The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Baptistery of Saint John

Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and the Baptistery of Saint John, in Florence

Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and its baptistery form the spiritual heart and the symbol of Florence, crowned by the famous dome of Brunelleschi. The Florence audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this absolute masterpiece of the Renaissance.

The Duomo, the dome and the Gates of Paradise

Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, the Duomo of Florence, is one of the largest religious buildings of the world and the symbol of the town. Its façade is covered with polychrome marbles, white, green and pink, of great elegance. But its most extraordinary element is its immense dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the fifteenth century: the largest masonry dome ever built, a feat of engineering that still dominates the town and marked the beginning of the Renaissance. Facing the cathedral stands the Baptistery of Saint John, an octagonal building among the oldest of Florence, famous for its bronze doors, including the famous Gates of Paradise by Lorenzo Ghiberti, and for its golden interior mosaics. It is there that the Florentines, including the poet Dante, were baptised. A major sanctuary and a jewel of art, Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and its baptistery are discovered with respect.

What to see

You admire, with respect, the Duomo with a façade of polychrome marbles and above all its immense dome of Brunelleschi, the largest masonry dome ever built, as well as the octagonal Baptistery of Saint John, famous for its bronze doors including the Gates of Paradise by Ghiberti and its golden mosaics, where Dante was baptised. Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral is the symbol of Florence. It is a major stop to be discovered with respect.

Practical information

Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and the baptistery lie in the heart of Florence, on the Piazza del Duomo, reachable on foot. Places of worship and monuments, they can be visited with respect; the entry, the climb of the dome and the access to the baptistery follow their own hours and conditions, which vary, and are very busy. It is best to check the arrangements and to book in advance.

Who built the dome of the cathedral of Florence?

The architect Filippo Brunelleschi, in the fifteenth century; his dome, the largest masonry dome ever built, was a feat of engineering that still dominates Florence and marked the beginning of the Renaissance.

Where is Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral?

In the heart of Florence, on the Piazza del Duomo, in Italy.