Florence Cathedral

Brunelleschi’s dome – still the most dramatic skyline in Tuscany

If you’ve seen it, then you already know. You remember the moment it appeared before you. Brunelleschi’s dome, floating above the city. It rises to the heavens and kisses the clouds. Giotto’s bell tower stands guard opposite. A holy palace that holds you in awe.

Admire its façade. See how its vertical lines draw your eye up, and up, and up. Statues of popes and the Virgin Mary fill the little niches.

They pop out among the different hues of marble. Green serpentine from Prato, pink from Siena, and classic Carrara white. It makes sense that, in a city like Florence, its cathedral should look painted.

For the builders of Florence Cathedral, artistic beauty was a gateway to the divine. For its funders, the dukes of the Medici, it meant power and prestige. Step over the threshold. Now you see why.

The sturdy columns rise in rows far off into the distance. A church? This is more like a kingdom. And the inside of the great dome lets you glimpse heaven. Light pours in from the Florentine sky, showing Jesus presiding over the Day of Judgement.

It’s possible to reach the dome’s internal balconies. 463 steps are required to get you there. If you’re able, it’s well worth it. Round off your visit by taking in some of the best views of the city.