General Information
Florence Cathedral, formally known as ‘Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore’ is a cathedral situated in Florence, Italy. The cathedral build began in 1296 and was structurally completed to the Gothic style designed by architect Arnolfo di Cambio in 1436, the dome of the cathedral was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The facade of the cathedral is unique, it is made out of polychrome marble panels in shades of green and pink bordered by white, it has an elaborate Gothic Revival facade designed by Emilio De Fabris in the 19th century. The cathedral complex, which includes the Piazza Del Duomo, Baptistery and Giotto’s Campanile is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Getting there
The cathedral is situated in the centre of Florence. It is a 5-minute walk away from the city’s main transport hub. Florence is a fairly small city, most of the sights are accessible on foot.
Opening Times and Admission
The cathedral is free to enter, this means that lines to enter can be long but they usually move pretty quickly. Audio guides are available at the cathedral, these cost 3 euros each. The cathedral is generally open 10am-5pm, although this varies on Sundays and religious holidays.
Such a pretty cathedral in a lovely historic city in Italy. I visited in 2019 during the summer months and the area was so busy but i managed to get into the cathedral without having to queue for long. Well worth anyones time.