Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (Museum of the Works of the Cathedral), Florence (must see)
If you鈥檙e visiting the Duomo, skipping this nearby museum would be a serious oversight. It tends to fly under the radar, given Florence's overwhelming list of must-see attractions-but there are quite a few things to like here. You鈥檒l find fewer crowds, an easy-to-navigate layout, and thoughtfully spaced exhibits that invite close, uninterrupted viewing. Modern in design and, refreshingly, air-conditioned, the museum offers a calm, cool retreat for art lovers.
Many of the sculptures and architectural elements you see around the Duomo are actually replicas. This place is home to the originals, preserved for future generations. One of the most striking displays is the life-size reconstruction of the cathedral鈥檚 early fa莽ade-an immense installation packed with original details, including the enormous golden door that鈥檚 particularly unforgettable.
Michelangelo鈥檚 鈥淭he Deposition鈥�-is another highlight, also known as 鈥淟amentation over the Dead Christ鈥�. Unlike his famous Roman version in Saint Peter鈥檚 Basilica, this one has a raw, unfinished energy. Carved toward the end of his life, the work was abandoned when Michelangelo consumed the marble through relentless chiseling. What remains feels almost modern in its abstraction, as if it were channeling the spirit of future centuries.
The museum also houses original pieces from the Baptistery and Giotto鈥檚 Bell Tower, all beautifully lit and arranged for close inspection. Benches are thoughtfully placed, allowing you to sit and absorb the detail without craning your neck like you might outside in the square.
The entire collection can be easily covered in about two hours-though art lovers may want to linger. Descriptions are available in both Italian and English, making it easy to guide yourself through.
Tip: Make sure not to miss the rooftop terrace-it offers one of the best vantage points for admiring the Duomo.
Many of the sculptures and architectural elements you see around the Duomo are actually replicas. This place is home to the originals, preserved for future generations. One of the most striking displays is the life-size reconstruction of the cathedral鈥檚 early fa莽ade-an immense installation packed with original details, including the enormous golden door that鈥檚 particularly unforgettable.
Michelangelo鈥檚 鈥淭he Deposition鈥�-is another highlight, also known as 鈥淟amentation over the Dead Christ鈥�. Unlike his famous Roman version in Saint Peter鈥檚 Basilica, this one has a raw, unfinished energy. Carved toward the end of his life, the work was abandoned when Michelangelo consumed the marble through relentless chiseling. What remains feels almost modern in its abstraction, as if it were channeling the spirit of future centuries.
The museum also houses original pieces from the Baptistery and Giotto鈥檚 Bell Tower, all beautifully lit and arranged for close inspection. Benches are thoughtfully placed, allowing you to sit and absorb the detail without craning your neck like you might outside in the square.
The entire collection can be easily covered in about two hours-though art lovers may want to linger. Descriptions are available in both Italian and English, making it easy to guide yourself through.
Tip: Make sure not to miss the rooftop terrace-it offers one of the best vantage points for admiring the Duomo.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Florence. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (Museum of the Works of the Cathedral) on Map
Sight Name: Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (Museum of the Works of the Cathedral)
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Florence, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Florence
Creating your own self-guided walk in Florence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Dante's Florence Walking Tour
Dante Alighieri was arguably the greatest 鈥� albeit also most controversial 鈥� of Italy's poets. After having served as one of the six priors governing Florence, his political activities 鈥� including the banishing of several rivals 鈥� led to his own banishment, upon which he wrote his masterpiece, 鈥淭he Divine Comedy鈥�, as a wanderer, seeking protection for his family in one town after... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Medici Landmarks Walking Tour
The Medici family helped to establish Florence as the single most important art capital of Renaissance Europe. In order to prove wealth and power, they built numerous palaces, libraries, churches, chapels and personal residences. The Medicis were big lovers of art and they acquired huge, expensive collections, as well as supporting many sculptors and painters of the time.
Designed by... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Designed by... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Duomo Walking Tour
Right in the heart of historic Florence lies the Duomo district-the city's religious and civic core, and one of the most remarkable places in all of Italy. Between the Duomo and Signoria squares, Florence unfolds in layers of art, history, and architectural brilliance, offering a never-ending stream of things to see, do, and admire.
At the center of it all stands the Florence Cathedral, or... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
At the center of it all stands the Florence Cathedral, or... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Florence Food Tour
Food is one of the great Florentine passions, and the great thing about having a delicious authentic Tuscan meal, a snack, delicatessen, or a quality gelato here 鈥� besides the abundant variety 鈥� is not having to spend a lot of money for it.
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Michelangelo's Masterpieces Walking Tour
Though born in the small Tuscan town of Caprese, Michelangelo spent over two decades of his life in Florence-the heart of the Renaissance. It was here that he grew up, was educated, and began shaping his artistic voice, eventually creating some of the most iconic masterpieces the city has ever known.
His larger-than-life work-鈥淒avid鈥�-didn鈥檛 just reshape the image of biblical heroism-it... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
His larger-than-life work-鈥淒avid鈥�-didn鈥檛 just reshape the image of biblical heroism-it... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
In Galileo's Footsteps
Galileo Galilei-born in Pisa in 1564-spent much of his life in and around Florence, where some of the most defining moments of his revolutionary career unfolded. A genius of many talents-physicist, mathematician, astronomer, inventor-he helped usher in the scientific revolution and reshape humanity鈥檚 understanding of the universe. Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, became a backdrop for... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles
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