Experiencing the birthplace of the Renaissance

The Renaissance is a period in European civilization that marked a period of change and “revival” in many aspects of humanity such as philosophy, art, literature, cultural exchange, and even new discoveries in travel, invention, and style.

Florence, Italy is widely known to be the birthplace of the Renaissance because of its prosperous status in the 14th century. Many artists and writers of this time period were from Florence and the northern hills of the country, so for these reasons, Florence had a profound, unmatched influence of art and ideas, especially through the utilization of trading ports.

One of most important landmarks of Florence is the Florence Cathedral. Formally called the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, the domed part of the church can be spotted from afar in different parts of Florence, making it a focal point of the city.

Additionally, the domed part of the cathedral itself is called the Filippo Brunelleschi dome, which is name after the creator. It is also the biggest dome in the world that is made out of masonry. In total, the construction of the dome lasted sixteen years. The undertaking began in 1420 and lasted until 1436, which was an impressive feat, especially for the given time period. In the same year it was finished being built, Filippo Brunelleschi got approval for building the lantern on the top, which was completed in 1471. The lantern was finished after Brunelleschi’s death, as he died in 1746.

This is the front of the Florence Cathedral. The intricate detail of the gothic architecture makes for a great place to get some pictures and take in the beauty of a piece of Renaissance art that is of profound importance. As you can see, people line up in the front of the church to enter. Entry to the cathedral is free, and the line moves in a timely manner! However, to visit some other parts of the landmark like the dome and the bell tower, you do have to buy the “Grande Museo del Duomo” pass.

Take some time to walk around and see the different sides of the dome and the cathedral entirely, as it is a peaceful area to be at. Plus, I found that the other sides of the cathedral other than the front were less busy, which may make it easier to get some pictures too.

As you enter the cathedral, this is what it looks like on the inside. You can walk down the aisle towards the altar and look up and admire the art on the ceiling.

The painting on the ceiling of the dome of the cathedral is The Last Judgement. The piece was originally started by Giorgio Vasari in 1572 and was ultimately completed after his death by Federico Zuccari. The art piece includes Christ, Mary, John the Baptist, Adam and Eve, the 24 elders of the apocalypse, and choirs of angels and other religious figures/symbols.

Part of the church was roped off, so you could not walk directly under the dome’s ceiling, so it was not possible to look at and capture the whole piece of art in a photograph. However, it was still worthwhile to get photos and look at all the intricate details of the painting.

This building is called the Palazzo Vecchio, and it is the town hall of Florence. The clock on the face of the building was Florence’s first public clock and has been installed since March 25, 1353 by a Florentine watchmaker named Niccolò di Bernardo. Also, the tower itself that the clock is placed on is called the Tower of Arnolfo.

While walking around Florence, a lot of the side streets offer solitude and some peace and quiet from the other busier parts that host the landmarks. It felt immersive to be able to walk down the streets in silence. After visiting some of the popular landmarks, it also felt good to merely wander around without an agenda.

Florence is the capital of the Italian region of Tuscany. Going to the Arno River offers some nice views of the mountains in the distance.

The bridges are a nice place to walk on the river and there are several! In total, Florence has six bridges.

This bridge in particular is called Ponte Vecchio. Also known as “Old Bridge,” it it was the first bridge to be constructed over the Arno River and is the oldest bridge in Florence. As you walk on the bridge, there are a lot of jewelry shops. There are also lookout points to see a nice view of the river and the surroundings.

Located in the Accademia Gallery, David of Michelangelo is a renowned statue that was created from a block of Carrara marble.

Created from 1501 to 1504, the sculpture portrays the biblical figure David from the story of David and Goliath, and is meant to serve as a symbolic representation of Florence’s strength and independence.

Overall, this iconic art piece exemplifies Michelangelo’s profound impact on the city of Florence and the Italian Renaissance altogether. For that reason, it is considered to be a masterpiece.

Needless to say, the art, landmarks, and overall culture of Florence is charming and inspiring and has gradually been an immense source of influence to Italy, Europe, and the world as a whole for many years.