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Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

4.7

#1 of 114 in Historic Sites in Florence

Religious Site Historic Site

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The symbol of the city and its main church, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is renowned for its huge dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi, one of the foremost architects of the Italian Renaissance. This Gothic structure, begun in 1296 following the design of architect Arnolfo di Cambio, was completed in 1436. The elaborate facade is a 19th-century addition that represents the Gothic Revival style prevalent across Europe at the time. The cathedral complex, which includes a baptistery and a bell tower, is part of a World Heritage site covering the historic center of the city. In the piazza in front of the cathedral, a statue of Brunelleschi looks upwards towards his dome. You can climb the 464 steps to the dome through the entrance on the side of the church, but be prepared for a long line. With our international travel planner, Florence attractions like Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore can be center stage of your vacation plans, and you can find out about other attractions like it, unlike it, near it, and miles away.

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Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore Reviews

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27,656 reviews

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4.8

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4.8

3,502 likes

• By curtisdeanna

  We were blown away by the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore! It is massive and beautiful architectural marvel. We walked around both the cathedral and baptistery many, many times just marveling at t...  more »

• By nancyglikestotravel

  the climb to the top of the duomo was well worth it! RESERVE YOUR TIME ONLINE BEFORE YOU ARRIVE IN FLORENCE, on the official site. Times fill up quickly. Also the 18 Euro ticket gives you admission to...  more »

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• By Priyesh Patel

  Absolutely breathtaking exterior. The line to get inside the chapel is very large, so come prepared if you want city inside. A better bet is to climb the Bell tower beside the main cathedral. You get essentially the same view, without having to deal with the large line. Climbing the Bell tower is somewhat challenging, so make sure that you are fit enough to do it. Breath taking views of the city of Florence from the top of either the Bell tower or the dome.

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• By Anton Cnossen

  Beautiful cathedral! Very "clean" look from the k side, compared to the "wealth" of the outside. The waiting lines are going faster than expected. One too though: they should add more detailed information inside the cathedral. There are great stories to be told, so prepare yourself before entering the cathedral

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