Wednesday, 30 May 2012 - Up the Duomo

This was our last full day in Florence (and Italy sadly).  There were two bucket list things we hadn't doneThe Duomo and Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, and the Uffizi Gallery.  We decided that we couldn't do justice to both in one day so we split up.  Chris and Mike went to the Uffizi, and we trotted off to climb the Duomo.  We weren't sure how or where we would meet up later.  But we could phone each other later.

Off we went to the Duomo, bright and early.  A good move as the famous queues were non-existent and we got straight in.  Up we climbed.  I had visons of heart attacks - as warned by the big signs by the ticket booth, but the climb was not bad at all.  Plenty of places to catch your breath.  great views  of the church below from the balcony running around the inside of the dome.  It is big.  Then the final climb up the interior of the dome - which is double-skinned brick.  This dome was the largest in the world for 400 years, so old Brunelleschi knew a thing or two back in 1436.  Finally got to the viewing platform which is quite spacious, just as well as Tricia doesn't like heights and stayed well back from the edge.

inside the Duomo

We spent quite a while taking in the view - lots of cloud and haze so the photos weren't great.  Eventually making our way back down.  Now it was more crowded and, at times, quite difficult passing people coming up.  Once down we set off for a walk around looking at the statues again and finding the leather market and the piggy statue again.  Eventually, we made it to Gilli Caffe, founded in 1773. These guys have been coffee fanatics for a long time.  We had a coffee and a chocolate pastry (mmmmm lunch) at the bar, which was a real bar with many spirits - including single malt whiskies that I spied on the shelf.  Espresso, pastry, and whisky don't go together so I gave that a miss.

Where we were...

 Did some shopping and decided to go back to the Basilica. This time we did have to queue, not for too long though.  Standing in the queue we look across to the 'snake', and Chris and Mike were standing there.  So we met up again inside the Basilica.  It's another spectacular building.  Never get sick of looking at these old buildings.

Made our way home, went out later to the Affe di Bacco for takeaway Pizza, very nice it was too, washed down with the last of our wine.

Gilli

Tricia's diary entry:

We split up for the first time today.  We went to the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Saint Mary of the Flower).  We went up the dome approx 450 steps.  Wonderful views.  We had coffee at Caffe Gilli in Piazza della Repubblica.  Had lunch, went back to see the Duomo.  Met up with C+M.  Came home very tired.  Pizza for tea