Religious heart of Florence, which is known as the European capital of art, is nothing other than the Piazza del Duomo.

This is where you can find the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, known simply as Duomo or Florence Cathedral, which is a defining symbol of this Italian city, hiding masterpieces of medieval architecture and art.

Piazza del Duomo, Florence, Tuscany, Italy by Dudva

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral) is the fourth largest in Europe. Arnolfo di Cambio was the main architect who started its construction in 1296.

His main task was to build a huge cathedral, the size of which would express the growing importance of Florence and should overshadow the cathedral in competing cities such as Siena and Pisa.

The result was really a huge, 106 meters high building, that you can still admire at the square. Additionally, it features the largest dome since antiquity.

This masterpiece of medieval architecture was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and offers amazing views of the city skyline.

Florence Cathedral, Tuscany, Italy by Leszek Leszczynski

Battistero di San Giovanni

The oldest building in Florence is Battistero di San Giovanni or simply Florence Baptistery, which was built in the 6th or 7th century.

This monument grew up in the shadow of the cathedral on the site of Roman buildings from the 1st century. The oldest written record of the Baptistery dates back to the year of 897.

Ceiling paintings, Florence Baptistery, Tuscany by Allan Harris

So it is an important spiritual and artistic center for more than a thousand years. The decoration was inspired by the antiquity and comes mostly from the years 1059-1128.

The most interesting element of the Baptistery is the south doors, created by the Pisan sculptor Andrea Pisano in the years 1330 – 1336.

South door, Gates to Paradise, Florence Baptistery, Tuscany by Thermos

They are decorated with 28 panels with scenes from the life of the patron saint of Florence, San Giovanni. It is him to whom the baptistery is dedicated.

North doors were created by Lorenzo Ghiberti, who never overcame Andrea Pisano. He also created 28 panels, on which you can see episodes from the life of Christ, evangelists and church teachers.

However the most famous and most elegant doors can be found on the east side of the Baptistery. This is called the Gates of Paradise, which were also created by Lorenzo Ghiberti.

Eastern door, Gates to Paradise, Florence, Baptistery, Tuscany by Véronique Debord-Lazaro

They are made of ten panels on which you can see the scenes from the Old Testament. Baptistery Interior hides majestic ceiling covered with mosaics, created by Venetian craftsmen in the 13th century.

Mosaics depict scenes from the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary, Joseph and John the Baptist.

Battistero, Florence, Tuscany, Italy by Camille King

Giotto’s Campanile

Another eye-catching building in the Piazza del Duomo, is the freestanding bell tower from 1334 – Giotto’s Campanile.

Painter Giotto was asked to make the decoration works on the tower but unfortunately he could finish only the first five floors as he died unexpectedly in 1337.

Giotto’s Campanile, Florence, Tuscany by Julie Anne Workman

For the next stage decorations were responsible Andrea Pisano and Francesco Talenti. The most beautiful parts of the belfry include the first floor, decorated with reliefs by Andrea Pisano, Lucca della Robbia and his pupils.

Reliefs that you can see today, are only copies, the originals are safely stored in the museum. If you managed to get up to the top of the 85 meters high tower, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the city.

Campanile, Florence, Tuscany, Italy by Véronique Debord-Lazaro

Museo dell’Opera dell Duomo

Most works of art have been removed from the cathedral, baptistery and the bell tower over the centuries and are now kept in the Museo dell’Opera dell Duomo.

This institution was built in 1296 originally in order to oversee the construction of the cathedral. Today it is a museum housed in a building from 1891.

Museo dell’Opera dell Duomo, Florence, Tuscany by Sailko

On its two floors you can see a collection of sculptures, paintings, reliquaries, reliefs and other valuables made by the most famous artists of the time.

The main area of the museum includes an open courtyard, on which Michelangelo created the famous sculpture of David.

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