Базилика Санта Мария дель Фьоре или Дуомо Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore or Duomo

Rating 10110

The Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore is a visiting card of Florence and for good reason. The first thing that strikes you on the spot is the huge size of the cathedral. No matter how hard I tried to photograph it in its entirety, it is impossible. The second amazing beauty. Having seen it once, you will never forget it again and will not confuse it with any other. All sightseeing tours start from the square in front of the cathedral. Look outside and admire, if you already got to Florence even for an hour, you will always have time, but get inside ..... and it's worth it ..... I managed to see the cathedral from the inside, only on my third visit to Florence. The first time I visited Florence with a bus tour - a sightseeing tour + 1 hour of free time, and “zigel, zigel, ah lu lu” The second time I came from Rome for the whole day, but went to the Uffizi. I did not want to stand in a huge queue and waste time, which is already not enough. And the third time for 4 days I lived in Florence.
I arrived at the cathedral at 8 am, the queue was within reasonable limits. Inside, you can admire the cathedral without a guide (with a guide, it’s also better, of course), but there is a lot of information on the Internet and guidebooks. To get a better view of the frescoes on the dome, bring at least binoculars with you. Height - wow. And they are not allowed under the dome itself. Be sure to look for Michelino Dante's painting of Florence, Hell, Purgatory and Paradise. Well, there is still a lot of things ...Entrance is paid.
If time permits, climb the Brunelleschi dome itself, a separate entrance on the side, there is also a queue. I recommend it to people who are physically strong and incomplete, because the ladder there is narrow and steep. But if you crawl, the views are worth the effort.