Day One in Florence

Many of Florence's big attractions are closed on Monday.  So we headed out to the Medici Chapel -- one of the ones the guide books said was open.  Wrong!  Turns out they are closed on the third Monday of the month.  Luckily, it's right down the street... we can see it from our doorstep.  We'll get back to it later in the week.

The next stop was the Central Market.  The streets outside it have become a warren of small carts selling leather goods, souvenirs, scarves, etc.  After a block of being surrounded by buyers and sellers, it was pleasant to get to the more traditional market with its stalls and restaurants. 

Unlike Rialto which was focused on fish and vegetables, this market had all sorts of foodstuffs. 

Wine, baked goods, specialty oils and vinegars, spices, sausages, and even a fresh pasta making operation existed side-by-side with the butchers, fish mongers, and green grocers.  We picked up some mushrooms, which we dropped off at the apt before heading out again.


Our first stop was the Duomo, the city's most well-known landmark.  Technically it is the Cattedrale di Santa Maria di Fiore (the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flowers).  It was started around 1300 and took more than 150 years to finish.  Its red tile dome is one of the tallest points in the city. 

Duomo west facade & campanile (bell tower)

Next to the Duomo are the Campanile (83 m tower) and the Baptistry, with its famous 15th century gilded bronze doors Porta del Paradiso (the Door of Paradise).  People pay extra to climb the 400 steps of the bell tower or the more than 450 steps of the dome to get a killer view.  No way! From the ground they look like ants up there.

Inside is rather plain compared to other cathedrals we've seen.  This was built with public money, so the decoration is only minimal.  One interesting thing inside was a 24-hour clock.  We've seen a couple this trip, but this is the first that runs counterclockwise.