VIP David and Duomo tour: Early Accademia tour with exclusive Terrace access

After the Accademia, it’s on to another site often (misguidedly) skipped by visitors: the Florence Baptistery. If these walls could talk, they would tell you stories about the Medici family, all of whom were baptised here along with the poet Dante. They can’t, but thankfully your guide can. They will give you the inside scoop and help you decipher the beautiful gold mosaics that cover the ceiling.

The most famous feature of the Baptistery is its copper-plated doors, but few visitors are aware that these are just a replica. You will see the real deal at your next stop, the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo (or Duomo Museum). You will also see Michelangelo’s other Pietà in here, the one he created for his own tomb; along with a sculpture of Mary Magdalene by Donatello.

The final leg of your visit will be inside the Duomo itself, where special access will give you more space than the average visitor. The floor of the Duomo has recently been roped off. While normal visitors circulate on paths around the walls of the cathedral, you will cross these ropes to wander the floor as you wish, getting closer to the details of the Duomo. You will also gain access to a special hidden room, where the Duomo stores original statues from its façade.

The cherry on your cake comes last as you ascend to the Duomo Terrace, for incredible views and an up-close sighting of Brunelleschi’s enormous dome (the largest brick dome in the world). This is incredibly exclusive access (very few visitors even know that this level exists) with a maximum of two tour groups visiting during your time. At this level, you will also have access to a special door from where you can climb to the top of the Florence Duomo without waiting in a line for hours.

The views from the terrace are fantastic for examining the Florence Duomo up close, but from the top of the dome you’ll see not just Florence, but far into Tuscany as well. Give yourself some time to soak up the red roofs and the rolling hills; it will be a long time before you will see another view quite like this.