The Cathedral — Santa Maria del Fiore

The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore is the undisputed landmark of Florence and one of the greatest architectural achievements in human history. The cathedral is 153 meters long, with its main nave 38 meters wide — when it was consecrated in 1436, it was the largest church in the world. But the true star is the dome.

Brunelleschi's Dome (Cupola)

Filippo Brunelleschi's dome (1420–1436) was a stroke of engineering genius: 45.5 meters in internal diameter, 114 meters high, built without the usual wooden scaffolding (centering), which would have been impossible at this size. Brunelleschi invented a double-shell structure with a self-supporting herringbone pattern of bricks — a technique still not fully deciphered today. The 463 steps lead through the interior between the two shells — along the way, you see Vasari's massive fresco "The Last Judgment" up close. Once at the top: a 360° panorama over Florence and the Tuscan hills, worth every drop of sweat.

Admission: Combo ticket (Dome + Campanile + Baptistery + Museum + Crypt): 30€. Dome climb by reservation only (book online!). The cathedral itself is free.

Giotto's Campanile

The freestanding bell tower (84.7 meters, 1334–1359) next to the cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture: clad in white, green, and pink marble. The 414 steps lead to a viewing platform with a slightly different view than the dome — here you see the dome itself up close, an unforgettable photo opportunity. The stairs are narrower than in the dome, but the view is spectacular.

Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistery)

The Baptistery (11th–12th century) opposite the cathedral is the oldest building in the cathedral square. Famous for its three bronze doors, of which the eastern one — by Lorenzo Ghiberti (1401–1452) — was so perfect that Michelangelo called it the "Gates of Paradise". The ten gilded reliefs depict scenes from the Old Testament with a perspective and detail that revolutionized art. The originals are in the cathedral museum (Museo dell'Opera del Duomo), with high-quality copies on the door.