The Piccolomini Library (Libreria Piccolomini) inside Siena Cathedral is a colorful Renaissance highlight in the otherwise predominantly Romanesque-Gothic Duomo. The Piccolomini Library is in a single hall accessible only from inside the cathedral of Siena. Although a number of significant codices are on display, the main reason to visit is to admire the colorful frescoes … [Read more...]
Buying Tickets and Tours for Siena Cathedral Complex (Duomo) in Tuscany
Tickets and tours for the Siena Cathedral (Duomo) complex with the church, baptistery, crypt, museums, and viewing platforms are cheapest onsite but best bought online in advance. The Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Siena is one of the finest churches in Italy. Its black-green and white stripy exterior is famous but its interior is absolutely … [Read more...]
2021 Florence New Opening Hours of Top Sights, Museums, and Churches
In June 2021, most top sights and museums in Florence are open with shorter opening hours, fewer tickets, and reservations mostly essential. The Duomo sights and most churches have re-opened. Many of the top attractions, especially museums, in Florence reopened for visitors in May 2021 and mostly operate with normal hours from June 2021. However, fewer tickets are sold, … [Read more...]
Visit the Cathedral of Florence (Duomo di Firenze)
The exterior of the Cathedral of Florence (Duomo di Firenze) is often more impressive than a visit to the large Gothic church interior. The Duomo with its famous dome is the symbol of Florence — it dominates and beautifies the skyline from almost all vantage points. Its Gothic exterior is clad in white, green, and pink marble with a magnificent tiled dome its shining … [Read more...]
Climb Giotto’s Campanile Bell Tower in Florence
The campanile of Florence cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece designed by Giotto and is often considered the most beautiful bell tower in Italy. Giotto set a visual focal point to the skyline of early 14th-century Florence with the magnificent bell tower for the cathedral decades before Brunelleschi's cupola would steal the show. The campanile clad with white, green, and … [Read more...]
Visit the Baptistry in Florence (Battistero di San Giovanni a Firenze)
The marble-clad baptistry (battistero) in Florence is famous for its magnificent bronze doors. Visit the interior to see the dome mosaics. The Romanesque battistero to the west of the famous Duomo in Florence was the baptistry for all Florentine newborns for centuries. The white and green marble-clad exterior is particularly famous for the three sets of magnificent bronze … [Read more...]
Climbing the Brunelleschi Dome (Cupola) of the Duomo in Florence
Climbing the cupola (dome) Brunelleschi designed for the cathedral of Florence is for many visitors the highlight of visiting the Duomo complex in Firenze. Brunelleschi's dome over the crossing of the Duomo in Florence was an architectural and engineering masterpiece of the early 15th century. For over four centuries it was the largest dome in the world. Visitors use … [Read more...]
Visit the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo (Cathedral Museum) in Florence
Visit the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (Museum of the Works of the Cathedral) in Florence to see the original art, sculptures, and treasury of the cathedral, baptistry, and campanile. The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo di Firenze (Florence Cathedral Museum) behind the church is home to many of the original artworks from the cathedral, campanile, and baptistry. The sculptures are … [Read more...]
Tickets and Opening Hours for Visiting the Duomo Sights in Florence
A visit to the Duomo in Florence is free but tickets are required for the baptistry, the museum, and the campanile, while time-slot reservations are essential for climbing the cupola. The sights associated with the Duomo in Florence — the cathedral, cupola, bell tower, baptistery, and museum — are traditionally seen on a combination ticket valid for 72 hours. However, … [Read more...]
See Michelangelo’s David in the Galleria dell’ Accademia in Florence
See Michelangelo's David, the world's most famous statue on display in the Galleria dell' Accademia di Firenze in Florence, Italy. The large marble statue of David by Michelangelo is often described as the most famous statue in the world. David is displayed in the Accademia Gallery in Florence, where it is the most impressive work to see. The museum further has paintings … [Read more...]
Visit the Bargello Museum of Sculptures in Florence
The Bargello Museum near the Uffizi has the best collection of Renaissance sculptures in Florence including several by Michelangelo and two Davids by Donatello. The Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Firenze focuses on medieval and Renaissance art. It is particularly famous for sculptures including some of the best works by Donatello (David, St George, Marzocco) and fine … [Read more...]
Visit the San Marco Museum in Florence to See Fra Angelico Paintings
The San Marco Museum in Florence is famous for its large collection of paintings by Fra Angelico including original frescoes in the cells of the convent. The San Marco Museum in Florence is in the former Dominican convent where the cells and art of the monastery have been preserved. Fra Angelico designed frescoes for each of the 44 cells and these were preserved in very … [Read more...]