PRIVATE FLORENCE DUOMO COMPLEX HALF DAY WALKING TOUR INCLUDING ON OWN ACCESS TO BRUNELLESCHI'S DOME

Meet your private guide and begin an immersive journey through the heart of Florence, focusing on its most iconic landmark: Santa Maria del Fiore, the city’s majestic cathedral. Your tour includes guided visits to key monuments of the Duomo Complex and concludes with on-your-own access to climb the famous dome. Construction of Santa Maria del Fiore began in 1296, replacing Santa Reparata, Florence’s original cathedral built in the 5th century and used for over 800 years. To make room for the new structure, Santa Reparata was demolished—its remains, including a beautifully preserved mosaic floor, can still be admired today in the crypt beneath the Duomo. In the same crypt, you’ll also find the tomb of Filippo Brunelleschi, the visionary architect behind the dome—the largest masonry dome in the world and the first ever built without wooden centering. Inside the cathedral, your guide will highlight its most fascinating features, bringing to life the architectural innovation and artistic splendor that define the space. The tour continues with a visit to the Baptistry of San Giovanni, an octagonal church where Florence’s noble families once had their children baptized—at a time when baptisms were held only twice a year: on Easter Eve and Pentecost Eve. Next, your guide will lead you to one of Florence’s hidden gems: the Museum of the Duomo Complex, often overlooked but incredibly rich in history and masterpieces. Here, you’ll encounter the original bronze doors of the Baptistry, along with works by Ghiberti, Pollaiolo, a stunning collection of medieval sculpture, Donatello’s deeply expressive Maddalena Penitente, and Michelangelo’s Pietà Bandini—a profoundly spiritual sculpture he created in his seventies, considered by many to be the most moving of the three Pietàs he completed. Throughout the experience, your guide will connect the stories, symbols, and artistic evolution of these landmarks to give you a deep and lasting appreciation of Florence's spiritual and artistic heritage. At the end of the guided portion, your guide will provide directions to join the line for the independent climb of the dome.