Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Florence Italy on Monday April 30




We started with the incredible Piazza del Duomo located in the heart of the historic center of Florence, Italy.   It is one of the most visited places in Europe and Monday was no exception.  Crowds were huge.  I loved the Duomo is of colored marble with detailed carving and ornate decoration everywhere.  It was fascinating to see the dome by Filippo Brunelleschi which is said to be the largest brick dome ever constructed.   It is a dome within a dome made with interlocking bricks and said to be a feat of engineering wonder of the age.
It is interesting to see such a variety of architecture in the same building.  It took so long to build that the designs were changed in the process.  Our outstanding guide said Lorenzo Ghiberti took 21 years to complete the north Baptistery doors. These gilded bronze doors consist of twenty-eight amazing panels, most depicting the life of Christ from the New Testament.  People could not enter the church until they had been baptized in this separate building called the baptistery.   In the same plaza is Giotto’s Campanile, described as the most beautiful bell tower in the world.  Statues are in niches and ornate decorations are everywhere.  It was amazing.   No wonder there were hundreds of others there to see as well. 

We had a challenging time following our guide, looking at amazing buildings and watching our step on the uneven cobblestones.  We next saw the copy of the David near the Medici palace.  Sculpture in the outdoors seemed strange because it was so unprotected.  We walked down narrow streets and suddenly were at the Arno River getting a quick view of the famous bridge known as Ponte Vecchio.  We braved the crowds and maneuvered into the amazing courtyard of the Ufizzi Gallery where our tour ended.  There are 10 or more statues in the outside courtyard.  We were standing by the museum with some of the world’s most famous Italian paintings and didn’t have tickets to enter. 

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