About
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is a Renaissance cathedral in Europe, and its most recognisable feature is the great dome designed by Brunelleschi. The dome rises above the city and is one of the first things visitors look for when they arrive, shaping the skyline from many streets and squares around it.
The building suits a visit of its own. Most people come to see the exterior and the dome up close, and to spend time looking at the stone, the proportions and the way the structure dominates the space around it. It is a place to walk slowly, to step back and see how the dome sits against the sky, and to notice how the cathedral anchors the surrounding streets.
What to keep in mind
- The dome is the centre of the view. Looking at it from different distances changes how it reads, so it is worth seeing it from more than one spot.
- It is a working religious building. Visitors are expected to dress and behave with the respect a place of worship deserves.
- The city around it is part of the visit. The streets and squares nearby are closely tied to the cathedral, and time spent exploring them adds to the experience.
Is it worth the trip?
If you care about Renaissance architecture, or simply want to see one of Europe's most distinctive domes in its setting, the cathedral is a natural choice. Plan some time for looking from a distance as well as up close, and leave room in your day for the neighbourhood around it, which gives the building its context.