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...]
Visit the Dom St Nikolaus in Stendal to See Stained-Glass Windows
Visit the Dom St Nikolaus (St Nicholas) in Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt, to see one of the largest ensembles of medieval stained-glass windows in Germany. The brick-gothic Dom St Nikolaus (Cathedral of St Nicolas) in Stendal is famous for its large collection of 15th-century stained-glass windows. Although never actually a cathedral, it was a collegiate church before the … [Read more...]
Visit Aachen Cathedral to See Charlemagne’s Throne and Shrine
The imperial throne and tomb of Charlemagne in a gilded shrine are top attractions to see in the Carolingian Aachener Dom in Germany. Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom) is one of the most famous and most interesting historic buildings in Germany. It was originally the palatine chapel of Charlemagne and for almost six centuries the church where German kings were crowned. Much … [Read more...]
Interior of Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral blends original Carolingian elements with later mostly Gothic decorations and additions as well as modern Byzantine-style mosaics. Aachen Cathedral is one of the shiniest cathedrals in Germany. The interior shows an unusual amount of gold while the Byzantine-style mosaics add color and bling to what is in part a fairly dark building. The core of the cathedral … [Read more...]
The Building and Exterior of Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral’s core was built by Charlemagne but later additions enlarged the palatine chapel that became the coronation church of German kings. Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom) in western Germany is one of the oldest continuously in use buildings in Germany. The octagonal core of the church was built by Charlemagne as a Mary chapel attached to his palace in Aix-la-Chapelle … [Read more...]
See the Gothic Choir of Aachen Cathedral
The choir of the Aachener Dom contains the shrine of Charlemagne, further relics, and magnificent Ottonian and Romanesque art. The magnificent choir area of the Aachen Cathedral in western Germany has the remains of Charlemagne (Karl der Grosse / Charles the Great) in a large gilded early 13th-century shrine (Karlsschrein). The Mary shrine (Marienschrein) from the same era is … [Read more...]
See the Aachen Cathedral Treasury in Germany
The Aachener Domschatz is one of the most important treasuries in Europe with art related to Charlemagne, German royal coronations, liturgy, and relics. The Aachen Cathedral Treasury (Aachener Domschattz) is one of the largest and most important treasuries of medieval Christian artworks in Europe. The treasury has over a hundred works that are exhibited in a large museum … [Read more...]