Florence Cathedral Opens Public Viewing of Historic Solar Phenomenon

One of Florence’s most anticipated annual events will return to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore this month, when a beam of sunlight passes through the historic gnomon inside Brunelleschi’s dome and reaches the floor of the cathedral.

The phenomenon will be open to the public on 12 June and 19 June 2026, between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., in the Chapel of the Cross, located to the left of the High Altar. Visitors will enter through the Porta dei Canonici on the cathedral’s southern side.

The event offers a rare opportunity to observe the astronomical instrument installed high inside the dome. The gnomon, created in the 15th century, was used to track the Sun’s position and helped scholars study the solar year with remarkable precision long before modern instruments were available.

Admission is free, but advance booking is required.

Reservations for the 12 June viewing have already sold out. Booking for the 19 June event remains available, subject to remaining capacity.

According to the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, reservations for the second date opened on 12 June at 9:30 a.m. Places are assigned until capacity is reached.

Practical information

What: Passage of the Sun through the cathedral gnomon
Where: Florence Cathedral (Duomo), Chapel of the Cross
Dates: 12 June and 19 June 2026
Time: 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Admission: Free with mandatory reservation
Availability: 12 June sold out; places still available for 19 June, subject to capacity

The event is considered one of Florence’s most distinctive traditions, combining astronomy, architecture and the scientific heritage of the Renaissance in the city’s most famous monument.

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