When Brunelleschi completed the dome in 1436 — the largest masonry dome ever built, still today — Florence had its miracle: a self-supporting shell raised without wooden centring, using techniques the architect partly took to his grave. Below, the Gothic cathedral begun in 1296 and the ensemble of bell tower and baptistery form the religious heart of the Renaissance city.
What to see
The dome climb (463 steps) with Vasari's Last Judgement at close range and Florence from above; Giotto's bell tower; the baptistery with golden mosaics and Ghiberti's doors — the restored originals are in the Opera museum, which alone justifies the visit: Michelangelo's Bandini Pietà and Donatello's Magdalene wait there.
Visiting
The cathedral itself is free (queues are physiological); dome, bell tower, baptistery and museum share one timed ticket, with a mandatory reserved slot for the dome. The climb is not for the claustrophobic: single file through the corridors between the two shells.
Getting there
The Duomo IS the centre of Florence: ten minutes on foot from Santa Maria Novella station. The area is pedestrian; every city itinerary passes it anyway.
Our editors' tip
Book the dome's first morning slot: ideal light, cool stairs and a still-breathable square. And switch perspective: the dome is best understood from the bell tower, which frames it whole — if you can climb only once, choose the tower for the photo, the dome for the emotion.