How to Climb the Florence Duomo?

The Florence Duomo, officially known as the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, is a symbolic and artistic landmark of the city. As one of the largest churches in the 15th century, the Duomo’s historic display of wealth and prominence overshadowed cathedrals in surrounding cities. However, the story of its construction exceeds the lifetime of its creators. Today, the Florence Duomo is one of the most popular attractions in Florence. In this guide, you’ll learn the history behind Florence’s big red dome as well as how to see the Florence Duomo.

The History

Until 1412, Florence’s main cathedral was the Santa Reparata. Although the building provided centuries of religious practices and historical support for the city, the replacement stipulated the expansion of Florence’s prominence throughout Italy. Arnolfo di Cambio, the Duomo’s designer, began construction on September 8, 1296, when he laid the first panel of white marble with accents of green and red. Remains from the Santa Reparata are visible in the crypt of the Duomo.

“You must imagine…nothing like this had ever been attempted before” – Francesca, Florence Guide

At the time, Cambio was well-known in Siena for his contribution to the marble pulpit in their Cathedral. He trained with Nicola Pisano to master architectural techniques until he began his own work. Other famous landmarks of his include monuments in Rome, Perugia and, most importantly, Florence.

Although Cambio began construction in 1296, the completion of the Duomo wouldn’t be seen for over 140 years. The concept of enclosing the rooftop of the Duomo was too advanced in the late 13th century because Florentines lacked the technology to construct a dome of that diameter. Despite this major flaw in Cambio’s design, the Duomo’s construction proceeded.

The Competition

Eighty years into building the Duomo, they still hadn’t uncovered the technology for the cupola. Therefore, the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore ran a competition in Florence to welcome the designs of engineering and architectural geniuses. One architect, Filippo Brunelleschi, won the competition for his keen knowledge on physics, geometry and structural designs.

He presented a plan that provided inner and outer shells with spaces in between to keep the space intact. Although this structural foundation is an indispensable facet of modern buildings, his unprecedented design was originally frowned upon by scholars and architects alike.

Brunelleschi and the Egg

It wasn’t until Brunelleschi presented an egg that the judges accepted his idea.

Because his idea was new, he had no physical evidence to prove that the building would stand on its own, especially at such a massive size. Determined to prove himself and his work to the judges, he met with them and brought one tool: an egg. He made all the judges attempt to stand an egg upright on the table. If you think it’s impossible to do, you’d understand the frustration of the judges at the time.

After all the judges tried, Brunelleschi grabbed the egg and smashed it on the table, which allowed it to stand perfectly upright. At first, the judges laughed and claimed they could’ve replicated his childish antics if they knew they were permitted to break the egg. However, Brunelleschi insisted that not one of them came up with the idea, and after this thought, the judges approved his designs.

The Ceiling of the Duomo

The Duomo’s ceiling conveys intricate detailing and years of artistry paralleled to that of the outside. The Grand Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici commissioned two artists by the names of Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari to paint the ceiling of the octagonal dome.

“It’s quite a climb to the top, but you must get the view if you can.” – Francesca, Florence Guide

Deriving inspiration from Dante’s Divine Comedy and mirroring the mosaics in Florence’s Baptistery, the artists portrayed the Last Judgment. Eight groups of figures depicted the scene within six circular rows of the dome to ensure that the cycle of religious events could be easily portrayed. These mosaics remain as one of the most prominent features of the Duomo itself, and many gather to learn the story themselves.

Visit the Florence Duomo

Explore the Interior

Looking to get a glimpse into Florence’s top attraction? As you enter the Duomo, you will immediately notice its gothic architecture. With its vertical emphasis and ribbed vault, the Duomo’s size will surely shock you.

Climbing to the Top

An experience of a lifetime is climbing 10 stories to the top of the Duomo. As one of the largest masonry cathedrals in Europe, the breathtaking view overlooks the entire city of Florence and beyond—a view unparalleled by any structure in the city. With no elevator, the 463-step climb gives an up-close observation of the ceiling in the Duomo and the surrounding marble, sandstone and brick. The trek is worth its weight in gold.

Hey, we sell tours too!

While the information we provide here is free, we also sell tours at a pretty reasonable price. If you’re dreaming of visiting Florence, the Duomo is one of the main attractions, thanks to the church’s vast red dome. We offer a variety of Florence tours that visit the Duomo, like our Rome to Florence Day Trip visits the Duomo’s exterior.

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