Thursday 1 October 2009

"St Mary of the Flower", Florence


Vasari frescoes inside the dome

The view over Florence




Santa Maria del Fiore, better known as the Duomo, is one of the most magnificent constructions I have visited. Built in the early 13th Century, the vast dome defies so many "architectural rules of thumb" and now stands as the largest masonry dome in the world. The view it offers over Florence is fantastic too.
It withholds so much history too and, having studied the complex's history at school, I felt very privileged to stand on the site where Brunelleschi and Ghiberti battled it out in the 'Competition of the Baptistry Doors'.
The Baptistry itself is beautiful. The ornate detail that cover the facade from head to toe and the colour and elegance of each individual portal is extraordinary. This is probably my favourite building in the world.


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