Welcome to the Brunelleschi Pass, granting you access to the fascinating monuments of the Piazza del Duomo in Florence. This pass opens the doors to an impressive collection of historical treasures and architectural masterpieces representing the heart of Renaissance art and architecture - and all without queues and additional admission tickets.
Let's begin with Brunelleschi's Dome, an architectural marvel crowning the Florence Cathedral. Here, you can not only admire the captivating architecture but also enjoy breathtaking views of Florence. The Opera del Duomo Museum houses an impressive collection of sculptures, paintings, and artworks once created for the cathedral. The Cathedral and the Crypt of Santa Reparata are other highlights. Giotto's Bell Tower looms over the Piazza del Duomo, impressing with its elegant design and adorned façades. Finally, there is the Baptistery of San Giovanni, a gem of Romanesque architecture.
The Brunelleschi Pass offers you the opportunity to explore all these monuments and experience the rich history, art, and architecture of Florence. Immerse yourself in the beauty of these unique attractions and let yourself be enchanted by the heritage of the Piazza del Duomo.
You can add the Brunelleschi Pass ("Skip the line") to the Florence City Pass as an option and save yourself the trouble of buying individual tickets for this top attraction.
Brunelleschi's Dome is undoubtedly an absolute masterpiece of art that has enchanted the world since its creation. It is not only a symbol of Florence but also of Renaissance culture and all of Western humanism.
This impressive dome was built between 1420 and 1436 based on the ingenious plan by Filippo Brunelleschi and remains to this day the largest masonry dome in the world. Although the idea for such a dome existed in the 13th century, Brunelleschi distinguished himself through his admirable innovation by constructing it without the usual wooden reinforcements that would have been necessary for a dome of this size.
The dome is an octagonal structure made of stone and brick masonry with an impressive external diameter of 54.8 meters and an internal diameter of 45.5 meters. In fact, it consists of two domes: an inner and an outer dome.
The bricks are laid in a fascinating herringbone pattern, and the outer dome is covered with terracotta tiles drawn by eight ribs made of white marble. These ribs lead to the "narrowing" or the serai, which in turn carries the impressive lantern. This architectural feat is not only a technical marvel but also a symbol of the creativity and innovative spirit of the Renaissance era. The Florence Cathedral remains a fascinating testament to the human ability to create greatness in harmony with art and science.
The Opera del Duomo Museum is a fascinating place, spanning over 6,000 square meters, divided into 28 rooms across three floors, showcasing unique masterpieces. Here, artworks are displayed in a spectacular setting that allows them to be admired appropriately and in their original context – an experience that is unparalleled worldwide.
The museum's founding dates back to 1891, but it underwent a major renovation in 2015. Today, it is designed as an educational path that enables visitors to discover the places and artists who breathed life into the monumental complex of the Opera. It ranks among the world's most significant museums, both due to the invaluable value and number of artworks it houses and because of its architectural and technological avant-garde.
Here, you can find the original works of artists such as Michelangelo, Donatello, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti, and many others who adorned the monuments over seven centuries.
Inside the cathedral, precisely between the first and second pillars on the right side of the nave, a staircase leads down to the place where the original Basilica of Santa Reparata was rediscovered during an archaeological investigation from 1965 to 1973.
Here, visitors can embark on a fascinating journey into the past and experience the different construction phases of one of the first Christian churches in the history of Florence. This ancient basilica had a remarkable lifespan of over eight centuries, from its foundation in the early fifth century to its demolition in 1379 when the construction of the main body of the new Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore was completed.
The majestic bell tower of the cathedral, also known as "Giotto's Bell Tower," is a masterpiece of Italian Gothic architecture. It has a square base of approximately 15 meters on each side and reinforcing corners that extend up to the projecting horizontal crown, which stands at 84.7 meters above the ground.
The viewing balconies at the top are reached by climbing a staircase with 414 steps. The effort is well worth it, as from here, you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of Florence.The construction of the bell tower was entrusted to Giotto in the year 1334, the most significant artist of his time, whose name is forever associated with the structure.
As the overseer of the Opera, Giotto designed the plan for the bell tower and began its construction. After his death, which occurred three years later when only the first levels were completed, the task was passed on to his student Andrea Pisano and then to Francesco Talenti, who completed the construction in 1359.
The Baptistery of San Giovanni, located in front of the cathedral, is the ancient religious and civic center of Florence and a masterpiece of Italian Romanesque architecture.
The present monument, consecrated by Pope Niccolò II in the year 1059, may be the result of an expansion of an original baptistery from the 4th century. Since the Middle Ages and until recently, it was believed that the structure had started as a pagan temple dedicated to the god Mars and was later converted into a church in the Christian era.
Florence Cathedral (Duomo)
Monday to Friday: 8:15 AM - 6:45 PM
Saturday: 8:15 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday and Holidays: 12:45 PM - 4:30 PM
Museum
Open daily: 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed every first Tuesday of the month.
Santa Reparata
Monday to Saturday: 10:15 AM - 4:00 PM
Sundays and on religious holidays: 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Giotto's Bell Tower
Open daily: 8:15 AM - 6:45 PM
Baptistery
Open daily: 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM
The Baptistery closes at 2:00 PM on the first Sunday of each month.
Visitors are informed that the Baptistery is currently closed due to the restoration of the mosaic ceiling. We apologize for the inconvenience.
The monuments are closed on December 25th, January 1st, and Easter Sunday.
You can collect your Brunelleschi Pass at the Slow Tour Tuscany office.
The address for the pickup location is: Lungarno Acciaiuoli 10, 50122 Florence.
Simply show your Florence City Pass and receive your admission ticket (if booked).If you need assistance or require an emergency contact number, you can reach us at +39 331 2557223.
We strongly recommend arriving at the pickup point at least 15 minutes before the time indicated on your voucher. Please do not proceed directly to the entrance before picking up your ticket at the pickup point. This ensures that you can enjoy your experience smoothly.
In Florence, you can easily visit all the sights on foot, as there are only short distances within the old town.If you want to use public transportation, here are examples of how to get to Florence Cathedral from the main train station (FS Trenitalia):
Bus: C2 from Stazione Orti Oricellari to Roma Duomo
Tram: T2 from Alamanni - Stazione Santa Maria Novella to Unità. Then it is a short walk of about 7 minutes on foot.
Adress:
Piazza del Duomo, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
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Free admission to Florence's museums, attractions, and tours. Discounts included.
incl. VAT and service fees, free shipping via e-mail
