Siena

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Duomo

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travel2000
travel2000
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Editor Pick

On Top of Florence

  • February 12, 2009
  • Rated 4 of 5 by American91 from Litchfield County, Connecticut
On Top of Florence

Almost everyone who comes through Florence will at least see the Duomo from afar. A majority of these people, especially tourists, will come up close to this amazing structure, marvel at the intricate detail on the outside of the church, and stand with wide eyes, head dropped back, mouth agape, staring at the amazingly intricate mural painted on the underside of the epic dome. This massive church is enough to make any passerby stop, if even for a moment, to look up and truly gain a feeling of insignificance and overwhelming impressment. Giotto's Bell Tower and the massive Duomo dominate the Firenze skyline and are a symbol of the beauty of the city. Now any visitor to this church can surely appreciate the gratitude of it and will undoubtedly enjoy walking through and looking the mural from the floor hundreds of feet below. But there is one activity that may be passed by that every single visitor should partake in. That event is making the trek to the top of the massive dome to marvel at the city of Florence. On the north side of the building is a queue for visitors to enter who wish to go up to the top. During the time I went, the fee was a respectable five Euro, and it was well worth the money. Be warned; the trip to the top is a grueling one. There are no elevators and stairwells are steep and narrow. The trip to the top is long and the way down is equally straining on the knees. If you wish to be rewarded with the greatest view of this city, however, and you feel up to the challenge, I recommend proceeding. For a while, the stairwell wraps around in a dark corridor with no windows and dingy lighting, building up suspense to the view above. Eventually, you will find a window and be graced with a view of the city. However, you are still a long way from the top. Roughly halfway up, you will cross a catwalk which loops around the back of the church, directly under the painted mural on the dome. You will certainly want to take alot of pictures, but continue on as you will come up even closer later in the tour. After circumnavigating the first catwalk, you will spiral around the curvature of the dome for a seemingly very long time, until you reach the pinnacle at the top. Stepping out into the wind is a great feeling, and it feels even better when you realize the view that you have been presented with. For as far as the eye can see, buildings covered with vibrant red roofs treat the eye and on the horizon is the beautiful Tuscan Hills. One of the most dominant features of the view is the facade of the Basilica of Santa Croce, famous for the tombs of Michaelangelo and Machiavelli. When you are finally able to pull yourself away from the illustrious view, you will wrap around the stairwell again and once again take a catwalk around the church, this time directly under the dome (close enough to actually touch the painting). After the journey back down the stairs, you will exit out the south side of the building, likely still awestruck from the beauty of the view and the church. Personally, this is one of the greatest highlights in all of Italy for me and I highly recommend that everyone who comes to the Duomo takes the time and effort to voyage to the pinnacle of the dome.

From journal The Glory of Italy

Editor Pick

Duomo

  • April 13, 2001
  • Rated 4 of 5 by MarkR37 from Madison, Wisconsin
Duomo

Made completely out of marble, the Sienna Duomo is one of the great architectural creations of Medievel Europe. The exterior is ornate baroque and very unusual for Italy. The interior will take your breath away. There is the most amazing marble mosaic floor that I have ever seen. Much of it is covered to prevent damage but I am told that it is completely uncovered and on display in the month of September.

On the left side of the interior there is the Piccolomini Library. For 1500 lire you can go in and view the spectacular frescos that cover the walls and cieling. All of the frescos portray Sienna' Pope Pius the second. This is a must see room!

Do not miss the Bapistry. You enter it at the back of the Duomo and there is a few dollar charge to get in. The interior is much more intimate and the frescos are outstanding. Go early! These sites are best seen with as few people as possible. Mobs of other tourists spoil the majesty of these wonderful buildings.

From journal Day tripping to Siena

Editor Pick

Duomo

  • March 24, 2001
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Mary Porcher from New Haven, Connecticut
Duomo

Average Rating: 8.5, Estimated Time to allot: 1 hour. Cost: Free – pay $1 to see the library

The high ratings say a lot about this Duomo, because when we were there, about a fourth of the interior was under scaffolding. And it was a gloomy day, so it was rather dark inside. The paintings here are impressive (though dark). You can be a true tourist and pay a machine to light different areas of the church for you. The ornately carved pulpit is especially interesting, with marble lions supporting its base. The green striped steeple and columns give this basilica a different feel than many others that we saw. The library is a small room, but it has amazing paintings that are very well preserved with rich colors along the walls. There’s a neat story to go with them too. The exterior of this basilica is one of my all-time favorites, with all types of creatures and characters carved into the stone.

Ratings 1-10 (10 is "see this no matter what!" and 0 is "avoid it!")
Jason: 9 Mary 8

From journal A Day in Siena

Editor Pick

Duomo

  • December 11, 2000
  • Rated 3 of 5 by kylebarber from Seattle, Washington
Duomo

This black and white striped cathedral was begun in 1215, the work of many Sienese and Tuscan artists. The inevitable Pisano once again was involved with designing a duomo, this time by helping to produce the church's facade as well as another amazing pulpit, perhaps greater than the pulpit on display in Pisa's Duomo. Some statues by Michelangelo and Donatello are also on display.

From journal Italy: Sienna

Editor Pick

Duomo

  • November 2, 2000
  • Rated 4 of 5 by travel2000 from New York, New York
Duomo

Wow, where should I begin. This is one fine Gothic cathedral. The facade is combination of marble and painting, but the interior is where you should spend the majority of your time. Simply put, I found it the most enthralling interior of the cathedrals I have seen in Italy. The black and white motif is represented in the marble inlaids and pillars, there are works from a zillion artists, there are biblical scenes, symbols, you name it, you can find it. There are different coin machines to deposit money to light up parts of the cathedral. Either wait for someone to do it, or spend the money-the light really helps. Plan to spend at least half an hour inside. There is a bookstore with a ton of postcards and books.

Tel: 0577-283048

Web site: www.operaduomo.it

Hours: Mar 16-Oct daily 9am-7:30pm; Nov-Mar 15 daily 7:30am-1pm and 2:30-5pm

Free admission to church

From journal Enchanting Siena

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