This tour will take us into the religious heart of Florence, where spirituality and art have intertwined for centuries, shaping one of the most breathtaking monumental complexes in the world.
Between Piazza San Giovanni and Piazza del Duomo, we will explore the wonders of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, and Giotto’s Bell Tower, diving into a time when Florence was the wealthiest city in Europe and the cradle of the Renaissance.
The Baptistery: Florence’s golden jewel
Our visit begins at the magnificent Baptistery of San Giovanni, one of the city’s oldest buildings. Here, we’ll admire its stunning golden mosaics, covering the entire dome and illustrating biblical stories in extraordinary detail.
We’ll also discover the marble inlaid floor, featuring the famous Zodiac Wheel, and learn about the significance of baptism in Florence, a ritual that, for centuries, officially welcomed newborns into the city’s community.
The Opera del Duomo Museum: a hidden treasure
Next, we’ll visit the Opera del Duomo Museum, home to some of the greatest masterpieces of all time:
- Donatello’s Penitent Magdalene, a deeply emotional and revolutionary sculpture.
- Michelangelo’s Bandini Pietà, a dramatic and personal work originally intended for his own tomb.
- The three original doors of the Baptistery, including the famous Gates of Paradise by Lorenzo Ghiberti, named for their extraordinary beauty.
The highlight of this museum section is Filippo Brunelleschi’s genius: an entire hall is dedicated to his groundbreaking engineering feat—the construction of the Duomo’s dome, a marvel that continues to astonish the world.
Santa Maria del Fiore: the cathedral of the Florentines
Finally, we’ll step inside Santa Maria del Fiore, a cathedral that has been at the heart of Florence’s religious and civic life for centuries.
Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, this grand church was known to Florentines as Domus Dei, the “House of God on Earth.” Inside, we’ll explore:
- The archaeological site, revealing the ancient 5th-century Christian church, which evolved through Romanesque and Gothic transformations into the Duomo we see today (construction began in 1296).
- The stunning stained-glass windows, filling the cathedral with vibrant light.
- Paintings celebrating great Florentines, including Dante Alighieri.
- The vast frescoed dome, the largest pictorial cycle ever painted inside a church dome, depicting the Last Judgment, a theme echoing the mosaics in the Baptistery.
San Giovanni Battista: The Symbol of Florence
At the heart of our journey is Saint John the Baptist, Florence’s patron saint. We’ll learn to recognize his iconography and symbolism, which appear in many of the masterpieces we’ll see.
Even today, Florence celebrates Saint John with great devotion: every June 24, the city comes alive with events and celebrations, honoring a tradition that has lasted for centuries.
Our tour will end with a spectacular panoramic viewpoint, offering a breathtaking perspective of Florence’s religious heart.