Excavations and marvelous green, pink and white

The Duomo, what an architectural blessing to stumble upon while in Florence, literally. When the Duomo was constructed no buildings were destroyed or cleared for it's arrival, simply put....the Duomo was plunked and erected in the heart of the city.

Baptistry Dome

The first time eyes are laid upon the mass creation, paired with Giotto's amazing "Campanile" (Bell Tower) and Saint Giovanni's " Gates of Paradise," they are not easily peeled away. These works of faith and breathtaking craftsmanship are hardly "regular."

People from around the world flock to the Baptistery (named after Florence's Saint Giovanni) to see and revel in the beauty of it's three sets of bronze doors, by Ghiberti. The Baptistery, the oldest structure in Florence dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries. The bronze doors opposite the Duomos façade are said to have Michelangelo claiming, "These doors are fit to stand at the Gates of Paradise," they have been nicknamed such since.

Duomo

Upon entering the Baptistery one is showered in the beauty the dome like roof offers. Innate detail and gold inlay make the stories of the bible this overhead marvel offers absolutely priceless. (In early times Church sermons were given in Latin, interiors of these places of worship were often decorated with art depicting stories of the bible as to educate the illiterate masses.) This is a sight to be seen and kept......absolutely impossible to portray with mere words.

The Duomo itself is a towering masterpiece, described as "the crowning glory of Florence, and star of the skyline," it is immensely difficult to grasp standing, being, existing in one of the worlds largest churches. Building of the Duomo began in 1296 and was consecrated in 1436, additions to it's façade were applied as late as the 19th century. How does one begin to grasp such history?!

Duomo Doors

The Duomo, when constructed was built on top of a pre-existing cathedral. In the 1900's people began to excavate the original site below the current structure. Artifacts, pieces of the ancient church, the alter, marble floor and ephigies were all uncovered during this excavation. Today, one can actually descend a flight of stairs into the gallows of this mass excavation site to view these discoveries......again, haunting......and without words.

We've yet to discover Giotto's Campanile! What remanance of history awaits us. Only 414 steps in the direction of north, we can't wait to climb!

Duomo Facade