Brunelleschi's Duomo
The Firenze Duomo was designed at the hands of Arnolfo Cambio at the close of the thirteenth Century and is, without any shadow of doubt, one of Florence's most acknowledged tourist magnets. When Cambio died in 1302 progress on the masterpiece came to a pause. It wasn't until thirty years later that the Italian artist Giotto decided to continue working on the Duomo, he only managed to complete the bell-tower before his death in 1337. It was another twenty-seven years when the old cathedral was pulled down and a new one started. This some one-hundred years after the initial plans were drawn up.
Filippo Brunelleschi was engaged to project manage the great dome (the Cupola) of the cathedral which was in fact made up of of two dome's, one dome can be seen in all its glory from the outside while another which can be seen from the interior of the cathedral. On the inside frescoes by Paolo Uccello decorate the cupola. It was not until 1436, some 136 years after the project was started that the cathedral was finally completed.
Giotto's Bell-Tower Firenze.
Giotto’s Campanile is an free-standing belfry that is located in the Piazza del Duomo of Florence, Italy. It is placed right next to the Florence's Principal Church and is one of the purest examples of Florentine Gothic Architecture from the noted architect Giotto. It is eighty-four point seven metres high and is supported by four buttresses on each corner.
Giotto never saw his Bell Tower completed, he laboured hard on the project from 1334 until his death in 1337, thus only seing the 1st floor finished. The marble used in the bell tower comes from Carrara (white), Prato (green) and Siena (red).
Piazzale Michelanglo
Piazzale Michelangelo provides the only view for tourists coming to Florence. It has it all, the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio and the hills of Fiesole as a backdrop. The main piazza is approximately 100 metres square, with the main portion allocated for cars and coaches that park up to allow visitors to take in this magic view. In the balmy summer months the Piazza has a peppering of market kiosks and traders that sell an mixture of purses and souvenirs.
If it's a clear day in Florence you simply must go to Piazzale Michelangelo because there's nothing quite like it, and it will leave a lasting feeling. There's also a coffee bar in the Piazza from which you can take in the view while enjoying a Coffee Cappuccino or cocktail.
It goes without saying that wherever tourism is popular during the evening you need to be especially alert against thieves. You'll also find more market stalls springing up as well as local creative people selling their wares. The sunset view is one for romantics, perched out on the steps looking down over the town, but it's really on a clear sunny day or towards the hours of sunset that the Piazza shines.
Author Resource:-
You can read more about Discover Tuscany on our dedicated resource pages.
O. Waltberg is a travel writer for Tuscany Villas, a website all about living the Tuscan life.
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