9/7 Florence


What better way to recover from a long arduous day on the feet than to agree to tackle 463 steps right up to the top of a church tower? The next morning started off meeting a tour guide digesting more information than thought possible on the Florence Duomo (Cathedral). We viewed more pure gold ceilings with historical scenes followed by the guided tour of the museum where the original solid gold doors to the Duomo were kept restored and under a vacuum.
At the time, the use of gold on everything for construction wasn't enough and the way to make a city stand out from the crowd was to build bigger and bigger churches. The Florence Duomo was constructed so massive that for years there was a giant hole in the roof as no one had yet figured out how to create it's 300 foot high domed ceiling. The city held a contest to see who could come up with a solution and after a long time of searching they had a contractor. His name was Brunelleschi and for the 16 years it took to build he was the only one that understood how his dome was to be constructed.

During this 16 year process the workers actually built two domes. There was one inside the other with a thin gap between them. Within this very small cavity was 463 steps from ground floor to the look out at the very top of the structure. The stairs are steep, curving and do not offer much head room or fresh air. Portions of the steps were in a concrete wrapped artificially lit spiral not for those claustrophobic as there's only one way up or down. Simi and I challenged gravity that afternoon and made the climb to the top. It wasn't easy but it was a very rewarding accomplishment matched only by the view. Once satisfied with the photos taken, and having cooled off enough it was time to head back down. I found the steps easier to manage by going down backwards. The severity of the dome's arc and low ceiling meant I wasn't folded forward and in half making the trip down. Down was easier and back on solid ground for one last dinner, and a return to the train station to journey to our last destination; Rome.
 https://photos.app.goo.gl/PqYOfcuaSAmB3Ygf1

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