Jan. 2, 2025

148. Italy - Florence - Climbing Florence's Duomo: Essential Guide & Top Tips

Show Notes
Transcript

Everything you need to know about conquering Florence's magnificent Duomo! Johnny Mac guides you through the 463-step climb, sharing crucial tips about timing, tickets, and what to bring. Learn the fascinating history behind Brunelleschi's architectural marvel and discover the best spots for photos. Perfect for first-time visitors and architecture enthusiasts.

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Calaroga Shark Media. Hey there, fellow travelers, Johnny Mack back

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with you, and today we're tackling, literally tackling one of

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the most incredible monuments in all of Italy, Florence's famous Duomo.

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After our walking tour of Florence's streets and the Arno

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River last time, we're going vertical today, folks. And let

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me tell you right up front, if you're claustrophobic, we're

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not a fan of climbing stairs. You might want to

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admire this beauty from the ground level, But if you're

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up for an adventure, stick with me now before we

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dive in, I need to be really clear about something.

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Climbing the Duomo is not your typical tourist attraction. We're

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talking about four hundred and sixty three stairs and some

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seriously tight spaces. How tight well, imagine trying to squeeze

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through your hallway with both arms touching the walls. That's

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what we're dealing with here. And there's no elevator, no shortcuts,

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and definitely no turning back once you start, because these

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staircases are too narrow for two way traffic in most spots.

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But here's why it's worth every single step. The view

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from the top is absolutely spectacular, and the journey up

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gives you a unique peak into how this architectural marvel

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was built. Plus you'll get some serious bragging rights. Not

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everyone makes it to the top. Let's start with some history,

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because trust me, knowing the story makes the climb even

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more impressive. The Duomo, or to give it its proper name,

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the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, was started in

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twelve ninety six. But here's the crazy part. When they

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started building it, nobody knew how they were going to

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construct the dome. They literally began a cathedral with a

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massive hole in the roof because no one had figured

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out how to build a dome this big without it collapsing.

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Enter our hero, Filippo Bruneleski. This guy was actually a goldsmith,

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not an architect, but he won the competition to design

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the dome in fourteen eighteen. His solution was nothing short

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of genius. He designed a double dome, like a dome

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within a dome, and came up with innovative building techniques

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that are still studied by architects today. Fun fact, he

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was so protective of his design that he would only

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give his workers daily instructions rather than sharing the full plans.

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Talk about keeping your trade secrets. Now, let's talk about

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what you need to know before you attempt this climb.

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First off, tickets don't just show up hoping to climb.

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You need to book in advance, especially during peak season.

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The official website is the best place to do this,

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and I'll make sure that link is in our show notes.

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Here's what you need to bring. Water, Trust me, you'll

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want it. Comfortable shoes with good grip. Those medieval stairs

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can be slippery. A small bag or nothing at all.

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There's no room for backpacks, a light jacket or sweater.

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It can get chilly as you go up. Your camera,

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but make sure it's secured around your neck or wrist.

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What you shouldn't bring large bags or backpacks, heavy camera equipment,

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walking sticks unless absolutely necessary for mobility, your fear of

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heights or tight spaces. Let me walk you through what

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the climb is actually like. The first part isn't too bad.

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You're climbing between the inner and outer domes, and it's

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pretty interesting to see the construction techniques up close. But

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then things get let's say cozy. The staircases get narrower,

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the steps get more worn from centuries of use, and

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you'll definitely be using those handrails. There are several sections

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where you'll need to do some serious ducking, and there

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were moments where I felt like I was auditioning for

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a limbo contest. And here's something they don't tell you

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in the guidebooks. There are spots where the stairs curve

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with the dome, so you're literally climbing at an angle.

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It's wild, but here's what makes it all worth it.

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Every now and then you'll come to a small landing

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with a window, giving you a chance to catch your

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breath and peek out at Florence from different heights. It's

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like getting a preview of the spectacular view that's waiting

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for you at the top. And speaking of that view, wow,

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when you finally emerge onto the lantern at the very top,

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you're treated to a three hundred and sixty degree panorama

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of Florence that will absolutely take your breath away if

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you have any left after that climb. Pro tip try

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to time your climb for when the cathedral first opens

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in the morning. Not only will you avoid the heat

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of the day, but you'll also beat most of the crowds,

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and trust me, you don't want to be stuck in

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those narrow staircases with too many people during the hot

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afternoon hours. Now, let's talk about what you're actually seeing

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as you climb. The inside of the dome is decorated

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with the most incredible frescoes depicting the Last Judgment, painted

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by Georgio Vasari and Federico Zukari. As you climb, you'll

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get closer and closer to these masterpieces, seeing details that

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are impossible to spot from the cathedral floor. Just don't

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get so caught up and looking at the art that

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you forget to watch your step. Here's something fascinating. If

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you look closely at the walls as you climb, you

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can see marks and notches left by the original builders.

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These were used to align the bricks perfectly and maintain

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the dome shape. You're literally climbing through an archaeological site

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that's still in use. About halfway up, there's a small

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gallery where you can walk around the inside of the

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dome and look down into the cathedral. Fair warning, if

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you're not great with heights, this part might be challenging,

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but it gives you an incredible perspective on just how

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massive this structure is. The floor of the cathedral looks

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tiny from up here. When you finally make it to

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the top, and you will make it, just take it

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at your own pace. Take some time to really soak

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it all in. Look for landmarks we talked about in

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our last episode, the ponte Vecchio, the Palazzo Vecchio, and

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even Piazzali Michelangelo. Across the river. On a clear day,

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you can see all the way to the Tuscan Hills.

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It's the perfect spot for photos, but please be careful

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with your phones and cameras. That's not a drop you

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want a risk. Coming down can actually be trickier than

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going up, so take your time. The steps are worn

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smooth from centuries of use, and it's easy to pick

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up too much speed on the descent. Use those handrails,

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that's what they're there for. Once you're back on solid ground,

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take a moment to look up at what you've just conquered.

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That sense of achievement. You've earned it, and now you

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can truly appreciate just what an incredible feat of engineering

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this dome really is. Before we wrap up, let me

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share a few more insider tips If you're visiting in summer,

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bring a small towel. It can get pretty sweaty in there.

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Take breaks at each landing. There's no shame in catching

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your breath. Strike up conversations with your fellow climbers. You're

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all in this together. Look for the original construction marks

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and graffiti from centuries past. Don't forget to look both

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up and down as you climb. The perspective changes are fascinating.

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The Duomo complex includes more than just the dome climb.

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Of course, Your ticket also gives you access to the Baptistery,

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Jato's Bell Tower, another challenging but worthwhile climb, and the

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Duomo Museum. If you're planning to do multiple climbs, I'd

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suggest spreading them out over different days. Your legs will

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thank me later. Oh and here's a fun fact to

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end with the lantern at the very top of the dome.

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It weighs over seventy tons. Makes those stairs seem a

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bit less daunting when you think about the engineering feet

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of getting all that material up there in the fifteenth century,

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doesn't it. In our next episode, we'll explore Florence's other

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incredible attractions, including the Ufizi Gallery and Michelangelo's David. But

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for now, rest those legs. You've earned it. Remember, if

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you want to enjoy these episodes without commercials, head over

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to Kalaroga dot com. Plus you'll find the link in

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the show notes. Trust me, it's worth it. This is

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Johnny Mack reminding you that sometimes the best views come

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after the toughest climbs. Until next time, keep exploring and

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keep climbing.

148. Italy - Florence - Climbing Florence's Duomo: Essential Guide & Top Tips

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