Virtual tour panorama showing the view down the entire nave of Florence Cathedral, taken from near the main doors at the entrance. Above the doors you can see the liturgical clock face with fresco portraits by Paolo Uccello, and in the floor is the tiled OPA motif.

Florence Cathedral - Florence visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Florence Cathedral' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Tuscany.

Florence Cathedral is properly known as 'Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore' and locally called the 'Duomo'. The Cathedral is one of the largest churches in Europe and one of the most popular tourist attractions in in Florence (Firenze) . It dominates the Piazza del Duomo which also includes the Baptistery and Giotto's Campanile (Bell Tower).

Florence Cathedral and Piazza del Duomo - Virtual Tours

Full list of virtual tour images in this collection taken around the Cathedral and associated buildings, some of which are not open to the public:

• View from outside the Cathedral showing the ornate 19th century Gothic Façade and other buildings around the cathedral.
• Florence Cathedral Nave showing the massive expanse of the church.
• High Altar and cathedral dome.
• Altar of St Zenobius at the far end of the cathedral (not open to public).
• Florence Cathedral Mass Sacristy with wooden panelling (not open to public).
• View from Cupola overlooking the whole of Florence.
• Baptistery of San Giovanni with the mosaic ceiling.
• Florence from top of Giotto's Campanile (Bell Tower) showing a panoramic view over the city.
• Top Level and Penultimate Level of Giotto's Campanile (Bell Tower), images from inside the tower.
• Giotto's Campanile and South side of Cathedral showing the stunning polychrome marble decorations.

Florence Cathedral - History and Information

The Cathedral was took 170 years to build, with the foundation stone laid by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1296. The last part to be built was the dome, completed by Filippo Brunelleschi between 1420-36. The Duomo's exterior is faced with polychrome marble panels in various colours with impressive results and at the front is a stunning 19th century Gothic Revival facade by Emilio De Fabris.


Florence Cathedral is has a traditional Latin Cross floorplan with the nave and aisles separated by wide pointed Gothic arches resting on composite piers. The central nave is laid out in four square bays with an aisle on each side. It is orientated West-East with the chancel and transepts, each an identical polygon, at the eastern end. The main body of the church is massive, 153m long with a 38m wide nave with the aisle arches 23m high. The crossing is 90m wide and the dome lantern is 90m above the ground. The addition of the dome and cross brings the total height of the Duomo to 114.5m.

Florence Cathedral - Works of Art

Aside from the mable floor and painted dome, the interior of the Dumo is plain to the point of being austere. Notable works of art found within the Cathedral include:

• Dante and the Divine Comedy by Domenico di Michelino (1465)
• Funerary Monument to Sir John Hawkwood by Paolo Uccello (1436)
• Equestrian statue fresco of Niccolò da Tolentino by Andrea del Castagno (1456)
• Busts of Giotto (by Benedetto da Maiano), Brunelleschi (by Buggiano - 1447)
• Colossal one-handed liturgical clock face with fresco portraits of four Prophets or Evangelists by Paolo Uccello (1443).
• 44 stained glass windows, the largest undertaking of this kind in Italy in the 14th and 15th century.
• 'Christ crowning Mary as Queen' stained-glass circular window above the clock designed by Gaddo Gaddi in the early 14th century.
• Funeral Monument of Antonio d'Orso (1323), bishop of Florence by by Tino da Camaino.
• Crucifix behind the High Altar by Benedetto da Maiano (1495-1497).
• The Last Judgment painting covering the interior of the dome.

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo)
Piazza del Duomo,
9-red, 50122 Firenze,

Bus: Roma - Calzoleria Bologna (C1, C2), Pucci (14, 23, 71, C1)