Europe Trip 2003

Florence - Duomo

Duomo | City Sights

Florence is often hailed as the birthplace of the Renaissance. During the 16th century, the city of Florence had become the European capital of art, architecture, commerce and political thought. This rich history has filled the city with countless works of art and incredible architecture. Unfortunately, the town has been besieged by tourists thus clouding its reputation. As beautiful and intriguing as this city is, it was difficult to enjoy as we had to slog through huge crowds and high entrance fees to experience its richness.

Easily, the most recognizable building of Florence is the Duomo. The dome of the cathedral rises 100 meters into the sky and is topped by Michelangelo's Lantern. Though the church is massive, we had a hard time getting a good view of it as the Florentine buildings are densely packed. The interior nave was completed in 1418 and is the third largest next to St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London (both of which we visited on our trip). We climbed 463 steps to the top of the dome to get incredible views of the city's red roofed architecture and surrounding green hills.