What a view,ohhh all I can say is so Italian,as silly as sounds but it truly is Italy,love all the town sorta squares and monuments.......

I visited Florence with family in April. This was my second trip to Florence and second visit to the Piazza del Duomo. Very crowded but worth the effort for the amazing Duomo and Baptistry. Take the time to battle the crowds to view the Duomo and Baptistry from all angles and take advantage of the photo opportunities.

Italians, especially the young, like to parade themselves but not here. Here it is the spectacle of the tourist theatre. Find (difficult one this) a bench or spot in the shade to stop and eat your panini or drink your water and enjoy the passing parade, the theatre of life on the move in one of the world's most iconic spaces. In front of you the Gates of Paradise (Michelangelo's verdict on Ghiberti's doors of the Baptistery), and the wonderful Doumo with its stunning dome designed and executed by Brunelleschi. If you are interested you might have picked up Ross King’s slim but excellent volume tells you in detail how Mr Brunelleschi did it in magnificent style and economy and you can ponder on how great these Renaissance men truly were; Filippo Brunelleschi scientist, mathematician, engineer and artist.

Want to feel the pulse of the city of Florence...no better place that the Piazza del Duomo. The square hasn't changed much since the Fourteenth Century. It's still the religious center of the city and a place to meet, to see, and be seen. The square is huge and surrounds the Duomo, its Baptistry, and Campanile. All three are decorated with stripes of colored marble in the Tuscan taste.

Cafes and shops ring the Piazza and are perfect vantage points for seeking out the perfect angle to shoot photos and above all, watch the people passing by. This is one of the most colorful squares in the city. Watch your wallets...this is a traditional haunt of pickpockets and thieves.