Florence: The Duomo and Campanile

        On our second day in Florence (before hitting up Perche No!), we visited the famous Duomo and then climbed its bell tower (the Campanile).
 The Florence Duomo, the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiori, was actually built on the site of a 7th century church, Santa Reparata. The current cathedral was built in the 13th century, although the world-famous dome wasn't added until the 15th century, its facade being finished in the 19th.
 The separate bell tower, the Campanile, was started in 1334 and completed in 1359. Giotto was involved in its design, Andrea Pisano did the second floor, and Francesco Talenti completed the tower. Don't ask me who these people were, but I'm assuming they're somewhat famous or else they wouldn't have been mentioned in my guide book! Really should look them up but am kind of doubting I'll get time to any day soon.
 The outer surface of the Campanile is decorated in the same marble at the Duomo: pink from the Maremma, white from Carrara, and green from Prato. The carvings along the bottom are actually copies: the originals have been preserved in the Duomo museum.
   You can climb both the dome (463 steps) and the Campanile (279 feet high), although we opted to just do the Campanile. I'm not sure how many steps 279 feet high equals, but let me tell you, it feels like about triple whatever the actual amount when you're climbing up narrow old curving steps with a cute chubby baby strapped to your front!
 The climb was well worth it for the view in the end, although I must admit to saying at least once or twice 'Really?? MORE steps??' at every level. This even though, as Yuki discovered the hard way on our trip, I REALLY like climbing things! I was actually all for climbing the dome the next day, but we were told it was basically the same view as from the Campanile, so we skipped it due lack of time.
  Touring inside the cathedral of the Duomo was free, and I think the Campanile climb was something like 8 euros. You have the option to buy a combined ticket, which I'd highly recommend if you're there a few days and want to climb everything and tour all the related buildings/museums. Even if you don't get to do everything, fork over the cash to climb the Campanile. It's definitely worth the money (and a great way to burn off some of all that food/drink you'll be eating while there)!


                                                The Duomo cathedral

                             
                                       The inside of the Duomo is rather stark

                     Climbing the Campanile. We must've just started, as I have yet to look winded

                                           View from mid-way up the Campanile

                                     View from the top of the Campanile

                          If you look REALLY closely, you can see people near the top of the dome

                                View of the city... not sure what church that is. I want to say Santa Croce but don't think that's really it?

                                The way down was a bit terrifying. Steep narrow steps and couldn't see my feet!

                                               Safely on the ground looking up