Why go
Do not rush through the interior on the way to the dome. The 44 stained-glass windows include work associated with Donatello, Ghiberti and Uccello. Domenico di Michelino's Dante painting preserves a view of 15th-century Florence, while Uccello's clock still uses the old Italian system in which the day ended at sunset. These details give the vast space a civic as well as devotional character.
What to look for
- Find Domenico di Michelino's 1465 Dante painting, which includes a view of Florence in its own time.
- Look above the main door for Paolo Uccello's one-handed clock, marked in 24 Italian hours.
- Trace the stained-glass windows in the aisles, transept and dome drum.
Useful to know
- Pause near the entrance for the clock, then move through the aisles for the stained glass rather than looking only upward.
- Use the interior to connect the cathedral with the nearby Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, where transferred works can add context.