Plan your visit

Plan Your Visit to the Monuments of Piazza del Duomo, Florence

Piazza del Duomo in Florence is an epicenter of art, history, faith and architecture, a place where the majesty of the Florence Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore), the ingenuity of Brunelleschi's Dome, the elegance of Giotto's Bell Tower, the sacredness of the Baptistery of St. John, the history of the Crypt of Santa Reparata, and the richness and innovation of the Opera del Duomo Museum merge into an unforgettable experience. This guide is designed for independent visitors, eager to explore these monuments freely, providing all the information to plan your visit.

Your Pass: How to Buy Tickets Online

To access the monuments in Piazza del Duomo, except the Cathedral, you need a ticket. The Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore offers various types of passes designed to meet the different needs of visitors. Among these, the Brunelleschi Pass is the most comprehensive option for those wishing to visit all the mentioned monuments: Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower, the Baptistery, the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, and the ancient Basilica of Santa Reparata. There are also the Giotto Pass, which includes access to the Bell Tower, the Baptistery, the Museum, and Santa Reparata, but not the Dome, and the Ghiberti Pass, which allows visits to the Baptistery, the Museum, and Santa Reparata.

Tickets can be conveniently purchased online through the official webshop of the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore here: https://tickets.duomo.firenze.it.

The procedure is simple:

Registration: Access the site and proceed with registration, creating an account with a valid email address that you've to convalidate via OTP.

Pass Selection: Choose Brunelleschi, Giotto or Ghiberti Pass from the available options.

Date Selection: Select the date you intend to visit. It is particularly important to indicate the correct date, as this will determine the start of your pass's validity (3 calendar days).

Booking a Time Slot: A crucial step is selecting the time slot for the ascent to Brunelleschi's Dome. This reservation is mandatory and included in the Brunelleschi Pass cost. The same rule applies to Giotto Pass (with ascent to the Bell Tower), and Ghiberti Pass (with visit to crypt of Santa Reparata). The entry time to the selected monument is the beginning of the time slot (e.g. 09:00am-09:45am slot, I must enter at 09:00am).

Payment: Complete the purchase by following the online payment instructions. A confirmation of your payment will be required (3D secure procedure).

Pass Receipt: Once payment is complete, you will receive an email with your Pass attached. Just show it (QR Code) at the entrance to the monuments.

It is essential to emphasize that the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore strongly recommends purchasing tickets exclusively through official channels to ensure an authentic and secure experience, warning against purchasing from unauthorized resellers.

Brunelleschi Pass is valid for 3 calendar days from the date selected for the visit. During this period, you can access each monument included in the pass once. This multi-day validity offers flexibility in planning visits, allowing you to spread out the exploration of the different sites, except for the Dome, for which you must adhere to the reserved time slot, not modifiable or cancellable. The same rules apply to the Giotto Pass (with mandatory and non-modifiable Bell Tower ascent time slot) and the Ghiberti Pass (with mandatory and non-modifiable Santa Reparata crypt visit time slot).

The time slot chosen at the time of purchase cannot be changed or canceled.

Detailed Itinerary: Discovering the Monuments

Once you have purchased your Pass and booked the time slot, you can start planning your itinerary to discover the monuments of Piazza del Duomo.

Ascent to Brunelleschi's Dome (Brunelleschi Pass)

The entrance for the ascent to the Brunelleschi's Dome is located on the north side of the Cathedral, identified as "Porta della Mandorla."

Opening hours vary slightly depending on the day of the week and the time of year, but access is available from 8:15 AM to 6:45 PM on weekdays, from 8:15 AM to 4:30 PM on Saturdays, and from 12:45 PM to 4:30 PM on Sundays. Keep in mind that to reach the top, you will have to climb 463 steps, and there is no elevator available. Due to the challenging nature of the climb, it is strongly discouraged for people with heart problems, vertigo, claustrophobia, and pregnant women. Furthermore, minors under 18 cannot make the ascent unless accompanied by an adult. The recommended duration for the visit, including ascent and visit, is approximately 45 minutes. Before accessing, it is mandatory to deposit medium and large suitcases, backpacks, and bags at the luggage storage located in Piazza Duomo n. 38/r.

Starting from March 1, 2025, to access the ascent, you must present an identity document along with the ticket. This rule has been introduced for security and access control reasons and to avoid third parties re-selling.

Ascent to Giotto's Bell Tower

The entrance to Giotto's Bell Tower is located at the rear of the tower and is accessible with the Brunelleschi Pass or the Giotto Pass. Opening hours are from 8:15 AM to 6:45 PM daily. Again, the ascent requires climbing 414 steps without the possibility of using an elevator. Therefore, the climb is discouraged for people with heart problems, vertigo, claustrophobia, and pregnant women, and minors under 18 cannot access without adult supervision. The recommended duration for the ascent and visit is approximately 45 minutes. As with the Dome, medium and large suitcases, backpacks, and bags must be deposited in the luggage storage before entering the Bell Tower. The similar restrictions for the ascent to both the Dome and the Bell Tower highlight a general policy for high-altitude attractions with many stairs within the complex.

Visit to the Baptistery of St. John

The entrance to the Baptistery of St. John is located on the north side, at the North Gate facing Via de' Martelli. Opening hours are from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM daily, with early closure at 1:30 PM on the first Sunday of the month. It is important to be aware that the mosaics on the Baptistery's vault are currently under restoration and are not visible from the ground. The recommended duration for the visit is approximately 30 minutes. As it is a place of worship, appropriate attire is required: visitors with bare legs and shoulders are not allowed.

The ongoing restoration work on the mosaics, a highly significant artistic element, may affect the visitor's experience.

Visit to the Crypt of Santa Reparata

Access to the Crypt of Santa Reparata is from inside the Cathedral. A staircase located between the first and second columns on the right of the central nave leads to the site of the ancient basilica. The entrance is located on the south side of the Duomo, near the entrance to the Bell Tower. Opening hours are from 10:15 AM to 4:00 PM from Monday to Saturday, and from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM on Sunday. The recommended duration for the visit is approximately 30 minutes. The fact that the entrance to the Crypt is inside the Cathedral, which has free admission, allows for easy combination of the two visits with a Pass.

Visit to the Opera del Duomo Museum

The entrance to the Opera del Duomo Museum is located in Piazza del Duomo, at number 9. Opening hours are from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM daily. The recommended duration for the visit is approximately 90 minutes. It is important to remember that the museum is closed to the public every first Tuesday of the month for maintenance. This periodic closure requires checking your travel dates to avoid inconvenience.

Useful Information for the Visit: Times, Costs, Essential Rules

To help you better plan your visit, here is a summary of opening hours and ticket costs:

Summary Table of Ticket Costs:

In addition to these details, it is important to be aware of the general regulations for access to the monuments. For all places of worship (Cathedral, Baptistery, Crypt), a dress code is required that includes covering shoulders and knees for both men and women. It is recommended to avoid low-cut clothing, tank tops, short shorts, miniskirts, and sandals may not be allowed. Before accessing the monuments, it is mandatory to use the luggage storage located in Piazza Duomo n. 38/r for medium and large bags, backpacks, and suitcases. Photography is allowed inside, but without the use of flash, tripods, or selfie sticks.

Regarding accessibility, free admission can be requested for people with disabilities and a companion, upon presentation of a certification document, by writing to the email address accessibilita@duomo.firenze.it , or by contacting the ticket office in Piazza San Giovanni no. 7.

However, the ascent to the Dome and the Bell Tower is not accessible to people with reduced mobility due to the high number of steps and the absence of an elevator. The Opera del Duomo Museum is accessible by elevator.

Experience the History and Art of Florence firsthand

The monuments of Piazza del Duomo in Florence represent a priceless heritage of history, art, faith, and culture. Their majesty and beauty testify to the ingenuity and creativity of man over the centuries. With this detailed information, you are ready to organize your visit and immerse yourself in the magnificence of this iconic place. Enjoy every moment of your experience. We look forward to seeing you!