The Duomo Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo) is a unique tourist attraction in Florence, annually attracting millions of tourists eager to plunge into the centuries-old history of Italy and to feel their involvement in the architectural masterpieces and works of art of the best Renaissance masters.
No wonder it is considered the most beautiful and visited place in the world. Fabulously, magically, bewitching - such epithets are born of enthusiastic travelers who saw firsthand the architectural ensemble of the Piazza del Duomo.
Where is it and how to get there
It is not difficult to find the attraction, as it is located in the central, historical part of the city. You can get to the square on foot, starting your journey from the Santa Maria Novella Station (Stazione di Firenze Santa Maria Novella) in the direction of Via Panzani. Next, turn onto Via de Cerretani, leading directly to the Piazza del Duomo. Walking takes no more than 10 minutes. From remote areas of the city it is also convenient to reach by public transport. Nearest stops to the square:
- Olio
- Cerretani;
- Studio
- Vecchietti;
- Pecori Duomo;
- Santa Maria Maggiore.
Buses heading to the center: No. 6, No. 17, No. 22, No. 37 and others.
Story
The name of the square itself speaks of the significant role that it played for Catholic Florence. The Piazza del Duomo has never served as an arena for important political and social events; there was no violent commercial and commercial activity here. Historically, it was a center of concentration of the spiritual and religious life of the Tuscan capital, where important Christian buildings were located.
“The Heart of Florence” - this part of the city got its name after the construction of a new cathedral here.
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
The brightest pearl in the temple ensemble of the square is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (la Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore). He appeared where there once was a dilapidated small church, and was conceived as the main decoration of a prosperous Florence. In terms of size, architectural stylistics and decoration, the cathedral should have surpassed all the temples built earlier in Toscana (Toscana), and accommodate about 90 thousand citizens. Today it takes an honorable fourth place in the list of the most ambitious structures of this type in Europe.
1296 is the start date of construction, which lasted for nearly 140 years with long interruptions. The development of the project at the first stage of construction was carried out by Arnolfo di Cambio (Arnolfo di Cambio). When creating a monumental structure, several eminent masters contributed:
- Giotto di Bondone (Giotto di Bondone);
- Francesco Talenti
- Giovanni di Lapo Ghini;
- Alberto Arnoldi;
- Filippo Brunelleschi.
In 1436, the grand opening of the cathedral for believers took place. It is noteworthy that the external decor was completed only in 1887. This part of the work was carried out under the leadership of Emilio de Fabris. The walls are lined with multi-colored slabs made of natural marble, the shades of which echo the national flag of Italy, and the stone statues installed on the facade are made by hand.
Giotto's bell tower
The Campanile di Giotto Campanile is a separate part of the cathedral complex, named after the master who developed the project and managed to build only the lower tier of the structure.
Andrea Pisano and Francesco Talenti also worked on the creation of the campaign. Construction work was completed in 1359. The bell tower has a square base with sides 15 meters long. The architectural design is made in a sophisticated Gothic style. Lancet windows of the upper floors create a feeling of airiness and aspiration into the sky. Inside the 85-meter campanile is a narrow staircase leading to the highest tier, where there is an observation deck with a bell. You can enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the city and the hills surrounding it by breaking more than 400 steps.
Baptistery of San Giovanni
The Baptistery of San Giovanni (Battistero di San Giovanni) is of particular historical value, as it is considered the oldest building in Florence.
In ancient times, the temple of Mars (the god of war) stood in its place. Not later than the 4th-5th centuries, the first Christian baptistery was erected on the ruins of a pagan religious building - a special architectural building for the sacrament of baptism, which was performed here until the 19th century.
From 1059 to 1129, the building was rebuilt many times, and acquired its present appearance. The octagonal form has a deep sacred meaning: each of the seven sides symbolizes the seven days for which the Lord created the world, and the eighth - a new birth at baptism. The walls are artfully lined with marble, the style of the external decor of the baptistery was later borrowed to decorate the cathedral. The interior decoration is impressive: on the domed vault there is a Byzantine-style mosaic depicting the figure of the Savior and biblical subjects.
Opera del duomo
The Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore Museum (Museo dell'Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore) was opened to guests in 1891. The building itself dates back to the XIII-XIV centuries, and originally served as the administrative center overseeing the construction of the cathedral. It was also used as a workshop for Donatello, Brunelleschi and other architects and sculptors creating the temple complex of the square. Here, restoration work is still underway and, in addition to priceless exhibits, ancient church books, design documentation, and unique drawings are kept.
Brunelleschi Dome
It is interesting that after the walls of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore were erected in 1380, the building stood without a dome for several decades. After almost 40 years, Filippo Brunelleschi set to work. Thanks to accurate mathematical calculations, the architect deduced the angle of inclination of the ribs and determined the masonry pattern, avoiding the collapse of the brick structure. The diameter of the dome is 42 meters, and the height is 91 meters from the floor of the cathedral.
The creation of such a structure, without scaffolding and reinforcement resting on the ground, was considered at that time an almost impossible task, which the master was able to successfully solve. 463 steps lead to the top of the dome, crowned by an observation deck, climbing which you can admire the magnificent frescoes made by the Italian painter Giorgio Vasari and his student Federico Zuccari.
Loggia del Bigallo
A few steps from the cathedral is Loggia del Bigallo, built in the 50s of the XIV century.
The construction was commissioned by the Society of Our Lady of Mercy. Later, the building became the property of the Brotherhood of Mercy. The room of the second tier served as a haven for orphans and abandoned children, and rhetoric lessons were held on the ground floor.
After a devastating fire in 1442, the loggia was reconstructed: the outer walls were decorated with large-scale frescoes (one of which has been preserved to this day), elegant windows appeared, decorated with arches. At the beginning of the last century, attempts were made to organize an exhibition complex in the premises, but the idea was realized only in 1966. The Loggia del Bigallo Museum (Museo del Bigallo) has three rooms, which display paintings and frescoes of religious themes.
Brotherhood of Mercy
The Brotherhood of Mercy is a charitable organization founded in Florence in the 13th century, and to this day providing medical care to all those in need. It is located in the building of house number 20 on the Duomo Square. On the day of veneration of St. Sebastian, the patron saint of the capital of Tuscany, a new Museum of Mercy (Museo della Misericordia) was opened on the fourth floor.
Visitors are invited to view 14 exhibition halls with a total area of about 600 square meters. All the collected exhibits eloquently tell of the centuries-old charitable activities of the fraternity. In the museum complex are presented:
- old paintings;
- antique furniture;
- artifacts of noble citizens;
- manuscripts;
- family coats of arms;
- medical devices to assist.
There is no charge for viewing the exposition; guests are also offered to leave a donation.
Palazzo Kanonichi
The magnificent Palazzo dei Canonici is located on the Duomo square, directly opposite the cathedral.
The facade of the palace is decorated with massive columns towering on either side of the main entrance, and deep niches with arched vaults. Monuments to prominent Renaissance masters flaunt here: Arnolfo di Cambio and Filippo Brunelleschi, involved in the creation of the architectural ensemble of Cathedral Square. Monumental statues sitting on stone pedestals were erected in 1830. The author of the monuments is the Italian sculptor Luigi Pampaloni.
Torrini Museum
Within the walls of house number 12 / R on Cathedral Square is the Museum of Torrini (Museo Torrini). This place is of particular interest to connoisseurs and connoisseurs of jewelry.
Jacobus Torrini, who lived in the Tuscan capital in the fourteenth century, was well known as a talented craftsman who made armor and weapons with a special taste. He also organized a jewelry workshop and became the founder of one of the most legendary jewelry brands in the world. Exquisite jewelry made of precious metals and stones combine the severity of classical forms and the complexity of ornate ornaments. The Torrini Museum presents various exhibits illustrating the history of one of the oldest jewelry houses in the world:
- objects of art;
- clock;
- silver and gold jewelry;
- accessories from semiprecious and precious stones.
Guests are given the opportunity not only to admire, but also to purchase unique jewelry from the famous jewelry house of Torrini, which began its centuries-old history back in 1369.
Tickets and excursions
A special Grande Museo del Duomo excursion program has been developed for tourists, offering you to independently familiarize yourself with the main architectural masterpieces of the square. For a single ticket (worth 18 euros) you can see the following attractions:
- Baptistery and Museum of the Opera del Duomo;
- Baptistery of San Giovanni;
- Giotto's bell tower;
- The dome of Brunelleschi.
Tourists buy a single ticket at the box office located behind the building of the Baptistery of San Giovanni, or book online at the museum's official website www.museumflorence.com/en. The ticket is valid for 3 days, and is activated from the moment of visiting one of the objects.
