Quietly experiencing the passage of time in Florence.
Our journey brought us down from the Dolomites, with a brief overnight stay in Venice, before we took the train to Florence. These two destinations, Firenze and Rome, mark the final legs of our international trip.❤️❤️❤️ Venice was incredibly crowded, to the point where the excitement of taking the train into the island for the first time in over a decade was completely overshadowed. However, upon arriving in Florence, a much quieter city, our morning stroll led us to the Florence Cathedral, where we were greeted by the grandeur and beauty of the Renaissance architecture. The sheer scale and exquisite craftsmanship left us in awe, and we couldn't help but feel a sense of joy and admiration. It truly is a must-see classic.😀😀😀 Florence, known in Italian as "Firenze," means "City of Flowers." The great poet Xu Zhimo translated it as "Feilengcui." This is where the Renaissance began, and one of the most important buildings in its historic center is the world-famous third-largest church: Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral), surpassed only by St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and Milan Cathedral. Locals, ticket offices, and maps all affectionately refer to it as the DUOMO.🏘️🏘️ To clarify, the term DUOMO comes from the Latin word DOMUS, meaning "house of God." Therefore, the main church in each city is called DUOMO, and each DUOMO has its own name. For example, Milan Cathedral is called Duomo di Milano. Construction of the cathedral began in 1296 and was completed in 1436, taking a total of 140 years. Its architect was Filippo Brunelleschi. This building is an incredible architectural marvel from the inside out. The cathedral's iconic dome has a diameter of 42 meters and a height of over 90 meters, making it the largest brick dome in the world to this day. Brunelleschi employed a unique double-shell structure and a construction method without scaffolding, making this monumental architectural wonder possible.😁😁😁 The exterior of the Florence Cathedral is adorned with white, green, and pink marble, forming intricate geometric patterns. This design is still influenced by Byzantine architectural styles, giving the church a visually striking presence. The three main doors on the church's façade are carved with complex religious motifs, showcasing the exceptional level of Florentine sculptural art at the time. The interior of the cathedral is equally breathtaking. The dome's interior features a massive fresco of "The Last Judgment," created by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari, covering an area of 3,600 square meters. It is one of the largest frescoes in the world.😻😻😻 If walking the streets of Paris (our first urban stop) feels like encountering elegance at every turn, a result of centuries of courtly culture that has shaped the refined demeanor and grace of its people, then Florence exudes a different kind of beauty. Here, the elegance is a reflection of classical civilization that spans thousands of years, created by the principles of proportion and order, resulting in a tangible sense of sophistication and appropriateness. #Architecture #Aesthetics #ClassicalArt #Florence #Renaissance #HistoryOfArchitecture
