Sunday, December 18, 2016

A dome with a View. An afternoon in Florence.


I was in Florence for business last Thursday morning and the temptation to skive off and have an afternoon off in Florence was just too strong to resist.
Firenze
An afternoon is too short to see very much in this city, but there were a couple of things I wanted to do.
 
Fiume Arno, Firenze

Fiume Arno, Firenze
Uffizi, Firenze

Palazzo Vecchio, Firenze
 The highlight of the day was to climb up to the top of Brunelleschi’s dome that dominates the city.
 One climbs what seem like an endless number of steps before exiting out onto a balcony above the altar. The view down to the floor of the church makes one feel quite giddy. One is only half way up!

Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze


Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze
The stone stairs then curve around between the inner and outer skin of the dome before the final flight of stairs that climbs strait up and over the dome.

Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze


Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze
As on climbs it is possible to glimpse the fishbone brickwork that is part of the secret of how the structure manages to stand up. The dome was also built with two skins to save weight.  

The dome still holds the record as the largest brickwork dome in the world. It was also built without formwork between 1420 and 1436.

I also paid a return visit to the Baptistery with its fantastic golden roof that dates from the 13th century.
Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze


Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze
For our family, this building has a special significance. My late Father in law who came from a very ordinary Florentine family, was baptised here some 90 years ago, A picture of another Italy where these incredible buildings were still being used for their intended use and not as part of a Renaissance Disneyland that Florence and some other Tuscan cities have become.
Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze


Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze
Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze


Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze
I still had some time after visiting the splendidly sober Basilica di san Lorenzo to climb the Cathedral bell tower.
Basilico San Lorenzo, Firenze

Basilico San Lorenzo, Firenze

Basilico San Lorenzo, Firenze

Basilico San Lorenzo, Firenze

Basilico San Lorenzo, Firenze
 Almost as high as the dome this is a much easier climb. The view of Brunelleschi’s dome from the top makes the climb worthwhile.
Firenze


Firenze


Firenze
All that remained to do was to buy some unsalted “Pane Toscana” and a typical Tuscan Salami called finocchiona” with its particular Fennel flavour.
Ponte Vecchio, Firenze

Antiquario, Firenze


Antiquario, Firenze

 

This is a good time of year to visit Florence. The unbearable hot humid summer heat and the clogging crowds are absent. One is able to actually enjoy ones visit to this city.

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