Italy Summit Journey

My first trip to Italy 🇮🇹 was almost entirely spent climbing to the top of various landmarks 🏃🏻. Since I was there, I couldn't miss the chance to climb historical buildings and enjoy the city views 💚.

I visited Florence and Rome, and here are the four places I climbed to the top of, each one absolutely worth it! ヽ(´▽`)/

1️⃣ Giotto’s Bell Tower (Photos 1-3)
2️⃣ Brunelleschi’s Dome (Photos 4-6)

These two structures are right next to each other. If you want to photograph the bell tower, climb the dome; if you want to photograph the dome, climb the bell tower. However, there are no single tickets for the dome; you must purchase the three-day Brunelleschi Pass and book your climbing time when buying the ticket. Honestly, both buildings require climbing over 400 steps, so it's best to do them on separate days to avoid overexertion 😂.

From the top, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Florence's red-brick buildings, and the dome has no metal bars, offering an unobstructed view! (The dome was the first place I climbed, and I didn't realize that the other places I visited later would have very high metal bars, or I would have taken more photos 🥹). Additionally, the dome's ceiling features the fresco "The Last Judgment," which is much more stunning up close than when viewed from inside the church.

If you only want to climb Giotto’s Bell Tower, you can buy the Giotto’s Pass. No reservation is needed; just queue up. The bell tower has two intermediate rest levels, making it slightly easier to climb than the dome. Visiting the bell tower around 5:30 PM to capture the sunset over the cathedral is highly recommended, though it can be crowded.

3️⃣ Tower of Pisa (Photos 7-9)

A bus ride from Florence to Pisa takes about an hour and a half. To climb the tower, you need to purchase tickets in advance and book a time slot. Note that you cannot bring any bags into the Leaning Tower, regardless of size, whether backpacks or handbags. ❗️ You must store your bag at the nearby visitor center, which is free. Use the QR code on your ticket to scan at the storage area and get assigned a locker. After your climb, you can retrieve your bag the same way.

Climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a unique experience because of its tilt. As you walk inside, you'll feel yourself leaning to one side, and at certain heights, you'll lean the other way, sometimes needing to hold onto the wall for balance 🤣. At the top, you can see the nearby cathedral, baptistery, and city walls, which are quite impressive!

4️⃣ St. Peter’s Basilica Dome (Photos 10-12)

St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest church in the world and is almost synonymous with Vatican City. Due to its significance, the government has even legislated that no building in Rome can be taller than St. Peter’s Basilica (as told by my local tour guide). Entry to the church is free, but you need to buy a ticket to climb the dome. I highly recommend purchasing the ticket that includes the elevator option ❗️. The elevator takes you up about 200 steps to the church's terrace, and from there, you still need to climb over 300 steps to reach the top 🧗🏼.

From the top, you can overlook Rome and Vatican City, including the semi-circular St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican Museums. Back on the dome's walkway, you can admire the church's opulent interior and mosaic murals. Viewing the church from the dome makes its grandeur even more apparent, with even a single letter on the wall being twice the size of a person, making you feel incredibly small.

Since this was my first visit, I focused on famous historical landmarks. Next time, I might skip the towers and try climbing mountains instead (*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑⛰️