Piazza del Duomo

Location	Piazza del Duomo
Admission	Cathedral, free; Bell Tower, 6 euro
Hours	Cathedral, Monday to Friday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (3:30 pm on Thursday) Saturday, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm Sunday, 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm Bell Tower, Monday to Sunday, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Phone	390552302885
Website	www.operaduomo.firenze.it

The Piazza del Duomo encompasses the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the neighboring Campanile, two buildings that define the skyline of Florence. The Cathedral is known for its massive dome, while the Campanile, or Bell Tower, famously reaches over 275 feet tall. Although the structures are independent from one another, together they represent the focal point of Catholic Florence.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore was a work in progress for centuries, and the product of several artists and architects. It was commissioned to Arnolfo di Cambio in 1296 to replace the Church of Santa Reparta with a more impressive structure to represent the religious power of Florence. As intended, the Cathedral was the single largest Catholic Church in the world upon its completion in 1436. After 170 years, Giotto, Andrea Pisano, and Francesco Talenti, finally finished what began as the grand vision of Cambio. The green and white marble exterior is topped by a 130 foot wide wooden and brick dome. The dome emerged from the imagination of Talenti, but is the work of Brunelleschi and over four million bricks. Over several years, various artists contributed the interior’s numerous stained glass windows and mosaics. Some of the original décor still remains, however others were lost over time or moved to the Cathedral’s nearby museum.

Giotto’s multi tiered Bell Tower stands next to the Cathedral and bears similar external designs. The red, green, and white marble accents the dramatic arches and sharp lines. Although the Campanile is popularly referred to as the work of Giotto di Bondone, Andrea Pisano and Francesco Talenti had equal shares in the design and construction. Along the bottom of the Bell Tower, you will see replicas of sculptures and mosaics from artists such as Donatello. Many of the original Campanile works can be seen in the Museo dell’Opere del Duomo, along with original artwork from the Cathedral.