Duomo Complex & Accademia Tour with Cupola Entry Tickets

Highlights

• The home of Michelangelo's original sculpture David
• A passionate, art-lover local guide
• Enjoying a spectacular view of the city

Full description

Visits to the Duomo complex are governed by austere rules, designed to make a visit as pleasant and entertaining as possible. Join a tour of the Duomo Complex to discover Florence's headline attractions. This tour covers every part of the Duomo Complex. Then you will be briefed by your guide who will enlighten you about the religious center at Piazza del Duomo. Afterward, having seen the four sides of the Duomo from within the square itself, you will be taken inside Florence's octagonal Baptistery of St. John. The Baptistery is known for its beautiful golden mosaic ceiling and The Gates of Paradise, the striking bronze doors. A visit will then be made to the magnificent Florence Duomo Museum, where over 700 works from The Middle Ages and The Renaissance can be found, including Michelangelo's Bandini Pietà. It also has incredible masterpieces like the gates of the Baptistery, Donatello’s sculptures, and even wooden scaffoldings (original) used in making Brunelleschi's dome. At the end of your visit, your guide will leave you at the entrance to the dome itself. It's a real show-stopper but, remember: the only way to get inside and have that incredible view over Florence is by climbing 463 steps (there is no elevator). The frescoes in the interior were painted by Giorgio Vasari (1572-9) for his Last Judgment; look down and on the base (just above the drum) for Baccio D'Angelo's work from 1507- who also began one of eight sides that was never finished and remains so to this day (the other seven were left rough brick)! When you reach the top of the Cupola, a view over the whole city of Florence will welcome you: palaces and squares, the Arno river and its bridges, mountains that bound the scene. After you have seen the Cupola with your reserved timed entry ticket, feel free to go in and visit the interior of Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and Santa Reparata and climb Giotto's Bell Tower at any time you like. Tour at Accademia Gallery in FlorenceAt the entrance of Accademia gallery museum, there will be an official licensed expert guide who will take through a guided tour during which you come to know all the secrets about David and other masterpieces displayed there. After a quick look around there, your guide will take you inside the Hall of the Colossus to view some works by Giambologna, including "Rape of the Sabines", Cassone Adimari and the solemn St. Stephen by Ghirlandaio between St. James and St. Peter, then to the main Hall of the Prisoners to see more of Michelangelo's unfinished statues "Slaves" as well as learn about his friendship and mutual influence with artists like Fra’ Bartolomeo, Pontormo, Granacci, etc.Later I'll spend time at The Tribune where I will share all the details regarding the most famous statue in the world by Michelangelo as well as "David's Statue" and the Tribune Left Wing ", Allori’s Coronation of the Virgin Mary". Finally, let me introduce you to the Gipsoteca Bartolini where there are plaster casts of Reclining Venus, Arnolfo, Brunelleschi, and Lorenzo Monaco. The materials in the documentation center on the first floor are related to research activities. The tour takes one hour; after it ends, in addition to going over some other things, you may want to see David, again.

Includes

• Entrance Ticket with reservation to the Academia Gallery
• Entrance Ticket with reservation to the Cupola
• Entrance ticket to visit the Crypt, Baptistery, Bell Tower, and Opera Duomo Museum

Not includes

• Hotel pick-up and drop off
• Food and drinks

Not allowed

• Baby strollers.
• Luggage or big bags.

Know before you go

• No elevators
• "Skip-the-line" access to the Accademia Gallery is guaranteed, even during high seasons (except for any delay or strike caused by the museum management)
• After the first validation, the ticket is valid for 72 hours: you can visit the rest of the sites in your own time (Giotto's Bell Tower & Santa Reparata)
• Proper attire is expected: no shorts, bare shoulders or skimpy tops. No access with sandals, hats or sunglasses. Failure to adhere to the cathedral's dress code may result in denial of entry to both the Baptistery and Cathedral