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| This is Duomo - the most fabulous and impressive Cathedral on Earth (to my opinion). Its construction began in 1296. The original layout was designed by the architect Arnolfo di Cambio. In 1334 Giotto continued the work and a few years later Francesco Talenti and Lapo Ghini finished the cathedral. In 1436 Filippo Brunelleschi added the famous dome (more than 500 years old, the 3rd largest dome of our times - only St. Peter in Rome and St. Paul in London are bigger). | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| A travel to Florence is like a travel in time. When you get to this city it's like you had been teleported to the medieval age. Just look at these places and you will undersatnd what i mean. On the picture on your right you can see Duomo and a little part of Battistero (Baptistery) on the left. The date of its construction is still an enigma - probably it is a work of 4th or 5th century. You can also see the Campanile (a tower) next to Duomo which is 82 meters high. |
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| Florentine artists competed to execute the baptistery's famous bronze doors. Ghiberti completed his work in 1425 (after Brunelleschi left his project) and short after he received the commission to complete the last set of doors, the work took him more than 28 years. Especially famous are the "Gates of Paradase" | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| On the picture on your right we can admire the Neptune fountain (a work of Ammannati) in piazza della Signoria - one of the most beautiful squares of Florence. You can see a part of the Palazzo Vecchio as well. It was constructed in1294 (A. di Cambio) and later expanded by Buontalenti and Vasari. It was designed as a fortress-palace to be used as the "Signoria" headquarters. The elected members of the Republic of Florence formed the "Signoria". In 1540 the Medici Family moved to this palace, they stayed here for 10 years, later they moved to the "Palazzo Pitti". Then they called this palace the Old Palace (the Palazzo Vecchio). | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In fornt of Palazzo Vecchio there is an arcade with several sculptures (it's like "an open-air museum"). There you will find Hercules and Nero sculpture, Sabina's abduction and others. On the left of this picture you can see a part of Ufizzi Gallery - it has the most famous collection of Renaissance art in the world. The building itself is very big consisting of 45 rooms and very impressive, constructed between 1560 and 1580 (it was originally designed to host the archives and administrative offices of the state of Florence). | |||||||||||||||||||||
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