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The Opera Duomo Museum. A collection of over 750 works

The Opera Duomo Museum is home to the highest number of Florentine monumental sculptural works in the world. But that isn’t the only reason to visit it.


It could almost seem unnecessary to tell you go visit the Opera Duomo Museum, right?

Ok, on one hand, you’d be right, considering the institution is undoubtedly among the most important in the city of Florence, but you should know that recommending the museum isn’t so simple, because to organize the best possible visit so you don’t miss anything, you’ll need to know a few things. 

Santa Maria del Fiore monumental complex

For starters, one thing should be made clear. You’ll need to know that the Opera Duomo Museum is part of Santa Maria del Fiore monumental complex, that includes the three religious buildings in piazza Duomo: the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Giotto’s Bell Tower. 

Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral

Nothing is more iconic in the Renaissance City than the magnificent Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral and Brunelleschi’s striking Duomo.

Opera del Duomo Museum

It collects 750 works and the highest number of Florentine monumental sculpture works in the world. But that's not the only reason why you should visit it.

The set-up is brand-new and boasts modern rooms and advanced technology, giving visitors an experience that is both greatly aesthetic and educational.

Then there’s the fact that the value and beauty of the works on display are unparalleled. There are over 750 pieces, including statues, tiles, relief sculptures, doors… many of which are masterpieces made for the interior and exterior of the three buildings in the piazza by the greatest masters of the Renaissance: Arnolfo di Cambio, Andrea Pisano, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Donatello, Luca della Robbia, Antonio Pollaiuolo, Andrea del Verrocchio, Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Everything is perfectly set within in a context that is avant-garde, large and bright, offering visitors an extraordinary walk through snippets of architecture, drawings, scale models and other wonders skilfully placed throughout the museum: 28 rooms on three floors, 6,000 square metres, where every new space reached is an astonishing discovery. 

The San Giovanni Baptistery

The San Giovanni Baptistery is one of Florence’s oldest and most historic structures; by no coincidence it takes its name from the city’s Patron Saint.  

Built on the remains of an ancient Roman domus, its iconic octagonal shape enchants every visitor, not to mention the spectacular white and green marble covering the exterior, its beautiful gold doors and the interior’s sparkling mosaics.

Giotto's Bell Tower

Almost 85 m high and 15 m wide, it’s the most striking accomplishment of 14th-century Florentine Gothic architecture. And despite its towering height, the impressive structure maintains a uniform style and form throughout.  

The climb to the top of the tower affords extraordinary views of Florence and a chance to snap some unforgettable photos. After climbing more than 400 steps into the air, you’ll reach a magnificent terrace overlooking the city.

Giotto’s masterpiece is today considered the most beautiful bell tower in Italy. Construction began in 1334 using the same white, red and green marble that decorate the Florence Cathedral, however, the artist's death in 1337 pushed completion to the second half of the 14th century. After the dreadful years of the Black Plague, Francesco Talenti set out to finish the job, specifically adding windows to the upper section. Typical Sienese double and triple-mullioned windows grace the top of the structure, illuminating the interior and adding a splash of Gothic to the classical style of the tower.