Skip-The-Line Florence Duomo Tour: Dome Access

In this enthralling tour of the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, you’ll have the rare chance to climb to the very top of the tallest building in Florence!

Marvel at the vast size of the cathedral dome, a ground-breaking architectural project that required all the artistry and genius of architect and engineer Filippo Brunelleschi.

A special feature of this walking tour is that it includes skip-the-line access to the dome, so you don’t have to spend precious time waiting in a queue.

Built between 1296 and 1436, the Duomo symbolized Florence's growing importance and it remains the largest cathedral in the world. Its imposing dome, larger than the dome of the Pantheon in Rome, still dominates the city.

To reach the top of the Duomo, the highest building in Florence, you will climb up the same staircase used by Filippo Brunelleschi, the revolutionary architect and engineer. As you ascend the 463 steps, you will feel as if you’ve gone back in time, sneaking through the narrow passages of this architectural masterpiece. Once on top of the “cupola” dome, you will enjoy an unforgettable view of Florence. 

On the tour, you will discover the techniques used by Brunelleschi, such as inventing the new hoisting machine to raise the masonry needed for the dome. You will also have the opportunity to get close to the frescos decorating the dome. The fresco on the dome's interior, painted between 1572 and 1579 by Giorgio Vasari and Frederico Zuccari, depicts the Last Judgement. 

In order to build the dome quickly, many new tools were invented. You’ll see these preserved in the Museo dell' Opera del Duomo, a nearby museum dedicated to works of art from the cathedral. The extraordinary thing is that many of them are still used nowadays!