Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore: aka Il Duomo

On Tuesday, Allison wanted to stay behind and do homework while Ann and I decided to finally brave the long lineups and climb to the top of the famous dome and the adjacent tower.  As soon as we got out the door, we noticed something different in Florence.  There seemed to be a lot fewer people about.  When we got to the ticket office to buy our passes to climb the dome, there was no lineup at all and so we assumed it was closed.  To our delight, we were wrong and purchased our tickets and then went to where there were usually large queues to enter the church and found that we could walk right in.   That was when we finally figured out what was going on.  The Chinese New Year holiday must be over.  The crowds of Chinese tourists have completely disappeared.  It really is amazing and something to possibly consider when planning a European vacation.  If you don’t want crowds and lineups to see famous European destinations, during the offseason, avoid going during the Chinese New Year holiday. 

We first climbed the bell tower next to the dome.  I have to admit that it’s a tough climb.  All the stairs and then the narrow spiraling staircase towards the top combined with the physical exertion required, made me wonder how often people have heart attacks here.  Do they have contingency plans in place in case someone were to collapse half way up the tower.  I suppose they could just roll you down the stairs or if you are near the top of the tower, they could just fling you over the edge.

Going to the top of Il Duomo was very interesting.  National Geographic recently had an article all about the dome.  I read a lot about it and so it was interesting to see with my own eyes, the double dome structure designed by Brunelleschi.  Once you reach the actual dome, you make your way to the top by steeply climbing right between the two layers.  Even the layout of the bricks with their fishbone structure are easily visible.  On the way down, we found ourselves inside the church, way up high above the church floor, on a walkway going around the base of the dome, with a great view of the artwork overhead.

The dome taken from part way up the bell tower

Top of the tower. The people are visible on the walkway going around the top of the dome.

Inside the dome

Between the two layers of the dome as it arches steeply to the top.

We made it to the top of the dome.

Looking down on the bell tower.

Ann enjoying the view of the piazza from the little balcony at the apartment.

We really enjoyed the place we rented at the Palazzo Antellesi

These old frescoes on the walls are interesting and must have been an amazing sight in the 1600s. 

This entire section with the frescoes was once one large palace called the Palazzo Antellesi.  It is now broken down into rental apartments.  It has been owned by the same family since the 1600s.  One day during our trip Ann actually met the woman who is the current owner. 

Late in the afternoon, the lady responsible for the apartment came by to read the utility meters and tell us where to leave the keys in the morning.  I was expecting the utilities to be much higher because someone once told me that they use electricity for heating.  The damage deposit was very large and the utilities were to come from that and so I was expecting the worst. It turns out, however, that this place heats with gas.  And so,  the power and heating for the two weeks was only 160 euros.  I think that's  reasonable.  With all the euros I had coming back to us, we decided that it only made sense to go out for diner one last time.  We spent the evening at a little place around the corner, eating pasta, sipping wine and watching Italians enjoying life to the fullest.  Arrivederci!