We waited about 30 minutes to gain entrance into the duomo, but it was very well worth it. For those of faith, I highly recommend renting the audio guide (4 Euros for 1, 6 E for me and my husband). The explanations of the art (the Dante "Divine Comedy" and the ceiling) are very worth hearing. Their explanation of the... more

For the elaborate decoration outside, the Cathedral has a disappointing, dull interior. There is almost nothing in the way of art. There is a crypt, which I chose not to enter. The exception to the dull interior is the dome, painted with scenes of heaven and hell. The climb to the observation area is not rigorous and surprisingly easy for... more

While dome's grandeur may be in its scale appreciated best from afar and from different angles and perspectives around Florence, the walk up to the top, including the exciting section of the curved arc that runs along the domes itself, is a great way to add to your appreciation of the Cathedral. There are a lot of steps (463?), but... more

We were in Florence in late September of '08. Following Rick Steve's advice, we went to the Duomo in the early morning so as to avoid the big line as much as possible. When we arrived, we waited mere minutes before gaining entry to the stairway leading up, up, upward! We knew the stairway consisted of 463 steps (not 700... more

The landmark of Florence shouldn't be missed. Outside or inside, it's pretty. Definitely worth a visit. more

Visiting the Duomo is one of the "big three" in Florence, along with Academica and Uffizi. Both the exterior and interior detail are amazing. There is no lift to the top of the dome, but there are numerous places where you can step aside to look out tiny wondows or stop at the balcony to admire the inside of the... more

This is a must and most likely you won't miss it anyways as the heart of old Firenze is under it's watchful gaze. My standard recommendation: if you have more than a couple days here take a hop-on-hop-off bus before you do anything and then choose where you wish to spend more time. more

The Duomo is without a doubt one of the most incredible architectural and artistic masterpieces of the world. Although there was still some scaffolding erected when we visited (they were in the process of cleaning soot from the structure), the sheer size of the building in itself was something to behold. The facade of the Duomo is detailed with the... more

Try to visit early in the day or save the duomo for later, after all the tour groups have left so you can enjoy the interior with some peace. There is no admission charge, which is nice, since most of the other major churches in Florence have a hefty fee. Bring your own guidebook and give yourselves a tour, though... more