Florence's Principal Church
The Firenze Duomo was designed by Arnolfo Cambio at the end of the 13th Century and is, without question, one of the city's most acknowledged tourist magnets. On the death of Cambio in 1302 progress on the cathedral ground to a pause. It wasn't until some thirty years later that the Italian master Giotto agreed to work on the Duomo, he only managed to complete the bell-tower before his death in 1337. It was further twenty-seven years when the old cathedral was taken down and a new one started. This some one-hundred years after the initial plans were drawn up.
Filippo Brunelleschi was engaged to project manage the great dome (the Cupola) of the now infamous cathedral which was in fact made up of of two dome's, one dome can be seen in all its glory from the outside and another which can be seen from the interior of the cathedral. On the inner dome frescoes by Paolo Uccello the cupola. It was not until 1436, some 136 years after the project was started that the cathedral was finally completed.
Giotto's Belfry Toscana.
Giotto’s Bell-Tower is an single-standing belfry that is located in the Piazza del Duomo of Florence, Tuscany. It is positioned right next to the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore and is one of the clearest examples of Florentine Gothic Architecture from the noted craftsman Giotto. It is eighty-four point seven metres in height and is supported by four buttresses on each corner.
Giotto never saw the Bell Tower completed, he worked on the project from 1334 until his death in 1337, only seing the first floor finished. The stone used in the bell tower comes from Carrara (white), Prato (green) and Siena (red).
The Square of Michelanglo
Piazzale Michelangelo provides THE VIEW for tourists coming to Florence. It has it all, the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio and the foothills of Fiesole as its backdrop. The main square is approximately 100 metres squared, with the main portion used for scooters and buses that park up to allow tourers to take in this unbelievable view. In the hottest months the Plaza has a scattering of market stands and dealers that sell an range of purses and keepsakes.
If it's a clear sunny day in Florence you have to go to Piazzale Michelangelo because there's nothing quite like it, and it will leave on you a long-lasting impression. There's also a coffee shop in the Piazza from which you can take in the view while enjoying a Cappuccino or cocktail.
Needless to say that wherever tourism is popular during the evening you need to be especially alert against thieves. You'll also find more market stalls springing up as well as local artists selling their works. The sunset view is one for happy couples, perched out on the steps gazing down over the town, but it's really on a clear sunny day or towards the hours of sunset that the Piazza shines.
Author Resource:-
You can read more about Tuscan Holidays on our dedicated resource pages.
G. Jamaica is a travel journalist for Tuscany Villas, a portal all about the Tuscan lifestyle.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.articlebullseye.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
