Visit to the duomo

The duomo, also known as the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, was absolutely amazing. We learned that it was built over six centuries, which reflects the great detail and stature the building possesses. Many architects contributed to the design of the duomo, but the most notable one is Brunelleschi. There was originally a wooden dome built by Arnolfo di Cambio, but he was unable to engineer a design that was feasible. Brunelleschi designed a dome that would be made of bricks, and was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. He constructed a wooden and brick model of a dome to serve as a template. He designed the unprecedented dome that sits atop the cathedral, and was a revolutionary of his time. Brunelleschi was able to design the dome to be supported by a drum, and not the roof, which enabled workers to build it without having to use scaffolding from the ground. It was the first octagonal dome in history.



We climbed to the top of the dome as a class, and it was grueling! There are tons of steps that wind around, and it was certainly a workout. We came to an overlook, where we could look up at the beautiful painting of the Last Judgement. The bottom of the painting shows the depths of hell, where sinners are being tortured for the sins they committed. As the painting continues upward, it shows the beauty of heaven and salvation. When we reached the top, we were on the platform outside the dome. From there, we had a beautiful view of the city of Florence. Unfortunately, it was a rainy day, and as I walked around, I slipped and nearly fell over! Other than the near death experience, I enjoyed the experience and was in awe of the structure and rich history behind it. The climb was a workout and the inside was stuffy and crowded, but it was definetly worth it.