Italy Travelogue Part 2: Florence, Cinque Terre & Pisa – Duomo Dome, Giotto's Tower, Manarola

Looking at Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, with the red dome of the Duomo right in the middle. (Photo: TIME TRAVELER editor)

Itinerary overview (Sept 18–22)

Day 1 | Arriving in Florence on the Italo

According to our itinerary, the Italo on Sept 18 left Venice at 13:05 and arrived in Florence at 15:20.

Our first meal after arriving in Florence, taking our time at an outdoor table. (Photo: TIME TRAVELER editor)

Day 2 | A morning by the Arno

Reflections of the bridges, taken along the Arno. (Photo: TIME TRAVELER editor)

Day 3 | Climbing Brunelleschi's Dome

The Last Judgment fresco on the inside of the dome – up close it is overwhelming. (Photo: TIME TRAVELER editor)

On the way up the dome you walk along the inner gallery past the frescoes, so close you feel you could reach out and touch them. According to the Opera del Duomo's official website, climbing the dome takes 463 steps with no lift, and you must buy a Brunelleschi Pass and reserve a time slot, which cannot be changed after booking.

💡 Key official rules (check the latest announcements on the official website): - The dome entrance is at the Porta della Mandorla on the north side of the cathedral, and you must enter on time. - Medium and large bags and backpacks must be left first at the cloakroom at Piazza Duomo 38/r. - From March 2025 the Brunelleschi Pass is named, and you must bring photo ID to enter.

In the evening we went up to Piazzale Michelangelo, which is where the cover panorama was taken.

Day 4 | Trip.com day tour: Cinque Terre's Manarola + Pisa

The hillside of Manarola and the Mediterranean. (Photo: TIME TRAVELER editor)

The water below the cliffs is an unbelievable blue. (Photo: TIME TRAVELER editor)

The classic angle of Manarola's colourful houses. (Photo: TIME TRAVELER editor)

We reached Manarola a little after 10 a.m. Colourful houses are stacked layer upon layer up the rock face, and shooting from the viewpoint beside the path gives you a postcard. The tour we joined that day was a day trip from Florence booked on Trip.com.

In the afternoon we moved on to Pisa and the Piazza dei Miracoli, where the Leaning Tower stands:

The Baptistery of Pisa (Battistero), with Pisa Cathedral behind it. (Photo: TIME TRAVELER editor)

Besides the Baptistery and the Cathedral, of course we also made our pilgrimage to the Leaning Tower.

Day 5 | Climbing Giotto's Bell Tower for a different view of the dome

Looking out through the metal mesh of Giotto's Bell Tower, with the dome close in front. (Photo: TIME TRAVELER editor)

The big bell of the tower and Florence outside the window. (Photo: TIME TRAVELER editor)

According to the official website, Giotto's Bell Tower is 84.7 metres tall with 414 steps and no lift. With a Brunelleschi Pass you do not need to reserve a separate bell tower slot within the three days of validity, while a Giotto Pass requires a reservation. We found that climbing the dome one day and the bell tower the next works well, because from the bell tower you can photograph the whole dome.

A dessert in front of Venchi to end our Italy trip. (Photo: TIME TRAVELER editor)

Practical tips

• Between cities: we took the Italo from Venice to Florence, about 2 hours 15 minutes (based on our train that day).
• You can also compare Italy train tickets on Trip.com.
• Book the dome early: if the slots are full you cannot climb, and bookings cannot be changed.
• Backpacks: both the dome and the bell tower require you to check bags first, so we suggest travelling light that day.
• Cinque Terre + Pisa: if you do not want to change trains yourself, consider a day tour from Florence, which is how we did it this time, booked through Trip.com.
• Browse Florence day tours on Trip.com, including Cinque Terre trips.
• Hotels: Find Florence hotels on Trip.com · Find Pisa hotels on Trip.com

Previous post: Italy Travelogue Part 1 | Milan + Venice 4-Day Itinerary: Duomo, Italo Train, St. Mark's Square and Squid Ink Risotto

--- Image credit: all photos in this article were taken by the TIME TRAVELER editor; faces of people are covered with the editor's original character stickers.

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