After living in Florence and walking through Piazza del Duomo almost everyday for the last eight months, I finally thought it was time to visit the iconic Florentine church and its accompanying buildings. A few weeks ago, I had a free day and no plans, so I decided to get a last minute ticket to il Grande Museo del Duomo. The ticket is 20 euros when bought from the Duomo’s website. It offers a really great deal. With one ticket, you get access to the top of the Duomo, the top of Giotto's Bell Tower, the baptistry, and the Duomo Museum located in the piazza. If you are not interested in any of these additional entrances, access to the main cloister of the Duomo is free, however you have to dedicate a good chunk of time to waiting in the line.
I started off the day by actually climbing to the top of the Duomo. This climb is not for the faint of heart or those scared of heights. It’s about 500 steps, the last of those being incredibly steep and up the side of the dome (also bear this in mind when descending). But, the view from the top makes the whole ordeal worthwhile. It is spectacular and you have the best vantage point of the whole city. It is important to note, though, especially for those afraid of heights, that there is only a railing as a barrier. However, if you can look past that, I highly recommend taking the time out and climbing the dome. If you are interested in something similar, but with a little more safety in the form of a cage at the top, climbing the adjoining bell tower is also an option. It is about the same number of steps and gives a similar view of the city, with the added bonus of having the Duomo in the view as well.
The ticket also gives you access to the baptistry structure located in the center of the piazza. The most notable aspect of the baptistry is the intricate mosaic work on the ceiling depicting biblical imagery. You also get access to the Duomo Museum, located behind the cathedral. This museum houses Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, a second set of baptistry doors, as well as Michelangelo’s Pieta and Donatello’s Penitent Magdalene.
You do not need the ticket to enter the Duomo itself. The interior of the Duomo is not the most spectacularly decorated church, especially when compared to the likes of St. Peter’s in Vatican City. The most striking part of the interior is the Duomo itself, which is covered in frescoes by Vasari. Underneath the church, in the crypt, is an active archaeological site, where excavations continue on the church that stood there before the Duomo was constructed, known as Santa Reparata. The combo ticket gives you entrance to the crypt as well.
Overall, I had a great experience at the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore and I think that it is a worthwhile ticket purchase, especially if you are interested in cultural heritage and religious history and identity. The site is extremely important to the Florentine people, not only from a tourism and economic standpoint, but also because it represents a collective Florentine heritage. There’s a reason that millions of tourists flock to Florence every year to see this spectacular building. When you visit this place, I urge you to reflect on the number of people who have walked there before you or who had an influence on the site as it is seen today. It is mind-boggling and sure to make you appreciate the visit a bit more.
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