Florence: Dome Climb Up Guided Tour

"Visit Europa Today" was the name of the company that was leading this tour. My husband and I were backpacking through Italy and did not have regular access to WiFi. We arrived at the scheduled time (1:30) and they informed us they had emailed us because Viator made an error about the schedule on a Sunday. They informed us that the tour had been moved to 3pm. Fortunately, our schedule permitted this change. We had to rush through a visit to the Duomo Museum and Baptistery.

The title of this tour is a little misleading; you don't see any anterooms (if they exist). It's purpose is to bring you to the top of the Duomo, which is something everyone should do since the top affords you spectacular views of all of Florence and the surrounding hills. The climb is not for the faint of heart. Five hundred steps (give or take a hundred), the last 60 through a narrow passage way. Beware if you suffer from claustrophobia! Our guide, Martina, was adorable! She's very knowledgeable and proud of her city. She was also incredibly patient as she led her jet-lagged patrons through the masses of people going up and down the steps. The price is a little steep. But, then again, so is everything in Italy. If you want to conquer the Duomo without spending several hours in line, you've got to pay.

The climb, the climb! It was challenging and informative with our guide Jacomo. We learned so much about the beautiful Duomo, while we were huffing and puffing up 400+ steep stairs. It was easy to find the tour group with the instructions provided...you go in the basement of a coffee shop, show the receipt from your tour purchase and get your tickets, then your guide meets you inside or just outside of the shop to gather your timed group together. It was a great way to see the cupola and all of it's beauty. We did a 3 p.m. afternoon tour, but I would caution that this does NOT leave you much time afterward to see the church or the baptistery, which also have long lines. Plan your trip earlier in the day, so you have time to see the church and baptistery afterward. Your official ticket does let you come back within 72 hours to see the church, but the line was so long and we were leaving that day, that we were not able to use it. The Viator purchase process online and the efficiency of all the tours we took was great. Every tour includes specific instructions for meeting; all started on time, and were exactly as expected.

Although rather a climb up to the top it is well worth it. Very special experience and the tour narration very interesting.