Page 284 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

282  CENTR AL IT AL Y

Street-by-Street: Around the Duomo

While much of Florence was rebuilt during the Renaissance, the eastern part
of the city retains a distinctly medieval feel. With its maze of tiny alleys, it is
an area that would still be familiar to Dante (1265–1321), whose birthplace
allegedly lay somewhere among these lanes. The poet would recognize the
church of Santa Maria de’ Cerchi where he first glimpsed Beatrice,
as well as the gaunt outlines of the Bargello. He would also be
familiar with the Baptistry, one of the city’s oldest buildings,
though he would not know either the Campanile
or the Duomo, whose foundations were laid in
the poet’s old age.

PIAZZA
DI SAN P I A Z Z A
GIOVANNI D E L D U O M O

7 . Duomo and Baptistry
The exteriors of the Duomo and Baptistry V I A D E L L ’ O C H E
are richly decorated with marbles and reliefs,
such as this detail from the Duomo’s façade.

Key V V I A D . S T U D I O
I
Suggested route A R V I A D E ’ M E D I C I V I A D E L C O R S O

V
O
I A
M
VIA D. SPEZIALI D V A
A
I
E

I
ALIGHIERI
D
E
C
VIA DANTE
’
A
C
L
E
Z
V.D. TAVOLINI H
A
I R
C
U
I
O
The Loggia del Bigallo (1358) L V I A D . M A G A Z Z I N I
I
is where abandoned children
were once left. They were then V.D. CIMATORI
sent to foster homes if they
remained unclaimed. C V. DE’LAMBERTI V I A D E L L C O N D O T T A
0 metres 100 A L
I
0 yards 100 M PORTA ROSSA
VIA
A
L
A
Via dei
8 Orsanmichele Calzaiuoli,
The church’s niche carvings lined with Piazza della
depict patron saints of trade smart shops, Signoria
guilds, such as this copy of is the city’s
Donatello’s St George. liveliest street.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp569–73 and pp590–96
282-283_EW_Italy.indd 282 4/4/17 5:35 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.9)
Date 20th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm