable for all ages and no religious denomination restrictions. Accessible for visitors with reduced mobility (not the Dome)
About this Rating
TYPE
Onsite
RESEARCHED IN
June 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 15m
est. visit time:1h 15m
Monday10:15 - 15:45
Tuesday10:15 - 15:45
Wednesday10:15 - 15:45
Thursday10:15 - 15:45
Friday10:15 - 15:45
Saturday10:15 - 15:45
Sunday -