Page 401 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

FL ORENCE  399

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Practical Information
Piazza del Duomo.
Tel 055-230 28 85.
Open Mon–Sat, Sun pm.
. Dome Closed religious hols.
Brunelleschi’s revolutionary 7 Crypt: Open Mon–Sat. &
achievement was to build the Dome: Open daily. &
largest dome of its time Campanile: Open daily. &
without scaffolding. As you Baptistry: Open pm Mon–Sat;
climb the 463 steps to Sun am. All buildings Closed Jan
the top, you can see 1 & religious hols. &
∑ ilgrandemuseodelduomo.it
how an inner shell
provides a platform Transport
for the timbers @ 1, 6, 14, 17, 23.
that support the
outer shell.

Chapels at the East End
The three apses each house
five chapels and are crowned
by a miniature copy of the
dome. The 15th-century
stained glass is by Lorenzo
Ghiberti and other artists.

Entrance to steps
to the dome

Marble Pavement
As you climb up to the dome, you can see that
the 16th-century marble pavement, designed
in part by Baccio d’Agnelo, is laid out as a maze.
KEY
1 The east doors, known as 3 The Neo-Gothic marble facade 7 Bricks of varying size were
the “Gate of Paradise” (1424–52), echoes the style of Giotto’s camp- set in a self- supporting herring-
were made by Ghiberti. While anile, but was added in 1871–87. bone pattern – a technique
replicas adorn the Baptistry, Brunelleschi copied from the
the originals can be found in 4 Gothic windows Pantheon in Rome.
the Duomo museum. 5 The top of the dome offers 8 The octagonal marble
spectacular views over the city.
2 The Baptistry doors sanctuary around the High
demonstrate the artistic ideas that 6 Last Judgment frescoes Altar was skilfully decorated by
led to the Renaissance. by Vasari Baccio Bandinelli.

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