Florence, Duomo, Campanile, Baptistry

Seeing the Duomo first time in my life.

I was so excited about seeing the Duomo in Florence for the first time in my life. We arrived by train (the train station is not so romantic as most of the city) and I was kind of holding my breath to see the masterpiece of Brunelleschi. 

I have a picture of Florence just above my desk at home, it is a bird view mainly with roofs and the dome as it is rising above everything. Such an amazing view; almost impossible to believe that in the 15^th century one could build it. Unfortunately it was way too long to get in and as we had one day here I opted for something else. Still, for a few times we walked around it and also admired the Campanile and Baptistry. 

I have tried very hard to make proper pictures but it was almost impossible regarding the sizes. J  

At 85 meters, the Campanile is 6 meters shorter than the dome. 

It was designed by Giotto as city architect in 1334 and was completed

 in 1359, years later as he died.

Beautiful details of the Campanile. 

The Baptistry is one of the oldest buildings in Florence.
It dates back to the 4^th century.

The East Doors were commissioned in 1401.
They were designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti and it took him 28 years to complete them.
The original doors are in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo,
these ones are a copy of them.

View from The Boboli Gardens.