{"id":10137,"date":"2023-09-19T09:15:26","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T08:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/walks.friday.ie\/?p=10137"},"modified":"2026-01-20T16:03:54","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T16:03:54","slug":"7-things-didnt-know-incredible-florence-duomo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/7-things-didnt-know-incredible-florence-duomo","title":{"rendered":"The Florence Duomo Unveiled: 7 Fascinating Historical Facts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Florence<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is home to some of Italy\u2019s finest Renaissance art, history and architecture. It\u2019s a must-see for visitors to Italy and one of the world\u2019s most famous cultural cities. But rising above all these masterpieces, both literally and some would argue figuratively, is the colossal Florence Duomo, or otherwise known as Santa Maria Del Fiore.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The enormous red-tiled dome\u2014the biggest brick and mortar dome in the world\u2014is both a product and a symbol of the incredibly fecund creative culture that has defined the city for over 500 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read along to learn about seven things you probably didn\u2019t know about the Florence Duomo.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23422\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23422\" class=\"wp-image-23422 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0080.jpg\" alt=\"The guide leads a group along a narrow exterior walkway of the Florence Cathedral, with the massive dome rising beside them under a blue sky.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0080.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0080-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0080-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-23422\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Florence Historic Centre has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/7-things-didnt-know-incredible-florence-duomo\/#A_brief_history_of_the_Florence_Duomo\" >A brief history of the Florence Duomo<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/7-things-didnt-know-incredible-florence-duomo\/#The_Florence_Duomo_is_a_major_achievement_in_Renaissance_architecture\" >The Florence Duomo is a major achievement in Renaissance architecture<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/7-things-didnt-know-incredible-florence-duomo\/#Before_the_Florence_Duomo_Brunelleschi_trained_as_a_goldsmith\" >Before the Florence Duomo, Brunelleschi trained as a goldsmith<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/7-things-didnt-know-incredible-florence-duomo\/#Brunelleschi_silenced_skeptics_using_an_egg\" >Brunelleschi silenced skeptics using an egg<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/7-things-didnt-know-incredible-florence-duomo\/#The_administrators_forced_Brunelleschi_and_his_arch-rival_to_work_on_the_Florence_Duomo_together\" >The administrators forced Brunelleschi and his arch-rival to work on the Florence Duomo together<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/7-things-didnt-know-incredible-florence-duomo\/#%E2%80%A6And_Ghiberti_tried_to_have_Brunelleschi_thrown_in_jail\" >&#8230;And Ghiberti tried to have Brunelleschi thrown in jail<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/7-things-didnt-know-incredible-florence-duomo\/#Brunelleschi_catapulted_the_renowned_Tuscan_dish_Peposo_to_fame\" >Brunelleschi catapulted the renowned Tuscan dish Peposo to fame<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/7-things-didnt-know-incredible-florence-duomo\/#Brunelleschis_dome_has_survived_600_years\" >Brunelleschi\u2019s dome has survived 600 years<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/7-things-didnt-know-incredible-florence-duomo\/#Taking_a_Guided_Tour_of_the_Duomo\" >Taking a Guided Tour of the Duomo:&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/7-things-didnt-know-incredible-florence-duomo\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_brief_history_of_the_Florence_Duomo\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A brief history of the Florence Duomo<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Florence started building its grand cathedral in the 13th century, well before the Renaissance. However, about a century later, when it was almost finished, the builders faced a major issue: a nearly 150-foot oval hole in the roof where the Florence Duomo was supposed to be.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The problem was that not just any dome could do the job. In order to cover the hole it would need to be the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">biggest <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dome built since&#8230;well, ever. Not only had a dome of that diameter never been built, no one was exactly sure that it could be built, much less how to go about it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Had it not been for the persistence of a brilliant mind named Filippo Brunelleschi, the iconic dome atop the Florence Cathedral might never have graced the city&#8217;s skyline.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, the Florence Duomo (\u201c<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Il Duomo<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d in Italian), also known as the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, is so iconic that many recognize the Cathedral primarily for its dome. The significance of the church is further underscored by the fact that, despite its official name, it is frequently referred to by a name that distinctly emphasizes the prominence of its iconic dome.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without further ado, let&#8217;s delve into some fascinating facts about one of Florence&#8217;s and Italy&#8217;s most iconic landmarks.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8867\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8867\" class=\"wp-image-8867 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/WofI_150505_XTRA097-copy.jpg\" alt=\"The lantern of the Florence Duomo.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/WofI_150505_XTRA097-copy.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/WofI_150505_XTRA097-copy-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-8867\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">If you have no fear of heights, consider heading to the top of the Florence Duomo.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Florence_Duomo_is_a_major_achievement_in_Renaissance_architecture\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Florence Duomo is a major achievement in Renaissance architecture<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A dome of the size and shape of the Florence Duomo that could support itself without collapsing was thought completely impossible to build before the Renaissance. Though similar structures, like<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Pantheon<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, had been constructed before, the knowledge of how they had been built had been completely lost during the long, dark Middle Ages.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brunelleschi devised an astonishingly intricate design involving two domes, stacked atop each other, employing a unique herringbone brick pattern. He also incorporated an internal chain system encircling the outer dome, similar to the metal rings on a barrel, to effectively distribute the weight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prior to Brunelleschi&#8217;s innovation, the only known method for constructing such a dome involved the use of flying buttresses. However, the Florentines staunchly opposed this approach, as their archrivals in the northern city of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Milan<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> had employed it for their own dome.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, the massive dome is still one of the largest in the entire world. It\u2019s even larger than<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">St. Peter\u2019s dome<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the Vatican City!<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20446\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20446\" class=\"wp-image-20446 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/walks_florence-7res.jpg\" alt=\"Florence Duomo and the city on a sunny day\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/walks_florence-7res.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/walks_florence-7res-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20446\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Florence Duomo provides some of the city&#8217;s best views.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Before_the_Florence_Duomo_Brunelleschi_trained_as_a_goldsmith\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before the Florence Duomo, Brunelleschi trained as a goldsmith<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brunelleschi, who initially trained as a goldsmith in Florence, quickly gained an impressive reputation. During his apprenticeship, he honed various skills beyond metalwork, including drawing, painting, and carving. He delved into the mechanics of wheels, gears, and weights, even constructing clocks and mastering linear perspective. Alongside his close friend Donatello, he embarked on a pilgrimage to Rome.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There, he studied <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/top-attractions\/roman-forum-rome-italy\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the city&#8217;s ancient monuments<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, uncovering architectural secrets from the Roman Empire that had long been forgotten. Evolving from a prodigious talent into a true Renaissance polymath, Brunelleschi&#8217;s diverse interests converged to shape his groundbreaking design for the Florence Duomo, where gold took a backseat to innovation.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20449\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20449\" class=\"wp-image-20449 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/6848911374_b92337c9d1_kres.jpg\" alt=\"Filippo Brunelleschi\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/6848911374_b92337c9d1_kres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/6848911374_b92337c9d1_kres-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20449\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Filippo Brunelleschi&#8217;s influence on Florence cannot be understated. Photo credit: Erik Drost<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brunelleschi_silenced_skeptics_using_an_egg\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brunelleschi silenced skeptics using an egg<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By 1380, most of the Florence Cathedral was complete, except for the challenging dome. It wasn&#8217;t until 1420 that city leaders organized a competition to find an engineer for the task.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enter Brunelleschi, who boldly claimed he could design the perfect dome but kept his methods secret to avoid competition. He declared he wouldn&#8217;t use traditional wooden support, a costly option due to shipping expenses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was met with skepticism, but Brunelleschi challenged his critics to prove their own expertise by making an egg stand upright on a flat surface without any assistance. After everyone failed to do so, Brunelleschi took the egg, slightly cracked its bottom to create a flat surface, and easily made it stand upright. He then explained that, just like the egg, his dome could be constructed using a similarly simple and clever method.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ultimately won the bid with his innovative plan that sparked imagination.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20457\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20457\" class=\"wp-image-20457 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/599229331_3345c82b7c_bres.jpg\" alt=\"Eggs\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/599229331_3345c82b7c_bres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/599229331_3345c82b7c_bres-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20457\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brunelleschi silenced skeptics using none other than a simple egg\u2014and proved his point. Photo credit: Adam<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_administrators_forced_Brunelleschi_and_his_arch-rival_to_work_on_the_Florence_Duomo_together\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The administrators forced Brunelleschi and his arch-rival to work on the Florence Duomo together<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1420 Brunelleschi was officially named the superintendent of the project, but the administrators still didn\u2019t completely trust him. Thus, they assigned Lorenzo Ghiberti, another goldsmith, and Brunelleschi\u2019s arch-rival, to be co-superintendent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ghiberti was a popular and well-respected artist around town but his relationship with Brunelleschi had never quite recovered from when he had beaten Brunelleschi for the commission to cast the bronze doors of the Florence Baptistery in 1401.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The overseers saw the inclusion of Ghiberti as the perfect way to keep Brunelleschi in line, but the distrust between the two only created more competition and more secrets.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20450\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20450\" class=\"wp-image-20450 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/3914725081_668ef27547_kres.jpg\" alt=\"Sculpture of Lorenzo Ghiberti\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/3914725081_668ef27547_kres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/3914725081_668ef27547_kres-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20450\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lorenzo Ghiberti, and Filippo Brunelleschi were arch rivals. Photo credit: Elliott Brown<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%A6And_Ghiberti_tried_to_have_Brunelleschi_thrown_in_jail\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8230;And Ghiberti tried to have Brunelleschi thrown in jail<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ghiberti may have instigated officials to jail Brunelleschi in 1434, about 14 years after the start of the Florence Cathedral Dome project, on a technicality.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It seems Brunelleschi was behind on union dues, but that would hardly have been a serious offense for a man of his means. Whatever the case, he was released almost immediately and got the last laugh by watching the Duomo grow nearly one foot per month.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-23421\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0071.jpg\" alt=\"A group of tourists enjoys the breathtaking view of Florence\u2019s terracotta rooftops and surrounding hills from the dome\u2019s summit.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0071.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0071-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0071-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brunelleschi_catapulted_the_renowned_Tuscan_dish_Peposo_to_fame\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brunelleschi catapulted the renowned Tuscan dish <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Peposo <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to fame<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The dome&#8217;s construction was a significant event in the city, as the cathedral had an unfinished hole for many years. Thus, Brunelleschi faced immense pressure\u2014but he still found time for side projects and innovations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One cool invention? To transport materials to the dome&#8217;s roof, he invented an ox-powered crane capable of lifting massive stones.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brunelleschi also had a clever solution for the high demand for bricks during the Florence Cathedral&#8217;s dome construction. He built a large furnace in Impruneta, a nearby town known for its <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Peposo <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(beef stew). While overseeing the project, he frequented the town and grew fond of the local dish. Brunelleschi liked it so much that he introduced <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Peposo <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to Florence and shared it with his workers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This culinary tradition has since become an iconic part of the city&#8217;s cuisine and is a must-try for visitors. This culinary tradition is now a beloved part of the city&#8217;s cuisine and is a must-try for visitors (and deserves an honorary mention on your list of <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/what-to-eat-in-florence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">what to eat in Florence<\/a>). Give it a try at one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/best-italian-restaurants-in-florence\/?cnt=ES\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">best Italian restaurants in Florence<\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20455\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20455\" class=\"wp-image-20455 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/53037049071_982d4d4459_4kres.jpg\" alt=\"A dish of stew, known as reposo\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/53037049071_982d4d4459_4kres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/53037049071_982d4d4459_4kres-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20455\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Reposo is made primarily with beef, black pepper, red wine, garlic, and sometimes tomato sauce. Photo credit: Kalboz<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brunelleschis_dome_has_survived_600_years\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brunelleschi\u2019s dome has survived 600 years<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite initial doubts, Brunelleschi succeeded in constructing one of Italy&#8217;s most enduring landmarks, which has stood the test of time and remains an iconic architectural achievement recognized both in Italy and around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, visitors can climb the 463 steps to the top of the dome for panoramic city views.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it&#8217;s important to note that the Florence Dome climb is not suitable for everyone. The stairs are numerous, small, steep, and narrow and were originally built for workers (not for the millions of tourists that flock to the city annually).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you prefer not to tackle long hikes, tight spaces, or heights, you might consider visiting the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Florence Duomo Museum<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This lesser-known gem offers fascinating exhibits on the dome&#8217;s construction, original bronze doors from the Baptistery, and a stunning reconstruction of the church&#8217;s original facade.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite enduring wars, storms, and multiple earthquakes, the dome has required minimal refurbishment. This resilience stands as a testament to Florence&#8217;s strength and wealth and serves as an enduring symbol of the city, visible from afar.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20441\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20441\" class=\"wp-image-20441 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/samuele-giglio-8HU2ELccuW0-unsplashres.jpg\" alt=\"Florence Duomo at sunset\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/samuele-giglio-8HU2ELccuW0-unsplashres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/samuele-giglio-8HU2ELccuW0-unsplashres-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20441\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Millions of people flock to the Florene Duomo anually. Photo credit: Samuele Giglio<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Taking_a_Guided_Tour_of_the_Duomo\"><\/span>Taking a Guided Tour of the Duomo:&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you&#8217;re eager to truly uncover the secrets and splendor of the Florence Duomo, the <strong data-start=\"85\" data-end=\"198\"><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/florence-tours\/florence-duomo-tour-climb\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"87\" data-end=\"196\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Florence David &amp; Duomo Tour with Dome Climb<\/a><\/strong> offers an unforgettable, expert-led experience. This guided tour not only includes skip-the-line access to climb Brunelleschi\u2019s dome\u2014arguably one of the greatest architectural feats of the Renaissance\u2014but also grants access to exclusive areas like the Cathedral terraces, which are normally closed to the public. Along the way, your guide will bring the history of Santa Maria del Fiore to life, offering insights into its design, construction, and the fierce rivalries behind its creation. With expert commentary and a panoramic view from the very top, this tour gives you a deeper understanding of the ingenuity behind the Duomo\u2014and a whole new perspective on Florence itself.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23415\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23415\" class=\"wp-image-23415 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0013.jpg\" alt=\" cheerful tour guide speaks to a small group in front of the ornate facade of Florence's Duomo, basking in warm sunlight.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0013.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0013-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0013-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-23415\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">You will learn a lot on a guided tour!<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 3 []\"><strong>Can you climb to the top of the Florence Duomo?<\/strong><br \/>\nYes, you can! Visitors can climb 463 steps to reach the top of Brunelleschi\u2019s Dome, where breathtaking panoramic views of Florence await. Just keep in mind that there is no elevator, and the stairways are narrow and steep.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do I need tickets to enter the Florence Duomo or climb the dome?<\/strong><br \/>\nEntrance to the main cathedral is free, but tickets are required to climb the dome, visit the bell tower, crypt, baptistery, and the Duomo Museum. Booking tickets in advance is highly recommended, especially during peak season.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is the dome climb suitable for everyone?<\/strong><br \/>\nThe climb is challenging due to the number of steps, tight spaces, and steep stairways. It\u2019s not recommended for those with claustrophobia, vertigo, heart conditions, or mobility issues.<\/p>\n<p><em>Update Notice: This post was updated on May 15, 2025.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Want to learn even more fascinating facts about this Italian masterpiece, and Michelangelo\u2019s David? Join us on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/florence-tours\/florence-duomo-tour-climb\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VIP David &amp; Duomo Tour: Early Accademia Tour &amp; Skip the Line Dome Climb with Exclusive Terrace Access<\/a><\/i><\/b><b><i>&nbsp;tour for an incredible, detailed experience led by our team of expert guides.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat fasc-rounded-medium\" style=\"background-color: #5c2414; color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/florence-tours\/florence-duomo-tour-climb\/\">Join our VIP David &amp; Duomo Tour<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florence is home to some of Italy\u2019s finest Renaissance art, history and architecture. It\u2019s a must-see for visitors to Italy and one of the world\u2019s most famous cultural cities. But rising above all these masterpieces, both literally and some would argue figuratively, is the colossal Florence Duomo, or otherwise known as Santa Maria Del Fiore. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":20442,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[68,20,64,69],"ppma_author":[161],"class_list":["post-10137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art-culture","tag-art","tag-attractions","tag-florence","tag-history"],"authors":[{"term_id":161,"user_id":40,"is_guest":0,"slug":"ginamussio","display_name":"Gina Mussio","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d9497ce1b0417babd82886ad23b18998?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"","last_name":"Mussio","first_name":"Gina","job_title":"","description":"Gina is a Midwesterner living in Lombardy, Italy where she writes about Italian culture, travel and food. She is a bilingual primary school teacher by day, forever interested in developing cross-culture communication skills across languages. Gina loves touring Italy's beautiful and tiny borghi with her family and exploring Italy's culture through its culinary history."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10137"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10137"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24675,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10137\/revisions\/24675"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10137"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=10137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}