Florence Duomo Tour with Private Terrace Access - Context Travel

Tour Details

About the Tour

Category: Newly Added
Duration: 3.5 hours
Location: Florence

Photos & Highlights

Sweeping city views from the private Duomo Terrace vantage point
Skip-the-line tickets to Florence's most famed venue
Baptistry of St. John, Florence Duomo, Museo dell'Opera Del Duomo, and Florence Duomo Terrace

Tour Description

Please note, this tour is available on a limited basis. Please email us if you don't see your preferred date on the calendar.

Exclusive Access with Skip-the-line entry for a private tour of the Cathedral Terrace with a Context historian. Availability is limited and will sell out.

Exclusive entry to Florence’s famed cathedral, or Duomo, with a Context expert including a private visit to the Terrace level, 150 steps above ground level. Zip past the long entry lines and after an in-depth tour of the church, enjoy a private visit to the terrace. Alone with your guide, you will enjoy sweeping views of the city below and Brunelleschi’s dome above you. See the tools used to build this magnificent structure more than 500 hundred years ago in the height of the Renaissance in Florence. In addition to the private terrace visit, this 3.5-hour tour takes in all the areas of the Duomo complex: the church the Baptistry of St. John, and the Duomo Museum where the original Baptistry doors are on display.

Sites Visited

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Cathedral Terrace
Piazza Duomo
Baptistry of St. John
Duomo Museum

Included

Skip-the-line tickets into the Cathedral
Private visit to the Terrace level

Itinerary Details

There is no monument that better symbolizes the achievements of the Renaissance in Florence than the majestic Duomo or Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The brick dome, the first of its size and scale, designed and built by Brunelleschi in 1436, rises above the city expressing the artistic, architectural and engineering prowess of the great thinkers of the era.

On this Exclusive access tour, we will start in the main square, Piazza del Duomo, for an introduction to the church and its significance historically and culturally for Florentines. From here we will enter the Baptistry of St John, admiring Ghiberti’s famed doors (these are just the copies - we will get some time with the originals later in the Duomo Museum) depicting scenes from the Old Testament in cast bronze.

Next, we head across the square to see the Museo dell Opera del Duomo, in existence for 150 years, but newly renovated into a state of the art exhibition space in 2015. Here the original sculptures and artworks are displayed with detailed explanations about the construction of the edifice itself. A masterpiece of contemporary architecture itself, the Museum creates a fitting backdrop for the hundreds of masterpieces related to the Church complex.

And finally, the moment we have been waiting for: our skip-the-line entry to the Duomo and a private visit to the Terraces. We will enter the Cathedral with no lines and no hassles and head up to the Terrace level for a close up look at the facade and the Dome. The elaborate rose window, or Rosone, will be just within our reach as we cross the facade on a balcony walkway leading to the terrace where Brunelleschi's dome comes into full view. Our guide can further describe the engineering work involved and share more insight into Brunelleschi’s genius. After admiring the sweeping views of the city below and Tuscan hills beyond, we will take a look at the original tools used to construct the church (started in 1296 and completed in 1887 with the addition of the tri-color marble facade) and see first hand how the structure is put together.

Descending into the main cathedral, we will be awed by the volume of space created by the dome and the peaceful stillness in one of the largest cathedrals of Europe. Our guide will show us the treasures created for this church as we explore at our own pace before our morning tour draws to a close.

FAQ

Can I book and confirm this tour myself online?

Yes, please select a date from the calendar and checkout. If you don't see a date that works for your schedule, contact us and we will be glad to inquire about availability with the venue.

When is this offered?
This tour is offered at 2 pm on the following dates in 2022: April 13, April 20, May 21, May 28, June 4, June 11, June 18, June 25, July 2, July 6, July 23, August 6, August 27, September 3, September 10. Don't see your date on this list? Ask us and we will request a date to fit your travel plans.

Are we alone in the Duomo and Baptistry on this tour?

No, we will have direct access to the church with no lines and then a private tour of the Terrace level, but other visitors will be in the church, baptistry, and museum during our tour of those areas.

Can we climb the Cupola?

On this tour, we climb to the Terrace level and enjoy the view from there! The Cupola climb is not available on this tour.

Is this tour appropriate for visitors with disabilities?

We are sorry to say that there is no elevator access to the Terrace level. The only way to reach the terrace is by climbing the 150 stairs.

Where You'll Start

Tour Experts

Elizabeth

Elizabeth recently received her MA in Florentine Renaissance art from Syracuse University in Florence. Her interests include women's history and women artists, particularly by women in convents. In addition to leading walks, she also lectures at various universities and institutions in Florence.

Valerie

Valerie received her BA with distinction in Art History and Museology at the University of Florence, focusing on the Renaissance art market. Although German, Valerie was born and raised in Rome, making her eager to build bridges across different cultures. She also works for the educational department of the state museums in Florence, where her mission is to communicate art and culture as a means of understanding the visual signs that surround us.

Siro

Born and raised under the shade of Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome in Florence, Siro belongs to an important Tuscan family of art nouveau artists. After a diploma in ceramic decoration obtained in 2000, he has worked in a traditional Florentine workshop. He received his BA at the University of Florence and in 2008 published his research about the Richard-Ginori porcelain production that was commissioned by the vice-king of Egypt for the celebrations of the opening of the Suez Canal. In order to share his passion and love for art, culture, and the Florentine lifestyle, Siro is professionally trained as a tour guide for his hometown.

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