Cupola Climb and Duomo Square private tour

Your guide will begin by talking you through the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, which commits to the conservation of the dome and other artworks of great masterpieces of Michelangelo, Donatello, Lorenzo
Ghiberti, Luca Della Robbia, Arnolfo di Cambio and many others. Afterward, as you walk through the piazza you'll catch glimpses of the red dome that was completed in 1436 by Filippo Brunelleschi and known as the
largest building in medieval Europe. After an interesting explanation of this showstopper, your next stop will be the showpieces of Florentine Gothic architecture, Giotto's Bell Tower, standing adjacent to the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore
Your guide will also walk you around the exterior of the Loggia del Bigallo, a late Gothic building in Florence with an interesting historical fact. Finally, you’ll enter through the “Gates of Paradise” to the Baptistery of St. John
which stands across from the Duomo Cathedral. You will be also be guided on the technical and artistic points of view of architecture.
Your guide will talk you through all about how the Cupola was designed and built by Filippo Brunelleschi, who won the competition for its commission in 1418. The way up (and down) are basically tight corridors for the
workmen who built the cathedral for maintenance, they were never thought of as being open to the public. On the interior of the dome, you can admire the Giorgio Vasari's frescoes of the Last Judgment (1572-9) up close with an interesting explanation of the frescoes from your guide on your way up to the top. Look down and on the base, just above the drum, you'll see that Baccio d'Agnolo began adding a balcony in 1507 and how one of
the eight sides was unfinished. There's a story behind this balcony, your guide will reveal it to you on your way as to why the work was immediately halted, and as to why to this day the other seven sides remain rough brick. Once you climb to the top of the Cupola, you will be enchanted from the panoramic view of Florence City in front of your eyes. Your guide will talk about the history and art of this Duomo Square and answer to any of your remaining questions regarding Duomo.

• Not wheelchair accessible (no elevators to climb Cupola)
• Not recommended for participants with back problems, physically not fit to climb steps, pregnant women
• and suffering from vertigo, claustrophobia or heart problems
• Pets are not allowed
• The guided tour to climb the Cupola will take around 1 hour
• You do not need a ticket to visit the Cathedral; you can enter it at any time before or after this tour
• After the first validation, the ticket is valid for 72 hours: you can use it to visit monuments listed on your
• own time (the Bell-tower and the crypt inside the cathedral)
• Respect the dress code: no shorts or sleeveless tops, knees and shoulders must be covered for both men
• and women and hats should not be worn inside. You may risk refused entry.
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Please note that the tour requires a minimum number of guests to run
• Please note that if you arrive after the tour start time you will not be able to join and will not be refunded or have your tour rescheduled