Duomo-Florence
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the most important landmark in Florence and is also the fourth largest church in Europe. It is very noticeable because of its large dome or also known as the Duomo. On January 14 we visited the Duomo and climbed 464 steps to the top of the dome. The views from the top were spectacular. You can see all of Florence from an amazing perspective. While climbing up the stairs I noticed the interior architecture. The staircases were very narrow and steep. There were many cracks in the walls and stairs that I noticed because of how old the structure is. The Cathedral was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio and was finished around 1367. The Dome itself was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1418 and completed in 1436.
The Duomo exemplifies works of Renaissance and Italian Gothic architecture. The external decoration wasn’t completed until 1887 with designs in white, pink, and green marble. The designs match the designs of the bell tower which was designed by Giotto di Bondone in 1334. The actual size of this cathedral is astonishing, and the Dome can be seen from streets away. According to the Duomo-Florence ticket website, “The cathedral, the largest in Europe when it was completed in the 15thcentury, is 153 meters long, 90 wide at the crossing, and 90 meters high from pavement to the opening of the lantern.” While climbing the Duomo I really felt how large this structure was because of how hard it was and how long it took to climb all those stairs. The climb was well worth it to see the view at the top.
Michelangelo’s David
One thing Florence is known for is being the home to one of the world’s most famous sculptures, Michelangelo’s David. I was very excited to get the opportunity to see this prodigious piece of art. I have only ever seen picture of it or a smaller version of it. While walking to the Academia we passed the copy of the statue which is the first time I ever saw the statue in real proportion and in person. Even though it was a copy I was fascinated by the actual size of the statue and was intrigued to see the real one in the museum. At my first glance when arriving I was surprised by the detail and size of the statue. The sculpture was much taller than I anticipated. When looking at it from far away the head and hands look unproportioned to the rest of the body, but when I walked up to it and looked at it from a below angle it looked normal and I think that angle is the way it was meant to be looked at.
Michelangelo was only 26 years old when he started sculpting the David in 1501 and took over two years to complete. David’s pose is called a contrapposto and is relaxed but alert because it was before he went into battle. He is holding a slingshot in one of his hands which he used in battle, but it is not easily seen. On the Accademia’s website it explains, “The slingshot he carries over his shoulder is almost invisible, emphasizing that David’s victory was one of cleverness, not sheer force.” This concept was very well thought out and I never knew that about the statue before visiting it in Florence.
References
“History of Florence’s Iconic Landmark – The Duomo.” History of Florence’s Iconic Landmark – The Duomo, http://www.duomo-florence.com/history-of-florence-duomo/.
“Michelangelo’s David: Admire World’s Greatest Sculpture at Accademia Gallery.” Guide to Accademia Gallery, www.accademia.org/explore-museum/artworks/michelangelos-david/.
European Art & Architecture 