Inside the Cathedral there are famous works of art from the 1400s, sculptures, polychrome stained glass windows, wooden inlays from the wardrobes of the Sacristy, the frescoes of the Dome with scenes of the Last Judgment.
During the guided tour of the Duomo we will go down to the basement to visit the crypt where the remains of Saint Reparata, the first Florentine basilica, are kept, with its mosaic floors and its sculptural works from the Christian era.
We’ll go up to the North Terrace and from there we’ll be able to admire a beautiful view of the city and its main monuments and sites.
And for adventure lovers, we will continue our climb to look out from Brunelleschi’s Dome to have a breathtaking view of the city.
Guided tour of the Duomo: itineraries and duration of the Florenceforanyone tours
By visiting the Duomo of Florence with a professional guide, you can have a thorough and detailed knowledge about the history and art that make up this impressive monument.
Not only that: with a tour guide by your side, you won’t wait for time before entering.
Discover the guided tours offered by Florenceforanyone, the itineraries and the duration.
Combined tour of Florence Cathedral
On this tour, we’ll visit the Duomo, the crypt, the north terraces, and the dome.
With this guided tour we will see the Cathedral of Florence dedicated to “Santa Maria del Fiore”. Designed by Arnolfo di Cambio (c. 1245-1302), the Cathedral was not finished until the nineteenth century.
We will visit its interior with its wall frescoes, including the one depicting Dante with the Divine Comedy made in 1400, the beautiful octagon-shaped choir overlooked by the two Sacristies, the pipe organs, the central tribune and the tribunes on the sides of the main altar. We will admire above us the immense fresco of the Last Judgment commissioned by Cosimo I of the Medici to Giorgio Vasari and his collaborators.
After the guided tour of the Cathedral, the tour continues in the crypt to observe the remains of what was the first Florentine Basilica, Santa Reparata. The ancient basilica represents one of the first Christian places in Florence and the current Cathedral of Florence was built on it. Inside you can admire the remains of this early Christian basilica 50m long by 25m wide with 3 naves and a beautiful mosaic floor with geometric and floral decorations. Among them, the image of a large peacock stands out, which has always been a symbol of eternity and resurrection. Do not miss a stop at the tomb of Filippo Brunelleschi, the creator of the majestic Dome.
Brunelleschi’s dome: why not miss this jewel
After the visit inside the Cathedral we will continue our guided tour to Brunelleschi’s Dome.
To reach it we will walk a little more than 400 steps to finally reach it. To date, it is the largest masonry dome ever built, which is why its structure is unique in the world. An octagonal vault consisting of the 45° intersection of two vaults with a square plan made without ribs. The secret of its stability is given by its herringbone structure of the bricks that compose it.
From up there you can admire the infinity made up of skies, monuments and unparalleled landscapes.
The complete guided tour of the Duomo lasts 3 hours.
