Today is our first full day In Rome and I forgot to post about Florence. We only spent one full day there and only really got to explore a little.
Florence is filled with many impressive buildings but the most iconic is Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore or The Duomo. Construction started in the 13th century and took over 100 years to finish the structure. The outside design wasn’t finished until the 19th century with white, green, and red marble facade. We also got to climb the 400 or so steps to the top of the dome, the largest brick dome in the world. The view is an impressive scene of Florence with the Tuscan roofs and hills.
The other thing I was looking forward to seeing in Florence was The Birth of Venus by Botticelli. It is one of the most iconic renaissance paintings. It was commissioned by the Medici family, one of the richest families in Florence in the 15th century hence why it is hanging in the Uffizi gallery today. Though the painting is filled with symbolism its actually a straight forward painting to interpret it is the story of the birth of Venus, which is one reason I like this painting, it is approachable.
Also at the gallery was a room with three Leonardo da Vinci paintings. Its was an impressive room though those paintings are not my favorites of da Vinci, (one was unfinished and unfortunately not cared for very well over time). Florence was enjoyable but now we’re in Rome for a few days.