Florence

Florence

The Duomo and Giotto's Tower

The Duomo and Giotto's Tower

Florence was my next stop.  Top tourist sights (can this be either "sites" or "sights"?) include the Duomo (built 1300-1435, 3rd longest nave in the world), the David, the Uffizi Gallery, the Ponte Vecchio, and the Santa Croce Church.  The most famous painting at the Uffizi Gallery is The Birth of Venus and the Accademia Gallery contains Michelangelo's David.  Both of these have very long lines, and tickets should be ordered in advance--a few days for the Accademia and months ahead for the Uffizi.  Instead, I went to the courtyard where the David stood until 1873, where a full size replica currently stands.  

The replica of David in its original location

I climbed up the narrow stairs to the top of the Duomo, all 463 of them.  The narrow passageways up were about 2.5 feet wide, and had 2-way traffic in some parts.  The views were great, though, and part of the trip goes through the top of interior of the dome, allowing for closer inspection of the dome's artwork and an aerial view of the church's interior.  The inside of the church is massive.  Like many of the churches in Italy, one must have shoulders and upper legs covered or be considered "indecent."  Many girls and women did not have covered shoulders and were given blue sheets with a hole for their heads to wear inside the church.  The interior of the dome is covered with the Last Judgement painting, which is the most frightening painting I have ever seen in my life.  It shows heaven, but also hell with the most grotesque versions of demons and people being ripped apart/eaten.  Most R movies don't come close to this level of gore. 

The front of the Duomo

Inside the Duomo (note the girls in blue sheets)

The Last Judgement on the dome's interior

Two-way stairway up the Duomo (note the curve along the dome)

Giotto's Tower from the top of the Duomo

Santa Croce Church is the final resting place of many famous Florentines, including Galileo (the scientist), Niccolò Machiavelli (the author of The Prince), and Michelangelo (of "Ninja Turtles" fame).  

Santa Croce Church

Galileo's Tomb

The altar in Santa Croce (note the restorer in the right scaffolding)

The Ponte Vecchio, or "Old Bridge," houses many shops on the bridge itself, enticing tourist to buy nicknacks as well as glass, silver, and gold.  I was only in Florence about 7 hours before boarding a train to Rome.

Ponte Vecchio

A modern-day Michelangelo?