In comparison to the city, the duomo is massive! Out of all the duomos I've seen in Italy, the Florence Cathedral takes the cake. Not sure if it's in the background or the forefront, but this masterpiece is visually stunning no matter which angle you're seeing it at. Up close, you'll find white, green, and pink marbling along with ornate details, which just takes your breath away. Online, you'll find recs to climb up the dome, but expect to break a sweat! I was fortunate to stay just steps from the Florence Cathedral and got to see it both early in the morning and late at night--easily THE best times to experience this vision in all its glory. If you go late morning or in the afternoon, you'll spend more time pushing through crowds than actually appreciating the architecture. read more

Entering the cathedral is FREE. You just have to stand in a long line! I'd recommend getting there right when it opens to beat the massive crowds. Secure your tickets to see the Duomo in advance ONLINE and print out your tickets. Once you print out the tickets in advance you can bypass the lines like super quickly!!!! There's still a lot of people ahead of you and behind you, but there was NO waiting in lines! There's tons of workers that can guide you! Backpacks are a BIG no no! You can leave your bags for FREE with your ticket. They give you a key with a number on it and when you return back you simply give back the keys. The day that I went, tickets were ALL sold out a month in advance which is crazy because people are hoping to get in the day of, but you can't! The ticketing office had to turn away so many people. By the ticketing office, you will find restrooms to use. Unfortunately, there is a fee to use. They accept credit card. If you get the Brunelleschi pass (which I did!) you can go to the museum! Inside the museum, you can use the restroom for free only if you scan in! I'd definitely recommend securing the Brunelleschi pass and bring a bottle of water and comfortable shoes as you will be walking a lot of steps. It's not impossible as I saw many elderly people do it! read more

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Masterpiece architectural place to visit. Inside is huge and spacious with multiple statues, sculptures, paintings, and the famous door. Definitely worth visiting while you are in Florence! : ) read more

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There are tons of street artists around the outside creating beautiful unique pieces. Plenty of restaurants surrounding the Duomo. Free entrance for part of it. Crazy busy on the weekends read more

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You have to visit the Diomo if you are in Florence. There are multiple tours available. We did the main floor but did not climb the stairs. There is just so much history in one building. We visited Florence in September so it was low season relative to the busier times during the summer but there were still lines. The lines move fast and it was definitely worth it. read more

Piazza del Duomo - Duomo - Public Plazas Near Me - Florence, FI

The historic Piazza with its crowds, osterias, cafes, peddlers, stalls, and its swift sparrows pumps life into the veins of the city. More often than not, it is every tourist's first encounter with the essence of Florence. My conception of Florence changed drastically here at the Duomo. Before traveling to Florence, I had this perfect mental image of a historic city with medieval domes and fascinating architecture. After arrival, I saw an orphaned city with fascinating architecture sadly clad in filthy attire all over, trampled on and abandoned. I hope the city officials realize the importance of taking way better care of those monuments soon or they will owe humanity dearly for abandoning what matters the most. read more

Piazza del Duomo - Public Plazas Near Me - Florence, FI

Piazza del Duomo is one of the more noteworthy areas of Firenze in my opinion. It's located in the heart of the historic area of the city, and contains several noteworthy attractions. The main attraction by far is the Florence Cathedral, formally called the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. I honestly couldn't take my eyes off it - this might sound weird but due to the materials used to construct the building it almost looks fake; the contrasting greens and whites are striking. The cathedral also contains one of the largest domes in the world, and I believe it's still the largest dome in the world that's constructed of brick. The Bell Tower and Baptistery are the other two main attractions in the area, with guided tours and tickets available for all of them. Besides that, there are several restaurants and shops surrounding the Piazza so it's a really great place to spend some time. If you're looking to gain more insight into the buildings, there's a small museum that provides a good history and contains many of the original structures that adorned the buildings. Overall, if you're in Firenze do plan to spend some time here - it's a gorgeous area of the city with a lot to do and a rich history. read more

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Florence is an architectural wonder, and an artists dream. There sits the piazza del Duomo in all the glory and majesty it deserves. I stood in awe at this beautiful cathedral and all its ornate stonework. I'm not religious and still you have to appreciate the tremendous amount of time and effort that goes in it. When in Florence it's a definite must, but it so large you really can't miss it. read more

Piazza del Duomo - Duomo - Public Plazas Near Me - Florence, FI

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Brunelleschi's Duomo at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the main architectural landmark in Florence and it's a stunning sight to behold! A single entry ticket gives you entrance to the main Basilica, as well as the ability to climb, both the dome itself and the adjacent Belltower. You also gain entry to the baptistery and the museum. Tickets are purchased online or at the museum office and are good for 3 days - so you don't have to do it all at once! As with all attractions, my recommendation is to arrive early before it gets crowded! Although you may have timed entry for the tower. It's a lot of steps, but it's absolutely worth it. The view is simply breathtaking and it's a once in a lifetime experience. read more

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The Piazza del Duomo is located in the center of the historic center of Florence. It is probably one of the most visited places in Italy, Europe, and the world. It attracts tourists from all over the places, and there's so much to see in this cathedral square, and I strongly suggest at least plan an entire day for this area. read more

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Yelp Review 2024 #65: You can't visit Florence without visiting Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore especially for 2 particular reasons: Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise (baptistery) that is on every Art History book, and Brunelleschi's Duomo. The cathedral itself, terrace, bell tower and museum are also worth checking out. It is one of the biggest churches in the world built in the 1200's by di Cambio and completed in the 1400's at a time when Florence was the heart of the Renaissance. It is the most recognizable landmark in Florence. It's also the tallest building in Florence. You can't miss it. The dome itself is architecturally and historically interesting. Brunelleschi designed a herringbone pattern so that the bricks don't fall apart creating a stable dome structure. The Duomo is close to Galleria dell' Accademia where David resides, and a bunch of good sandwich spots. To go in the cathedral is free but to see the dome, you have to buy a ticket and there are several types of tickets and different prices depending on what you're interested in seeing and how much time you have. I didn't get to see the inside of the dome because I had other places to visit and I wanted a sandwich. read more

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If you like crowds of oblivious people and tour groups trying to run you down, this square is the place to be. Yes, I am very sarcastic, but in all honesty, the throngs of annoying people are bearable when you get to marvel at the amazing structure of Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. This square is also bustling with people selling souvenirs, people taking horse drawn carriage rides, ambulances and taxis driving through so just keep aware and soak it all in. I couldn't personally enjoy the people watching because there were too many people but I'm sure if you sat at a café or something you may be able to do that. No matter what time of day we came by, it was busy as well, even early morning. Definitely worth it though so brave the people and the elements and check this place out. read more

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This is a spectacular place and must see when in Florence. The Cathedral is magnificent as is the Tower and Baptism area. Tons of shops and restaurants dot the periphery and it is an easy walk from here to tons of other spots. That being said it is fairly crowded although that eases off a bit early and late. This was also the only place we encountered aggressive panhandling and the like. Despite this it is a must visit and make sure to walk the entire way around. read more

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Admission to the Duomo was free and I kept getting pulled back. This beautiful & massive structure. I climbed up and around the inside of the Dome up the bell tower, into the Baptistery and the museum. The cathedral was begun at the end of the 13th century by Arnolfo di Cambio, & the massive dome, was added in the 15th century on a design of Filippo Brunelleschi. A statue to each of these important architects is outside to the right of the cathedral, both admiring their work for the rest of eternity. It took two centuries for the cathedral to be deemed finished. read more

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We had reserved tickets over a month in advance for 2 p.m. on a Friday. This combo ticket included all the major sites associated with the Duomo, which I'll detail in turn. I think it allowed you access for 48 hours from the start time. The ticket company also noted that you could download an audio guide to go with your tour. Two of us tried loading this on 3 devices without success. It was sprinkling rain as our tour time approached. The ticket directed you around the left side of the church (facing it) to a side entrance. There somoene with an orange umbrella would meet the ticketed group and provide the actual tickets, etc. We were the first to arrive and found our contact. She was very nice. As she gave us the tickets (with us providing shelter under our umbrellas as she dug around in her bag), she asked if we had got the audio guide. We told her that it failed to download. She was enthusiastic about trying to download it again now. However, to me, given this process failed consistently in a dry hotel room with WiFi, and that we're currently standing in the rain in a random spot in Florence where we may or may not have a strong cell signal, it seemed optimistic to try this further. Plus, other ticketed people started queuing up behind us, so we politely dissuaded her from further I.T. assistance. She then noted that we'd need to check our bag in a location just down the block (specific for this purpose, run by the church, I guess). We accomplished that and got the bag check token on a string to wear around a neck. The rain increased until our tour time came. we were then ushered inside the side door to the Duomo. It was dark inside initially. We did a bag check for purses and cameras. And then we were immediately directed up the stairs on the dome climb. My wife had been on the fence about wanting to do this, but the decision got made for her. I guess you could probably have deferred, but it seemed expected that you'd go. We climbed about 1/3 of the way up and stopped in a room with sculptures and signs. After lingering for 30 seconds, a staffer informed everyone that you could not stop here. I felt like asking why they had signs to read then, but I just hiked on. It takes a while, but you eventually come out at the base of the dome (inside) and circle around to where you ascend inside the dome itself. Finally you emerge at the top of the dome where you have a great view of Florence. You have time to circle it once or even twice to take in the views. We did this and took some photos, but then we wanted to descend (it was chilly and the rain seemed to be re-starting). We were stopped by the staffer and everyone had to wait a while. It was some up/down traffic control. After getting a bit wet, we descended and exited on the opposite exterior side of the church. We next stood in a 10-minute line to enter the church itself. Entering here is free. The inside is impressive, more so if you haven't visited St. Peter's in the few days prior. We wandered around for a while. They also have a lower level here where you can see the floor plan of prior churches on the same site. It gives a good overview of how things changed over the centuries. This was included in our pass and is not free. We next visited the Baptistry, which is just a few yards in front of the Duomo. Apparently this pre-dates the church and may have started as some sort of Roman temple. It was under extensive renovation when we visited, so some parts were screened off. We didn't stay long, but it was interesting. Our final stop of the day was at the museum of the Duomo, which is located behind the church and across the street (next to the bag check place). This is fairly extensive and I wish I'd had more energy at this point. They have the original Ghiberti bronze baptistry doors (Gates of Paradise), an original Michelangelo Pieta, plus a lot of other sculptures. I wish they had devoted a bit more to the construction of the dome, but they at least had a room that touched on parts of it. It was highly worth a visit. We then retrieved our checked bags next door. The following afternoon, I used the tickets for the final site: the bell tower. It is a similar height to the dome, but slightly shorter. Also it is just a vertical square tower, so the stairs are just a long series of right turns until you get to the caged in top. It has nice views, but the wires obstruct photography somewhat. This site should be one of the centerpieces of a visit to Florence. read more

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A stunning architectural wonder. No words can speak to its beauty. The excavation below the Baptistry is fascinating, a must see. The museum is an incredible collection of art and sculpture. The Duomo complex is a must see when visiting Florence. 53 read more

I'm hijacking this review to write a sort of Ode to Florence here: Florence has become my favorite place in the world, and I'm sure many people share the same sentiment. Like any person, place, or thing that gets an abundance of love; criticism and hate will follow. Florence gets a lot of criticism. "It is overrun with tourists,"... "I've had much better food in Italy" ... But they never built a statue for a critic. Well I just looked it up and I guess Roger Ebert has a statue. Fairplay Robert. From the first time I came here when I was 16, I have felt a special connection to this place like nowhere else. I didn't know what it was then but have started to scratch the surface. After quitting my job, I decided to take 10 days and just soak in the city and the culture. This is the birthplace of the renaissance, which to me, is the birthplace of modern day life and culture. It placed an emphasis on individualism which I believe is the spark of creativity, ideas, and innovation. One can almost feel the presence of the talented artists, innovators, and leaders that used to walk these streets. It hurts my head to think that Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Vespucci, Raphael, Brunelleschi, Donatello etc. all walked these streets around the same time. They competed against one another, but also collaborated. This blend of competition and collaboration formed an unparalleled amount of innovation and progression. It's so inspiring and motivating to learn how much came from this one small city in the middle of Italy. Its ideas and culture spread like a virus across the world through time and space inspiring everyone from Rembrandt to Steve Jobs, who sites Da Vinci as a major influence. I feel the creativity almost rub off on me when I am walking through these streets, thankful that so much of this place is intact from the 16th century. You can walk through the narrow streets appreciating the architecture, looking up and seeing Brunelleschi's dome in the skyline at literally anywhere you are in the city. You can see the house Michelangelo grew up in. The Ponte Vecchio is the same bridge that these legendary Florentines used to walk across. Where else can you walk the same streets that these geniuses used to walk and get the best gelato you've had in your life? THANK YOU FIRENZE! read more

Love love love the duomo, we had the express pass so got to skip the line and started the hike to the top of the duomo. The stairs are tight and you are walking in a tight line behind a lot of people so if you are claustrophobic or not in the best of health I would not do it . While we were going up someone had shortness of breath and we all had to hug the side of the wall while they came down. At the end you have to climb a metal ladder but the view up top is simply amazing and I would do it again. You can see Florence Italy in all of its splendor read more

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This is a beautiful church and a must see in Florence. It would actually be hard not to see while there due to the size and it being located centrally in the old part of the city. It is an amazing church and is so big that pictures can't get it all in and do the structure justice. read more

Piazza del Duomo - View of church - Public Plazas Near Me - Florence, FI

When in Florence, one can't be quite as breath taken as when they visit the Duomo cathedral. This is a must. Folks, I'm not WELL traveled but I've seen enough of the world at this point to feel confident in saying it is a "must" or an "optional". This one is a must. Let's throw a flag out there for you... we almost skipped it on this trip (I've seen it many times in the past) because the line was AT LEAST a quarter mile long. It was a million degrees outside and we were not feeling the wait. Don't give up. Hop in line. From the back of the line, to in the cathedral... less than 15 minutes. The line moves quickly. It is worth your wait. I don't want to kill your experience but this cathedral is magically breath taking and an absolute "must do" while in Florence. Don't miss out. Take your time. I'm not religious but it certainly can be a place of peace for anyone. read more

Magnificent. Impressive. A true marvel! Definitely a highlight of my visit to Florence!

Piazza del Duomo is the most visited place in the Europe . It's a very ancient place in a historic town of Florence. This square has a lot places to visit and also a lot of awesome restaurants. read more

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Alongside seeing the Statue of David, this is easily one of the highlights of my stay in Florence! The whole complex of structures is so magnificent and impressive! The Dome of the Duomo is pretty much distinguishable in any photo of the City of Florence! We didn't climb the Dome, but we did climb the Tower! Beware though, the stairways going up and down inside the tower are very tight and can feel VERY claustrophobic! Once you get up there though, the views are spectacular! Seriously, not a bad shot of the city to be had from up here! The Piazza del Duomo is an absolute must see when visiting Florence! You owe it to yourself to check out this amazing site! 5 stars. read more

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The Duomo is beautiful, historic and absolutely worth the visit while in Florence. We did not have plans to climb the tower until we found ourselves with some free time after seeing the David. I'm really happy that we decided to do this because it was 100% worth it. The views of the city from the top are unparalleled. We grabbed priority tickets and did not have to wait on the line. The priority tickets are something like ten extra dollars each, so if you are spending limited time in Florence and don't like waiting I'd suggest this. Especially since the line appeared to be pretty long. The climb up takes around 15-20 minutes. It's not too strenuous or steep. It is important to note that many of the stairways are extremely narrow, hot and stuffy. You'll likely be making the climb with a large amount of people behind you and in front of you. If everyone keeps on a steady pace it's fine, but we did have a few panic moments when the line stopped moving. Something to be very aware of if you are claustrophobic, and this definitely had me a little stressed for a few moments. But again, the views from the top make this completely worth it. Not only do you get beautiful views of the entire church from inside the tower, but you also get beautiful views of the whole city from the observation deck that surrounds it. read more

Review for Brunelleschi's Dome: It was a tiring climb but definitely worth it for the epic views at the top. The entrance is on the side and you get in based on your admission time. The views of Florence at the top are breathtaking. Just remind yourself this as you are climbing cramped steps, 463 if you are counting. read more

We came here at the beginning of our trip and knew that we had 1 week in Florence. I mention that because your ticket includes multiple sites and you have to schedule your time for the top of the dome. Bell Tower steps: 450 or so, it is fun and narrow to get to the top. Nothing too notable on the way up, but the view is great. There are resting points along the way on each floor. Basilica: A quick in and out...maybe 20 minutes unless you are really into it. The Cathedral: Line can be long, I rally liked the underground exhibit, which goes into the history of building it. The sanctuary itself is pretty, and they do a good job of limiting the number of people in there at once. The Dome steps: This is the part you have to schedule in advance. The nearest time was a few days out and we thought we scheduled on the self serve machine. We show up at the time and turns out we did not do it correctly. There needs to be a receipt printed or something to verify you did it right. That is why the minus one star. Otherwise, the experience was great and this too, had narrow stairs and great views. read more

If you are visiting Florence, you'll eventually find yourself in this piazza (plaza). Here, you're surrounded by some of the most beautiful and iconic buildings in the world. The Florence Cathedral itself is arguably prettier from the outside with its multi-colored marble. Giotto's Bell Tower and the Bapistery of St. John all share the same design. Together, it's an overwhelming experience that is mind-boggling in proportion. When I first visited Florence in 2003, this area was unsafe and crawling with scam artists and beggars. Getting pick-pocketed was highly probable. Now, the area is totally different. There are military police all over the place and the area is significantly less crowded and safer. read more

Finding a way inside this place is like trying to figure out the Da Vinci Code. It's no simple task I tell ya! We bought tickets and made our way to the front, but were told we needed reservations. Huh? We need tickets and a reservation? The next reservation is on a Wednesday afternoon when we will already be gone? What the? Either way, we were able to get into the tower and climb to the top which was a huge challenge on it's one. The piazza used to give me a hard time in the the video game Assassin's Creed to climb as this sucker is high! Even from the outside, it's a building to adore. Florence is an amazing city, without a reasonable doubt. read more

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Duomo is an italian term for a church with the features of, or having been built to serve as, a cathedral, whether or not it currently plays this role. Florence's cathedral stands tall over the city with its magnificent Renaissance dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, with the baptistery right across. The exterior is covered in a decorative mix of pink, white and green marble which is one of the reasons that has made it so unique. read more

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beautiful Duomo in the heart of Florence, kind of hard to miss it. even if you don't go inside, just admiring the outside and all the detail in the building is a must see. plenty of shops and restaurants nearby. we did not get a chance to go inside even though we stayed at an airbnb next to it. the line seems long unless you go there super early read more

One of the most striking piazzas in Italy, best enjoyed in late fall/early spring, due to the heat and noisy tourist crowds. Bessie definitely approves of the view. read more

Piazza del Duomo - Firenze! - Public Plazas Near Me - Florence, FI

Great central location with shops and eateries around. Part of the duomo is getting worked on, but it still doesn't take away from its beauty. The white paint job is actually quite striking when you see it at night. Most of the time we saw a big crowd around the duomo, but one day we were lucky to see a very short line so we went in. Another great freebie landmark to check out. I definitely do love the old architecture of Europe. The duomo isn't as ornate or nearly as large as St. Peter's Basicilia and it's slightly larger than the Sistine Chapel both in Rome, but it has its own charm as well. read more

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From all the pictures I took on my Italian vacation. Florence's pictures of the duomo were my favorite. The details of the architecture are the most elaborate. And at the night, it totally seems like your in a different era with the feel of all these buildings and churches surrounding you etc ..., It almost feels like Florence is one big painting in a very nice dream. A must go to place. This cathedral is in the center of the hustle and bustle of city of Florence. You can enjoy just sitting on the steps of the cathedral and people watch. There are some great small shops, restaurants, gelato cafés all around it. I would like to recommend going there at day and night time to see the beauty of it. If you are staying in Florence overnight, get your hotel near by. read more

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This plaza is breathtaking... literally (all those steps)! We got skip the line timed tickets and we were glad we did. You technically still stand in line but you get in before the people that don't have a timed entrance. The Duomo is really the only one that attracts a lot of crowds, and the other structures remain pretty uncrowded. The views from the Duomo and the Bell Tower are worth the climbs, so definitely take a look! read more

Piazza del Duomo - From the top of the dome! - Public Plazas Near Me - Florence, FI

A gorgeous cathedral that leaves you breathless every time you pass by. But don't bother waiting in long lines to get in- there is precious little interesting inside. The other churches in Florence are way better with fabulous art inside, like Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, Santo Spirito, etc. since our wonderful hotel was only 2 blocks away from the Duomo, we frequently passed by. One day we saw there was no line at all, so we thought, what the heck, its free, lets go in. We had been told that it was quite blah inside, and we found they were right! read more

You can't come to Florence without seeing the Piazza del Duomo. It stands in the middle of the city and at any given time is flooded with tourists both inside and out. The architecture of a building so old is amazing in itself, but to truly experience it, you must walk the steps to the top. The trek up is truly an adventure. The seemingly endless stairs twist and turn all the way to the top, with a few floors for photos and taking a break in between. The stairwell is incredibly narrow and serves as both an up and down path for visitors. If you are easily claustrophobic or scared of heights, definitely do not attempt this hike. If you love adventure, this is definitely for you. The views once at the top are second to none. You can see the entire city of Florence and provides for some amazing photos. Other than the hike to the top, the church itself is beautiful and truly takes your breath away when walking through and admiring the statues and history that surrounds you. read more

Bellisimo!!!!!!! Very busy, but it is exciting and beautiful! You must see in early morning or later 10 pm on to really appreciate its beauty! The entire piazza surrounds the beautiful church! read more

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Stunning, absolutely stunning. This is one of the most impressive things I've ever seen in Italy. I highly recommend coming to visit. Florence/Firenza is also a beautiful and lovely city. Easy to walk and get around. All the major sites and train station are in easy walking distance to each other. I would come back here again. read more

Piazza del Duomo - Public Plazas Near Me - Florence, FI

Such a magnificent example of history and architecture! While I didn't go inside (the line was waaaay too freakin long), admiring the structure from the outside was just as marvelous!! I was stunned at the smooth-as-butter white and green marble. The church looked like it was a paper doll house. With all the slick surfaces, my eyes completely missed all the little detailed cracks at first glance. I would definitely return to Florence, and the Duomo. The city life around Florence was quite invigorating! read more

Piazza del Duomo - (9/13/2018) - Public Plazas Near Me - Florence, FI

Piazza del Duomo was my favorite Piazza I saw in Italy! Walking around, you can feel the Renaissance energy. It was like stepping through time. The buildings here are just amazing. All the buildings follow the same theme of white marble with greenish detail. Just stunning to stare at. The dome is one of the most famous shots of Florence. The plaza also has the Florence Cathedral and Baptistery and Campanile. This plaza is very busy and crowded. A definite tourist destination. A must see in Florence, you will regret it if you skip it! read more

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