Santa Maria Del Fiore

I just realized that I forgot to blog about one of my favourite places in one of my favourite cities!

Santa Maria Del Fiore aka "The Duomo".

She's this absolutely stunning thirteenth century cathedral boasting a nineteenth century pink, white and green neogothic marble facade that miraculously managed to survive the Second World War (relatively) unscathed.

She's also one of the most secular cathedrals I've ever been in, thanks to the majority of her funding coming not from the church, but rather from the lay people of Florence. But that's about all of the history I'm going to write about here (I promise)... if you want to know more ask my cousin Emma, who, as it turns out, is a huge geek too and actually wrote a history paper about Santa Maria Del Fiore. At least I'm not alone in this vast wilderness...

It was love at first sight in 2006 but unfortunately we didn't get to climb the 463 steps up to the dome back then because one of my traveling buddies managed to break her foot in Ireland and we didn't think it was fair to make her trudge all the way up and back.

As it turns out, that was probably a great idea seeing as the steps are, in and of themselves, an adventure.

I could handle the confined, narrow, winding steps. I enjoyed the spectacular view of Florence from the top of the dome. What I was not prepared for was the walk around the INSIDE of the dome.

When you get halfway up the stairs, the path leads you to a narrow ledge that encircles the dome. It's about the same width as a person and has a railing and a plexiglass wall/ guard-type-thingy. The purpose of this walkway is lovely: you can see the beautiful depiction of the Last Judgement on the dome up close and personal, take pictures, admire the art. It's an amazing thing to partake of.

Unless you happen to suffer from vertigo and make the startling discovery that you are, indeed, claustrophobic when tightly confined on a narrow walkway some bazillion feet above the ground, being pushed along in a seemingly endless current of tourists while nothing but a thin sheet of plastic prevents you from plunging headfirst to a gruesome death.

It could happen.

Inevitably, as I made this discovery I was stuck behind a couple who, obviously unaware of the danger (and therefore blind to my clammy hands and crazy eyes), had to stop every two steps to admire the painting and take pictures while I clung to the wall and looked longingly at the exit.

On this day, I almost committed murder. But, you'll be happy to know, I (narrowly) managed to refrain. (GO TEAM!)

Eventually I did manage to look up. My effort was rewarded with a glimpse at a demon's rather large (and, of course, beautifully painted and anatomically correct) penis.

Magnifico.



**Seriously though, it's probably one of the most beautiful churches I've ever been in (narrowly beaten out for top spot by Saint Peter's) and well worth the trek to the top of the dome (even if you are a claustrophobic, vertigo-prone individual with a vivid imagination and a touch of the crazy).**