Florence: From Atop the Duomo

12-Jan-13

Today began as one of the sunnier days thus far in Florence, and so we decided it was the perfect opportunity to take the time, pay the E8, and climb to the top of the Duomo. This proved to be an excellent decision, despite the rays of sun changing to droplets of rain by the time we left the top (this may or may not have been due to the amount of time we stayed at the top - which was a significant amount). What we found on this climb of 463 steps, however, was quite amazing. Just experiencing the climb to the top of the Duomo through the inter web of narrow, winding, and sometimes extraordinarily steep stairs was something unlike anything I have ever experienced, let alone the prize of the beautiful view which awaited us at the top. I hope you can enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed the experience, although these still images can hardly do the wonder justice.

My apologies for the delay in the post. Although this post is being composed on the 15th of January, the trip which it documents was done on Saturday the 12th of January. 

The Entry Way to the Start of the Climb

The Beginning Stairs

An Amazing and Surprising Room of Statuary at an Internal
Landing Point which Allowed for a Small Rest

First Glimpse through a Small Window of the View
Which Lies Ahead

Statuary Room

The Dome of the Duomo

Passageway Leading Around the Dome

Zoomed in Close-up Image of the Dome Fresco

Further Entry Point to More Stairs

Narrow Spiral Staircase

Internal Passageway

More Stairs

Very Steep Stairs which Curve Over the Dome

View from Atop the Duomo

View from Atop the Duomo

View from Atop the Duomo

View from Atop the Duomo

View from Atop the Duomo - Focused on Campanille

View from Atop the Duomo

The Hatch which Opens to the View Platform

The Duomo

10-Jan-13

Buono sera da Firenze!

This morning I attended a few simple orientation events where we began to learn some basic Italian. This included saying our name, where we are from, our address, what we are studying, and our age. In Italian:

-Mi chiamo Justin.

-Sono Americano di Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania

-A bito en Villa della Condotta quattorici in Firenze

-Studio architecttura

-Ho venti anni

We also took a walking trip to the train station and learned the inter workings of navigating and utilizing the train system during the orientation event. 

Following these events I returned home to my apartment and my roommates and I decided to do a little shopping and take a trip to the Duomo. The shopping portion was more for viewing and nothing was purchased, however, the trip to the Duomo was much more eventful. The pictures to follow document this trip:

The main street (via) leading away from the Duomo.
People fill the street all day long.

The main street (Via) leading away from the Duomo
showing a car for context. In Florence (Firenze) people
just walk everywhere and the car must try to navigate
through the crowds. If you look and give your attention
to the vehicle it is understood they are permitted to go. If
you do not look at them then you are expected to cross.

Large opening with extreme detail leading into
a portion of the Duomo.

Row of statuary, Rose window, Large openings above
the main doors of the Duomo.

The top portion above the main doors to the Duomo.

Statuary in a niche of the facade of the Duomo.

Large painting above the doors to the Duomo.

Doors and painting shown above.

Large rose window on the Duomo.

Statuary in niches on the facade of the Duomo.

Opening to a building across a portion of the plaza
in front of the Duomo with glass above the opening and
detail around the arches.

The front facade of the Duomo and lower portion of the
Campanille.

The front facade of the Duomo and the Campanille

Across the plaza from the Duomo.

Building in the plaza of the duomo.

Exit doors from the interior of the Duomo with
statuary and detailing in arch above.

Zoomed in image of the statuary and detailing above.

The dome and facade of the Duomo.

Entryway and statuary of a hotel building across from the
side of the Duomo.

Large window and column on the facade
of the Duomo. Tiling of facade.

The dome and facade of the Duomo.

Zoomed in of above image.

Large pilaster on the side facade
of the Duomo. Tiling of facade.

The Campanille (Bell Tower)

The Campanille and portion of the side facade of the Duomo.

Large column and Wes photographing the
interior of the Duomo.

Large columns, rose window, vaults on interior of Duomo.

View from a bench inside the Duomo. Vaults,
large columns.

The interior of the Duomo. (Looking at the
front entry side and toward the plaza)

Interior of the Duomo.

Portion of the dome painting of the Duomo.

Floor detailing inside the Duomo.

Interior of the Duomo.

Interior of the Duomo. (Looking towards the rear facade)

The Dome painting of the Duomo.

Statuary inside the Duomo.

Massive column.

Candle tree inside the Duomo.

Statuary inside the Duomo.

The interior of the Duomo. (Looking towards the rear)

Detailing of the dome painting.

Main nave vaults of the Duomo.

Toned down image of the interior of the Duomo.
(Looking towards the rear)

A side niche of the interior of the Duomo. 

The dome painting of the Duomo.

Zoomed in image of above.

Column and vaults of the Duomo.

Panel of the entry door of the Duomo.

Entryway detailing on the facade.

Street (Via) leading to the Duomo.

The Duomo was an extremely impressive and gorgeous building to view and photograph. Given its extremely high importance to the City of Firenze, but its relatively low importance and contributions to the overall history of cathedrals in Europe, it gives me great excitement and anticipation for the future cathedrals we plan to view in places such as Paris and all over Europe.