Brunelleschi's dome — Attraction in Florence

The people who work here think they are better and more “Christian” than you. They don’t like Americans/English speakers and aren’t afraid to let you know it… bad vibe for a place (Catholic church) that’s supposed to be about humility and love for fellow man…

All around this amazing, beautiful, historic town you get the sense they(the attraction workers not the shops) are annoyed and tired of tourists… this main attraction was the worst. They overcharge for everything in Florence. (€30 to see this 1 basilica. In Rome almost ALL the (much more extravagant) notable basilicas were free and even the Dome of Saint Peters basilica was only €8) The doorman here was past the point of being very disrespectful, rude and unnecessarily abrasive. He was Letting Italians and other older folks into the evening service through a side door but not allowing us English speakers. (They told us this wasn’t meant for “tourists” despite the fact we are baptized and every bit as (or more) Christian than many Italians here.) I told him this and he said “come back tomorrow morning” before allowing multiple different groups to slide right in the entrance ahead of us. Basically rent-a-cops with inferiority complex. A very bad experience which soured the great mood of Florence. By the way if you live here all the attractions In Town are free. They just want to hose tourists at a ridiculously high rate. We just finished paying €20 each to see another basilica close by so image when we read this one was €30 each… that’s almost $80 for my Wife and I to...

Climbing Brunelleschi's Dome is an experience I’ll never forget, and it's so much more than just reaching the top. This architectural marvel, built in the 15th century by Filippo Brunelleschi, stands as a testament to human ingenuity and ambition. The dome was a revolutionary feat for its time, designed without scaffolding and with a double-shell construction that still puzzles architects today. As you ascend the winding, narrow stairs, you can almost feel the centuries of history embedded in the walls.

The climb takes you right up through the inner structure of the dome, providing a rare close-up view of Vasari's magnificent fresco, 'The Last Judgment,' which covers the interior. Seeing the vivid details and intricate scenes up close brings an entirely new appreciation for Renaissance artistry and the dedication it took to complete such a monumental work.

And then, as you reach the top, you're greeted by an unparalleled, panoramic view of Florence. It's a breathtaking sight that makes every step worth the effort. Standing there, with the city sprawled out below, you can’t help but feel connected to the countless individuals who’ve made that same climb over the centuries, from Renaissance scholars to modern-day travelers. Brunelleschi’s Dome isn’t just an architectural masterpiece; it’s a living piece of history that offers a glimpse into Florence's glorious past. Truly a must-do for anyone...

The dome is an absolute masterpiece of art, enchanting the world since the moment of its creation: the symbol of Florence, of Renaissance culture, and of all Western humanism.

The dome was built between 1420 and 1436 to a plan by Filippo Brunelleschi, and is still the largest masonry vault in the world. Such a structure had been planned since the 1300s, but the admirable innovation of Brunelleschi was to create it without reinforcements in wood, since none could have sustained a cupola of this size.

It is an octagonal structure in stone and brick masonry, with external diameter 54.8 metres (179.79 feet) and interior diameter 45.5 metres (149 feet), but in fact consisting of two domes: one internal and the other external, each composed of eight "sails", or pendentives. One of these sails has a greater set-back than the others and supports the rest. The two “shells” are united by the structures of 24 meridian and 10 parallel ribs, and the cavity between the twin domes hosts the stairway to the lantern (463 steps). The bricks are laid in herringbone pattern and the external dome is covered in terracotta tiles, marked by eight ribs in white marble. These converge towards the seraglio or “tightening”: the ring at the top, in turn supporting the...